Removing vinyl flooring adhesive doesn’t have to be back-breaking work. However, it can be awfully time consuming.
In the grand scheme of things, removing vinyl flooring glue isn’t something that anyone looks forward to. But, if you know exactly how the process works, you can make things easier on yourself.
Start by asking yourself if you really need to remove your old vinyl flooring. In many cases, you don’t. If the existing vinyl is in good condition, filling any grooves or holes and laying new floor on top is easier than trying to remove the old flooring.
If, however, you determine that the old vinyl flooring has absolutely got to go, you will need to remove the adhesive carefully. Many adhesives contain oil that can soak through and discolor your new flooring, so you have to make sure that you get rid of every little bit of it.
While there are professionals who will do the work for you, vinyl flooring adhesive removal is a task you can take on yourself. You’ll just need to take advantage of a few tools of the trade.
There are specific products geared to removing vinyl flooring adhesive. In fact, they’re similar to paint removers. Adhesive removers soak into the vinyl flooring glue and turn it back into its original paste of liquid state. Then, you can scrape it off.
The best adhesive removers use citric acid. If something has “citrus” on the label, go for it. These removers tend to have the least odor. Plus, they’ll rinse right off with water – making them non-toxic.
In fact, water-based adhesive removers are the best to use. They don’t have as many fumes, and they aren’t as harsh. If you can get away with using a water-based remover, do so.
However, if you are really struggling with tough adhesive, you will need to get a solvent-based remover. These chemicals are better at removing vinyl flooring adhesive – but they’re also toxic, so you will need to be careful with them. Before you start using these removers, make sure the area you’re working in is well-ventilated.
No matter what type of remover you use, you will need to carefully inspect the area once you think you have everything up. Use a vacuum or shop vac over the area. That way, you can make sure that every little bit of adhesive is gone.
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