How to Remove Self-Adhesive Vinyl Floor Tiles

Self-adhesive vinyl floor tiles are a very popular flooring surface that are commonly used in a number of different applications. You will often find them in kitchens, utility rooms and bathrooms. However, if you decide that you want to remove these tiles, a fair amount of work will be involved. Here are the basics of how to remove self adhesive vinyl floor tiles effectively.

Step 1—Assess the Condition of the Vinyl Tiles

The first thing that you will want to do is assess the condition of the self-adhesive vinyl floor tiles. Many times, the adhesive of these tiles is not what it should be. After a certain amount of time, it starts to release its hold on the floor. Therefore, you may be able to simply go along and lift them up off the floor. Get down the ground and try to pull on the corner of one of the tiles. If it comes up easily, your job will also be very easy. However, if it is stuck pretty well, further measures will be necessary.

Step 2—Cut the Tiles

If the vinyl tiles are stuck to the floor very well, take a utility knife and score each one of them. Cut a slit in the middle of each tile on the floor.

Step 3—Apply Water

Once you have cut the tiles, you should apply water to the surface of the floor. Get a bucket of water and dump some on each tile. If you are on a wood subfloor, you will want to make sure that you do not pour out too much water as it could damage the wood. However, if you are on concrete, this should not be an issue. Thoroughly cover the surface of the vinyl with water and then allow it to soak into the tile for a while. By cutting the tile and then putting water inside the cut, you will help to release the adhesive. This will make it much easier to take up the tile in most cases.

Step 4—Scrape Up the Tile

Once you have allowed the water to soak in underneath the tile and break up the adhesive a little bit, it is time to start scraping. This is the hardest part of taking up vinyl and there is no easy way around it. Take a long handled scraper and start scraping at the floor. Start at the edge of one of the tiles and then work your way across the floor. Try to take up the adhesive at the same time instead of just breaking off the tiles. Many people will scrape up the tile and leave all the adhesive because it is easier. However, you will need to remove the adhesive if you plan on installing anything else in its place. 

Step 5—Clean Up

Once you have scraped up the tile, it's time to clean up the area. If there is any adhesive still left on the floor, use mineral spirits to clean them off. When you are done, you should have a completely clean subfloor to work with.