Can I Pull Up Old Stick-On Tile & Replace It With New?

Scraping

• The peel-and-stick vinyl tiles adhere to a underlayment, or a piece of plywood that provides a solid and level surface for the tiles. Removing the tiles from the underlayment involves scraping the tiles off using strength and either a rigid putty knife or a floor scraper tool. You must catch the edge of the tiles and force the putty knife or scraper’s blade under the tiles, breaking the adhesive bond so the tiles come loose.

Heat

• Heating the tiles or the adhesive under them helps you scrape them up without applying as much force. The heat makes the tiles more pliant and softens the adhesive that bonds the tiles to the floor. Flooring company Armstrong recommends heating each vinyl tile with a hair dryer before you begin the removal process. You may also apply warm or hot water to the tiles or the adhesive to aid in the removal process. The same process may also make removing the old adhesive from the underlayment an easier task.

Asbestos Danger

• Old floor tiles may contain asbestos, which is a toxic substance. You may have your peel-and-stick tiles tested for the presence of asbestos before you remove them, alerting you to the potential danger. Taking certain precautions during the removal of old tiles protects you from being exposed to asbestos. Never sand or file down the tiles or the adhesive that holds the tiles to the floor during the removal process, as doing so can release the asbestos in the air. By taping up plastic sheeting that spans floor to ceiling at the borders of the area where you are removing the flooring, you also keep any asbestos that becomes airborne from moving into other parts of the house. You may also use an air filter that is labeled for use in removing asbestos from the air inside the area where you are removing the tiles. Removing the underlayment also reduces the chances of asbestos exposure, but you must wet down the underlayment before removing it to prevent the asbestos particles from becoming airborne.

Underlayment Damage

• Removing vinyl tiles may require some serious elbow grease, which in turn can result in damage to the tiles’ underlayment. Once you have removed all of the tiles and the leftover adhesive, examine the underlayment for gouges, nicks or other damage that could pose a problem when laying a fresh layer of vinyl flooring. You may repair any damaged sections of the underlayment with floor patch, which you trowel into the damaged spot until it sits level with the surrounding wood. Allow the patch to dry, following the instructions on the patch’s package, before laying new flooring.