Are you thinking about removing linoleum in your home? It’s not easy, but doable. Removing linoleum from your home can be quite a task, a lot of it depends on how old the linoleum is, and the kind of adhesive that was used to fasten it down. Sometimes, if it’s solidly bound, and not cracking or heaving, people decide to leave it underneath whatever else they are laying down. Nonetheless, most home owners choose to start from scratch, and that means a lot of elbow grease, no matter which method of removal you decide on.

It would be great if the linoleum and adhesive lifted together, but that’s usually not the case. Taking up the old flooring is usually the easiest part of the job, and the real work begins when you’re faced with a layer of adhesive. Concrete floors can withstand heavy scraping, but wood floors require a more gentle touch. Many home renovators use razor blades or scrapers to take up the old adhesive. Be prepared to stock up on supplies. The adhesive can be so tough that it actually snaps metal blades.

One piece of advice is not to try and remove everything at once. Many people instead cut the linoleum into strips or sections, and peel that off. You should pull up most of the surface, and likely a good portion of the backing. Doing it this way will make it easier to get at the adhesive underneath as well.

When the top layer is removed and you’re down to bits of adhesive, it’s time to get scraping. There are a few options to clean away the old glue. According to consumer reviews, Krud Kutter and other chemical solvents can make the job easier. If you decide to use any of these products, make sure that you read the instructions carefully. Be sure to wear gloves and a ventilation mask. Work one small area at a time before moving on to the next.

Some home renovators have had success using boiling water to soften the adhesive. Working one section at a time, pour the water directly onto the backing and adhesive. Leave it to soak, and then scrape up the softened debris. Another option is to lay a folded towel over the adhesive, pour the boiling water, let it set and then begin scraping.

Direct heat is a great way to soften old linoleum adhesive. Find an inconspicuous area of flooring, and use a hair dryer and putty knife to scrape away the glue. On hardwood floors, you must push the scraper in the same direction as the natural grain of the wood, or you’ll be left with a damaged floor. Keep a durable pan nearby to hold the scrapings, and be sure that it won’t melt or burn if it comes in contact with the heat source or hot materials.

You may wish to move up to using a heat gun after you become comfortable with this process. If so, be careful not to overheat the wood and char it. You should also know that using this technique may allow some of the softened mastic to flow into the joints between the floorboards. Keeping the heated area small, constantly moving the heat source and scraping as quickly as possible will all help improve the outcome.

Bear in mind that this trick will never remove all of the old adhesive. Trying to scrape up all the old adhesive is likely to damage the wood. Scrape up the amount that will come up readily, sweep and vacuum, and consider your next step. In some cases a gentle sanding may be best. In other cases you may be able to scrub enough of the residue off with rags dampened with turpentine, mineral spirits or some similar solvent to get the floor ready to refinish. If you were going to apply a new covering that required new mastic, seal the wood and go ahead.

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