More on kitchen remodeling

[sraun]

A couple of questions:

First, for anyone on my FL - anyone have experience taking up old linoleum/vinyl floor tile? We've got 12" square tile that's so old that the surface is worn off. We want to take it off the kitchen floor. I don't know where to start - hints, suggestions or pointers?

Second, for anyone with experience in the Mpls/St Paul, MN, area - talking to my dad just now, he suspects that the floor underneath the tile referenced above is the original oak floor. If that is true, we're considering re-finishing it instead of putting down new seamless linoleum. Anyone have any recommendations for hardwood floor refinishers?

The theory is that we're going to get up three or four of the existing tiles, and then clean off / sand down to the bare wood to see what's there. Then decide which way we're going to jump. Regardless, we're assuming we'll have to put some kind of tile / linoleum in the back entry / pantry - that's a remodel where they took the pre-existing porch and turned it into a three-quarter bath / small entry / pantry area, and we know the floor in the bathroom is not hardwood!

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Brute force, mainly. Go to home depot (or something), they sell long-handled scrapers that look a bit like ice choppers and if you are lucky you'll be able to use them to strip up the lanoleum. There don't seem to be any affective solvents (at least there wern't two years ago).

If it doesn't work well, you may need to lay down a new surface (plywood or concrete board, depending on what you want to put down) on top of the old one.

[neonnurse.livejournal.com]

You can buy a heat gun, which is like a super powered blow dryer. Using it to heat the tile should soften the adhesive and let it be pried up.

I have the same kind of tiles in 6" sizes

[thebluerose.livejournal.com]

Which I have started taking up - its a bloody awful job. Recommend to start with a spade and then scrape from there.

Im paying professionals to do it.

Me personally, not a wooden floor person. They are cold, dusty and get dirty really easily. Yes they have character, but thats not enuf for me.

Im looking forward to my new lino!

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

If it were sheet vinyl, my own experience would suggest you start by getting a puppy....

As you probably remember, Willow removed most of the kitchen floor at Toad Hall when she was a 6-month-old puppy. I went after the rest with a putty knife and wider scraper. But it wasn't a very old floor. The putty knife and scraper also worked to remove the tiles themselves from the bathroom floor, and that sounds more similar to what you're starting with. I used a chisel and hammer to smooth out as much of the old adhesive as I could.

Here's what a couple of Google searches showed up. You've probably already done them, but since I went looking....

"To remove old vinyl tiles you need the patience of a saint and Herculean strength. It is, we believe, the worst job on the planet! A good floor scraper is a must, but even these do take a lot of muscle. Some tiles will "chip" up if you hit them close to the edge with a hammer and bolster. A hot air gun, applied gently to the adhesive, will loosen it and allow it to be scraped up as well."

DIY Doctor (http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/removelino.htm)

oldhouseweb (http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/10155.shtml) recommends a method that's sure to appeal to fans: dry ice!

Everybody warns that old tile may well contain asbestos. Given that yours is so old the surface is worn off, that may well be a factor.

[kosmickitten.livejournal.com]

For refinishing hard wood, Craig is the only one I can think of, but I'm not sure you want to open that can of worms. You could discuss it with Mom. Uncle Kearn would be a good person to ask for recommendations on anything that is remodeling.

If they are wood....

[mizzlaurajean.livejournal.com]

Rick Charmolli, Charms Enterprises. I believe he has done work for Beth, Larry and us. We we're happy with him. I could probably find his contact and I know Larry could.

Re: If they are wood....

[sraun]

Thanks! If you could find Rick's info, that would be wonderful! I'll also ask Larry directly.

3M...

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

When we did the kitchen here, which was the 12" tiles, we got them up without too much work, but then there was a mess of adhesive. The 3M stripper, applied exceptionally liberaly and covered with plastic for a day or so cut the adhesive so it could be easily lifted with a scraper or putty knife. After we had most of it up, I had the floor refinished.

Whatever you try, I'd recommend trying it on a small section before trying it on the whole floor.

Re: 3M...

[sraun]

mizzlaurajean said you could probably find contact info for Rick Charmolli, Charms Enterprises for me? Please?