Flooring delema

[Bluetoys]

I have been trying to take up a patch of vinyl flooring. I can peel off the top layer of vinyl, but I have have been able to only get a modest amount of the paper layer up. I have scraped with a 5 in one, drywall knife that I sharpened, and a wall scraper. I have tried all these while it is dry, soaked with water and after I scored it. a small bit of it came up, but I still have what I feel is a tremendous amount to go, at this pace.
I have read that I must take this up, but I am very frustrated in this and am almost ready to just peel the rest of the vinyl off and thin-set over it. I was concerned that the water in the thin-set would lift the "paper" from the concrete, but after letting it soak for 24 hours under a wet towel and then having no better luck trying to scrape it off, I really don't think it will lift.
This is an area about 7 ft by 40 inches or so. Part of it will be under the vanity and storage cabinet. This is also where the door is and will be walked on.
I have the thin-set, Ditra and tiles, I want to get this done and have been really held up by this vinyl flooring problem. I figure that the biggest decision is whether the thin-set is gonna stick to the "paper" crap, I would think the Ditra would help to ease any concern I have about the tiles coming up.
Any suggestions? anyway to get around this mess? It is gonna be in the 40s/50s/ here this week, I need to get this done so I can go riding.

[TalonChief]

I have seen ride-on machines for removing this stuff from large areas--I assume someone makes a smaller version. I have a heavy scraper made for this--got it in the tile area of one of the toy stores.

I've got the scraper too... always gotten it up...

Stop by the vinyl flooring distributor in your area, pick up a scraper and some solvent...

or maybe a belt sander?

[thrasher]

Its going to make a hell of a mess either way. It sounds like they have it glued down all over (as opposed to just on the perimiter). I used a heavy floor scraper (which didn't do too great) and a 4" razor scraper (did the best). I got it up, but its some damned hard work, and a lot of it. Its just a PIA anyway you look at it...

The only thing thats messier is trying to demo out tile thats pretty well cured; I had to use an electric chipping hammer for that.

[JRFLHR]

Sometimes the the sheet goods are put on quarter inch plywood.Go to a doorway and see if thats the case.If it is you should be able to take up the plywood a lot easier then the glued down stuff.Most people use air staplers to install the plywood and usually comes up easy.Renail the floor and glue and screw hardybacker before tile.
Joe

[Xkvator]

how old is it...? abestos concerns...!

can you put the backer right over it...i think they make it in 5/16"...if the floors sturdy, 1/4" plywood backer(not luan) should work...

[vafatboy]

Originally Posted by JRFLHR

Sometimes the the sheet goods are put on quarter inch plywood.Go to a doorway and see if thats the case.If it is you should be able to take up the plywood a lot easier then the glued down stuff.Most people use air staplers to install the plywood and usually comes up easy.Renail the floor and glue and screw hardybacker before tile.
Joe

If it's over luan and any other underlayment for that matter, this would be the way to go. Let us know what the substrate is. If concrete, razor scrappers are the way to go....get extra blades.

yes you must get it all up !!!

heat will also help getting it up, it loosens the glue. ie heat gun or propane blow torch.


I went and bought this http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=37073

and modified it by putting a 4 iches wide scrapper blade on it. You will need a decent air compressor to run it

this is a shot of us using it on a concrete ceiling scraping the coating off.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...ome-and-garden

[Xkvator]

Originally Posted by captainlee

You will need a decent air compressor to run it

what air comp. are you using...?...says it needs 10 cfm...

This is the one we use the most. Works well.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...air+compressor

[route66paul]

Originally Posted by thrasher

Its going to make a hell of a mess either way. It sounds like they have it glued down all over (as opposed to just on the perimiter). I used a heavy floor scraper (which didn't do too great) and a 4" razor scraper (did the best). I got it up, but its some damned hard work, and a lot of it. Its just a PIA anyway you look at it...

The only thing thats messier is trying to demo out tile thats pretty well cured; I had to use an electric chipping hammer for that.

Any time you put vinyl flooring down, you must glue the whole thing. the areas that aren't glued will bubble and rip. If you want a smooth floor, you must glue the entire thing down to a smooth subfloor.

[vafatboy]

Originally Posted by route66paul

Any time you put vinyl flooring down, you must glue the whole thing. the areas that aren't glued will bubble and rip. If you want a smooth floor, you must glue the entire thing down to a smooth subfloor.

Except for the perimeter glue down type.

[TalonChief]

I love this place.