Removing linoleum could be a very difficult task if the components under the linoleum and the type of floor where it was installed are not identified. Understanding these components is the key to how to remove linoleum effectively.

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Underneath the linoleum is an adhesive or glue that might have bonded on the floor after so many years. Removing the linoleum is a little bit easy but removing the adhesive is a lot challenging. Certain techniques have to be tried before the right solution for the problem is applied.

Knowing the type of floor helps in determining the ease of removing old linoleum. If the linoleum is placed under a concrete floor, the steps on how to remove linoleum adhesive are very easy. On the other hand, if the linoleum and adhesive are placed on the hardwood or plywood sub floor then the procedures on how to remove linoleum glue could be difficult.

Removing the adhesives in concrete and hardwood is really easy but will require a lot of patience. If you are able to understand how to remove linoleum tile on a concrete floor, solvents could be applied to melt the adhesives. This practice cannot completely remove the adhesives so a heat gun should be used to remove smaller portions of adhesive on the floor. Applying solvent on a hardwood on the other hand, is not recommended. Heat guns could be used to melt the adhesives.

On the other hand, if the linoleum is installed on a wooden sub-floor, the linoleum and the wooden sub-floor could be removed at the same time. The challenge of how to remove linoleum floor in this type of installation is to determine the depth of the sub-floor. If the depth of the sub-floor is overestimated, the actual hardwood could be affected. The depth could be determined by slowly drilling a hole in the sub-floor and match the depth of that measurement to the circular saw. The circular saw should cut in smaller pieces to easily remove the sub-floor together with the linoleum.

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Comments (11)

• |2009-03-08 10:00:35 Jeff  - I just put tile over my linoleum
  I have to say I had a hard time trying to remove my linoleum, It was such a pain so I just put tile on top.
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• |2010-04-10 05:33:34 gman  - i did too!
  hah! That is what I did too!
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• |2009-07-18 21:40:11 bevtrigilio@yahoo.com  - tile over linoleum
  actually that is one way to eliminate the cracking that tiles under go as concrete slabs dry out in summer and gain moisture in winter. I live in an area where the membrane is not enough as the clay moves causing a real hardship on the slab If the tile is not heavy enough it will crack and splinter.
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• |2009-10-07 07:18:44 Jeremy  - Remove linoleum with hot iron
  the hot iron and steam will loosen the glue and you can remove the tiles easily in one full sheet instead of chipping at it with lots of elbow grease.
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• |2009-10-08 17:55:41 Jared.
  DIY to FYI Its A Pain In The Ass
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• |2010-06-22 15:39:56 tile over linoleum
  I'm attempting this weekend in my Master Bath. I have 2 layers on linoleum on top of the sub-floor and need to get both up so I can lay tile. Wich me luck.
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• |2010-06-24 20:39:42 Charlene
  We just chipped it all up with a sharpened flat shovel, and now have a mess of black adhesive to remove before we can lay tile. (cement slab)I guess we will try detergent/water in one area tonight and see how it goes tomorrow. Is there an adhesive remover that works? If I ever decide to do this again, just shoot me...
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• |2010-07-13 12:21:40 Newf
  right now i'm in the middle of pulling up a 40 year old lino from concrete. I used a crow bar under a loose edge a slowly worked my way around prying from the bottom. i got all the lino from the floor of a 20 x 10 room in a couple of hours. now i'm just left with small bits of glue everywhere.you will see the lino stretch, but best if you can keep it from cracking as you pry. hope this helps
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• |2010-07-13 14:45:30 Charlene  - finished it
  It turned out that they could lay the tile over the old adhesive, since it was not very thick or uneven. Whew... what a relief! The new tile looks awesome. Wish you luck with yours as well.
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• |2010-07-23 07:51:18 jully  - remove linoleum
  Hi,
  Good query to put up. I suggest that depending on the age of the linoleum and the type of adhesive used it could be extremely difficult to remove. Sometimes linoleum was installed and only glued around the edges and around heat ducts in the floor. If this is the case with your floor, it won't be easier but will at least be less time consuming. On substrate flooring cut the linoleum into strips with a razor knife. This will make it easier to start scraping if your floor is completely glued and will make your old linoleum easier to handle if it is edge glued. Once you have cut the strips now it is time to start scraping and remove linoleum.
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• |2010-07-28 20:01:10 Joe  - linoleum
  So I can just put tile over the old linoleum? Would I need to put down backerboard? or ?
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