How To Remove Vinyl Flooring?
QUICK ANSWER
Remove vinyl flooring depending on type: floating click-lock vinyl plank unclicks from an edge and stacks up easily. Glued-down sheet vinyl or vinyl tile cuts into strips with a utility knife and pulls up, often leaving adhesive behind that needs scraping.
Vinyl flooring removal varies wildly based on how it was installed. Modern luxury vinyl plank (LVP) floats and clicks together, so removal is just unclicking from an edge. Older sheet vinyl and vinyl tile were glued down and removal involves cutting, pulling, and scraping. Here is the method for each type and how to deal with the adhesive that usually stays behind.
How do you remove floating vinyl plank flooring?
LVP and most modern vinyl plank flooring floats above the subfloor without any adhesive. Start at a wall or doorway where you can access the edge of the last installed plank. Slide a putty knife or thin pry bar under the edge to pop the click-lock joint open, then lift the plank. Each subsequent plank unclicks from its neighbor and lifts free. Work backward through the installation in reverse order. Save the planks if you want to reuse them since they are still functional flooring.
How do you remove glued-down vinyl sheets?
Sheet vinyl is one continuous piece glued to the subfloor with mastic adhesive. Cut the vinyl into strips about 6 to 12 inches wide using a utility knife with a fresh blade. Use a long pry bar or floor scraper to lift each strip from one end and pull it up. The vinyl tears as you pull but most of it comes off. The adhesive almost always stays bonded to the floor and is the harder part of the job. Wear knee pads since this is a low, slow project.
How do you remove vinyl tile flooring?
Vinyl tile (sometimes called VCT or vinyl composition tile) is glued to the subfloor in individual squares. Pry up one tile near an edge with a putty knife to start. Use a heat gun on low to soften the adhesive under stuck tiles, then pry with the putty knife while still warm. The tile comes up in mostly-intact squares for the first few, then often starts breaking as you work into the room. A floor scraper with a long handle saves your back on larger areas.
What about the leftover adhesive?
Adhesive (mastic) on the subfloor under removed vinyl is the worst part of the job. For latex-based mastic, warm water and a putty knife handles it. For asphaltic mastic (the black tar-like adhesive on older installs), use a citrus-based adhesive remover like Goo Gone Pro-Power or Sentinel Formula 626. Older homes pre-1980 may have vinyl with asbestos backing or asbestos adhesive; if your vinyl is from that era, get it tested before removal and consider hiring abatement professionals.
Removing vinyl flooring depends on type. Floating LVP unclicks from edges. Glued sheet vinyl cuts into strips and pulls up. Vinyl tile pries up with heat assistance. Adhesive almost always stays behind and is the slowest part of the job. For pre-1980 vinyl, test for asbestos before disturbing it since some older vinyl backings and adhesives contain it.
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