DIY Tools and Materials
- Hot water (for plywood or OSB subfloors)
- Citrus solvent (for concrete slabs; be sure the manufacturer recommends it for adhesive or mastic removal) Shop vac
- Floor scraper
- Putty knife
- Hair dryer or heat gun
Floor Preparation and Baseboard Removal Obviously, the first thing to do is to remove all the furniture from the room or at least shift it all to one side and work one side of the room at a time. Next, either remove all the baseboard or leave it on. If left on, it will be necessary to use a utility knife to cut through the vinyl at the edge of the baseboard. After installing the new upgraded floor, quarter round or some other wood, plastic, or PVC trim must be added at the bottom of the baseboard.
Remove the Vinyl Tiles It's possible to begin anywhere. Start at any tile seam with the floor scraper, but when working with sheet goods, it is advisable to use a utility knife to cut the flooring into manageable strips. The heat gun or hair dryer will both loosen the adhesive or mastic and make the vinyl more pliable. Scrape up the majority of the mastic along with the flooring. For stubborn spots use the hot water or citrus solvent. If using the heat gun, be sure the citrus isn't flammable.
Final Steps Make a final pass to ensure that all the mastic has been removed. Use the shop vac to clean the work area thoroughly. Now, before starting on installing the new finish floor, it's critical to do a careful inspection. If a wood subfloor has any water damage or creaks, this is the time to make those repairs. It may be necessary to repair saggy, springy floors. Concrete foundations can also have their issues. If water has been leeching up through the slab, find and resolve the reason. High spots need to be leveled by chipping or grinding and low spots can be corrected with a self-leveling compound. Working with level subfloors is critical when installing laminate floors.
Source: www.suite101.com
