Removing sticky lino tiles from floorboards?

[Boosted LS1]

I have a room that has wooden floorboards overlaid with some awful lino tiles which are stuck down. Some of them are lifting and I want to remove them and either restore the floorboards or lay down carpeting. There is black glue on the floorboards which is going to be a pain to remove(I think)and whilst it's left there will stick to me or anything else that walks on it. Has anybody carried out a similar project? Thanks.

[andyroo]

I had similar but on a concrete floor and used a heat gun to get the most off and white spirits to lift the residue

[tubbystu]

I had the same in my kitchen. Are you sure the tiles are directly onto the floorboards or is there a hardboard lining layer between the two ?

If you lift the tiles (which mine came up surprisingly easily with the aid of occasional scraper encouragement) and leave the adhesive, mine went off in the air. I then stripped the hardboard out and started again.

Getting the adhesive off would require considerable time and effort, and thinners of some ilk no doubt and be a right 5hitty job.

[Boosted LS1]

Thanks. Yes, the tiles are glued to the floorboards but are lifting easily. Once I remove them I'll have to sort out the old adhesive. Looks like it'll be a grotty job then!

[AlexJ12]

Not punting for work here, but i have encountered this twice in the passed (having a floor sanding business) if you are looking to sand the floors yourself be prepared to go through a whole pack of 24 grit belts to get the rubbery residue left from the tiles backing will melt onto the belts very quickly. If your planning to get someone in to do then as long as they have decent machines they'll be fine but they will still go through a pack of belts though!!!

Good luck.

[spikeyhead]

Rip out old floorboards and fit now ones. May be almsot as cheap.

[Flintstone]

AlexJ12 said:

Not punting for work here, but i have encountered this twice in the passed...

Dead people covered in glue? Weird

[steve2]

the other option is if you are going to carpet the floor either ply or hardboard the floor

[AlexJ12]

spikeyhead said:

Rip out old floorboards and fit now ones. May be almsot as cheap.

Pack of coarse sanding belts (24 grit) no more than £40 plus machine hire etc etc can't be no more than £200 for the weekend from HSS...I can buy reclaimed boards for about £35 per square metre. I suppouse it depends on how many square metres that needs replacing.

[Simpo Two]

I wouldn't try to sand anything gunky, it will clog instantly. And even dried glue can soften under the friction and melt into the sandpaper rendering it useless.

How about paint stripper? Then scrape the clag off and and sand.

[davidd]

Is it an option to lift all the boards.... turn them over... lay back down?

Then a quick sand and bingo...

If you are sanding then I would advise against a drum sander, get a belt sander as they are faster, less messy and easier...

[Simpo Two]

davidd said:

Is it an option to lift all the boards.... turn them over... lay back down?

That's a neat idea.

[Laurel Green]

Simpo Two said:

davidd said:

Is it an option to lift all the boards.... turn them over... lay back down?

That's a neat idea.

Was just about to mention the same thing. It is possible that the finish on the reverse side will be of a lesser finish but, worth lifting a few boards to check this out.

[Boosted LS1]

Hey, that's a good idea. I've lifted a couple already for rewiring. It's just an upper landing so not a huge area. Thanks.

[AlexJ12]

Laurel Green said:

Simpo Two said:

davidd said:

Is it an option to lift all the boards.... turn them over... lay back down?

That's a neat idea.

Was just about to mention the same thing. It is possible that the finish on the reverse side will be of a lesser finish but, worth lifting a few boards to check this out.

It is good idea but from experience if the boards have been screwed down yes you might be lucky pulling them up. If there nailed down good luck trying to get them up in once piece can be hardwork, also there will be joist marks, like shadows underneath.

Whichever way you do it they will need sanding

Good luck whichever way you decide to go.

[TpdNotts]

getting the gunk off is a nightmare. Been there, done that. However turning over and as said above, then sanding to a smooth finish would do a great job..

[Boosted LS1]

Hi Teresa, think I'll lift the tiles and just throw some talk onto the gunk for now. I'll lay a rug over the top until I decide to carpet. The floorboards look to shot to remove and lay upside down.

[Ken Sington]

Had to do this a few years back. Used Nitromors to remove the glue. Nasty yucky job, but it did the business, then I sanded the boards down and varnished them. Came up a treat.

[Simpo Two]

Boosted LS1 said:

I'll lift the tiles and just throw some talk onto the gunk for now.

It'll be a rather one-sided conversation!

[silverthorn2151]

Be aware that some stuck down tiles that you might mistake for lino are thermoplastic and the backing contains asbestos.

You can remove them yourself but they have to be bagged and go to a special tip. As it's a small area i would change the boards. Job done.