Removing old vinyl tiles

[chrispy]

Help please.

I am renovating a house I have owned for 20 years. The vinyl tiles were in the house when I bought it, I am now attempting to remove them but they are stuck fast. They are the standard type that were installed many years ago in project houses built by Fasham, which mine is.

I have tried with a sharp shovel and can move fraction of them but it will take weeks at that rate. I have bought an electric chisel which works but again takes forever.

Any suggestions greatly received

Chris

 

[gerd.]

Hi Chrispy

A heat gun will do wonders.
Apply heat to said tiles till soft.
Remove with scraper.

Gerd

 

[Rob Williams]

Never thought of a heat gun. Great tip.
Mine were stuck like the proverbial, but my flooring guy just laid the new floor straight over the top. He said it was a great surface - stuck firmly and flat. Where the tiles joined another surface, they just feathered the edge to blend it in and you would never pick it.

 

[handyandy]

You might want to try this piece of equipment.

http://www.kennards.com.au/page.asp?37=302&E_Page=2294

I have never tried it but have tried most other methods including the shovel and also heating the tiles. Both have still ended up very labour intensive and also with the heating a fair bit of noxious gasses.

Cheers

 

[geoffw]

Possibly similar to the one I used once- http://www.somersoft.com/forums/showpost.php?p=49172&postcount=41

It worked a treat. I was removing cork tiles and glued carpet underlay from a concrete surface. But it has a blade which can be turned around to work in removing tiles from timber floors.

 

[FinFreedom]

Caution

Chrispy,

Be careful.... Many older style vinyl floor tiles contain asbestos so you'll need to take precautions when removing and disposing. Here's a couple of links to the Renovators and Homeowners Guide for NSW. I'm sure there's something similar for Vic....

http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/WEB/SITE/RESOURCES/DOCUMENTS/Planning/fibro_asbestos.pdf

http://www.nsw.gov.au/fibro/brochure.asp

Fin.

 

[ozi]

Chrispy,

Be careful.... Many older style vinyl floor tiles contain asbestos so you'll need to take precautions when removing and disposing. Here's a couple of links to the Renovators and Homeowners Guide for NSW. I'm sure there's something similar for Vic....

http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/WEB/SITE/RESOURCES/DOCUMENTS/Planning/fibro_asbestos.pdf

http://www.nsw.gov.au/fibro/brochure.asp

Fin.

This is true as I too found out. What I did was nail tile underlay (cement sheet) directly over the vinyl, then tile straight over it. Very easy to do and much easier/cleaner than trying to remove old vinyl.

Ozi

 

[chrispy]

Thanks everyone. These are not the type that have the asbestos, I had them in another house I renovated!!

I have started removing them so have no option but to continue, so will contact Kennards and hire one of the strippers (machine type )

I will let you know how I go

Thanks again everyone for suggestions, much appreciated

Chris