DIYbanter - View Single Post - How to remove old black lino tile backing from pine floor before sanding?

jJim McLaughlin

wrote:
I've tried cold scraping, hot water....too messy, think it cools too
quickly,have to keep wiping up. hair dryer, last night tried steam
iron held just above pitchy stuff, sometimes it worked and I was able
to peel a liitle off down to floor boards but mostly some top layer
moved but then I'm left with lower layer still.
So far it looks unbeatable, then I thought maybe I'm not the only one,
so I'm hoping someone has already solved the problem in a manageable
way and can offer advice.
I understand the sanding man won't touch it as it gums up his brushes/
sander.
Hoping
Robyn

Had a simlar problem about 25 years ago when I had to get glued down
carpet pad off a concrete floor in the basement family room. (No, I do
not know what the prior owner was thinking. But just to give you an
idea, the glued pad was under brown plaid indoor outdoor carpet.)

Despite lots and lots of scraping the black glue crap and final layer of the
pad wouldn't come up fully.

I resorted to a solvent. Just plain paint thinner. Lots of it.

Note: Exterior sliding door was open, the water heater in the utility
room was electric, not gas, and the furnace was off and the pilot
light on the funace was off. (And no, I also do not why the first owner
and the builder had electric stove, gas heat and electric hot water.)

Anyway, i put aout a quart paint thinner on a 3' x 3' square and
let it sit about 15 minutes, and scraped with a with a 4 inch joint
compound / taping "knife" thingy. Scraped up the crud on each
pass. Scraped the joint compound thingy off with rags and paper
towels and into a bucket. Repeated a lot. Washed floor with a
degreaser then with hot soapy water. Took about a week of
evenings for a 15' x 24' room.

I'm glad I was a lot younger then. Not sure my knees would
take it now.