Making the linoleum go away.
March 9, 2011 2:37 PM Subscribe
Home Improvement Filter: Help me remove some linseed oil linoleum from the WW2 era.
Part of my rent is doing a few renovation projects each month (family arrangment) and the most recent one has been stripping a set of stairs for painting. The carpet came up pretty easily but we discovered some old linoleum.
I thought it'd be easy to remove at first but all I ended up doing is removing the top layer leaving the black felt backing which doesn't seem to want to budge.
Any hints on getting rid the backing? If it matters the area involved is 3 steps and a 3'x3' landing.
Part of my rent is doing a few renovation projects each month (family arrangment) and the most recent one has been stripping a set of stairs for painting. The carpet came up pretty easily but we discovered some old linoleum.
I thought it'd be easy to remove at first but all I ended up doing is removing the top layer leaving the black felt backing which doesn't seem to want to budge.
Any hints on getting rid the backing? If it matters the area involved is 3 steps and a 3'x3' landing.
This product you are removing could very likely contain asbestos. I would find out before exposing yourself and family to it.
posted by PaulBGoode at 3:36 PM on March 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by PaulBGoode at 3:36 PM on March 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
Best answer: True linoleum does not contain asbestos. Linoleum is made with linseed oil, sawdust, pigments and sometimes a jute fiber backing. Now assuming what you have is real linoleum and not some sort of vinyl, asbestos should not be a concern. The backing was most likely applied using a hide glue. Hide glue is water soluble. Get a bucket of hot water and with a sponge generously wet the paper. Using a scraper you should be able to scrape the backing off the wood. I would keep a towel on hand and dry the floor as you go. Try this in a small non seen spot first. If this doesn't work you most likely have a tar or contact cement style glue and you will have to resort to oil based solvents.
posted by Buckshot at 4:50 PM on March 9, 2011
posted by Buckshot at 4:50 PM on March 9, 2011
Best answer: Now assuming what you have is real linoleum and not some sort of vinyl, asbestos should not be a concern.
It's not the linoleum that would have the asbestos but that black backing. It's usually classified as non-friable as the asbestos fibers are bound up with the glue... under no circumstances should you sand that black backing unless it has been tested asbestos free. You can remove it with water as someone suggested but make sure that all of the black has been removed before sanding.
posted by ennui.bz at 7:59 PM on March 9, 2011
It's not the linoleum that would have the asbestos but that black backing. It's usually classified as non-friable as the asbestos fibers are bound up with the glue... under no circumstances should you sand that black backing unless it has been tested asbestos free. You can remove it with water as someone suggested but make sure that all of the black has been removed before sanding.
posted by ennui.bz at 7:59 PM on March 9, 2011
Response by poster: After trying the water we decided that it wasn't worth the effort (or risk) so we're just going to put some outdoors carpet over it. Thanks for your input!
posted by cabbages at 6:32 PM on March 22, 2011
posted by cabbages at 6:32 PM on March 22, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:18 PM on March 9, 2011