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.