Flooring of a house projects the right kind of image and style that one desires. A lot of investment and effort goes into fixing the flooring. However, if you are considering renovation of your home then changing the flooring is a great idea but it is a daunting task and an expensive affair.
In case the existing flooring is vinyl then you can remove them and switch to ceramic or other floor tiles. However, a simplest and cheapest solution is to lay vinyl flooring over it if the surface looks even and smooth. In case of removing the vinyl flooring the following steps can be followed
Collect tools
Removing vinyl flooring requires lot of patience and attention to details. You cannot remove them in a hurry as it may affect the subfloor. Any damage to the floor beneath the vinyl may lead to albeit costly job. You need to collect some accessories before you start the removal process like
- Utility knife
- Citrus solvent
- Hot water
- Vacuum cleaner
- Floor scrapper
- Heat gun
- Gloves
Clear off the room
The room where the work is to be done must be cleared off. All the furniture and accessories must be vacated from the house to ensure a smooth flow of the work. In case, there are any electrical appliances ensure that their power is switched off. This allows ample space for the workers to move around and also keep their tools in place.
Trim removal
The trims along the sides have to be removed with lot of care. Make sure that after removing they are placed in appropriate containers. If you intent to reuse them, it is very important to make use of the tools like screwdrivers to remove the trim without damaging their shapes.
Remove pins
The next step involves the locating of the nail, pins or staples used for fixing the nail during the initial installation process. These have to be removed carefully using the pry bar and placed in disposal containers. Ensure proper disposal of the nails or it may cause injuries. Make sure that all the nail and pins have been removed as only then the pulling of the vinyl is made possible without much struggle.
Pull the vinyl
The next step involves the actual removing of the vinyl floor. The vinyl must have been glued to the floor and a corner will often be left without any adhesives. It’s now essential to locate that spot from where the stripping off the vinyl must begin. Here you can make use of the utility knife to cut off strips of the vinyl at 12 inches and pull them. Scrapers can be used to remove vinyl that is tough for pulling off.
Scrape off the glue
You can keep the hot soapy water handy to remove the glue. You can also soak the area with the acetone and leave it for a few minutes. Then use the floor scrapper to remove the glue that is stuck on the floor.
Softener for adhesive
As strong adhesives are used for fixing the vinyl firmly to floor, it may be difficult to remove them. Make use of the heat gun and start covering small sections and removing using the scrapper. You need to be extremely careful not to cause damage to the subfloor.
Clean the floor
After the entire vinyl floor is removed, ensure that the place is cleaned using vacuum. Also inspect the subfloor to ensure that there are no damages caused during the vinyl removal procedure.
Careful and meticulous planning can help in easy removal of the vinyl flooring.
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