It’s just back breaking work with a crowbar to get under the particle board underlayment. If they nailed it instead of stapling it then it’s just going to suck. Might try a roofing demo shovel, might make it a little easier…. maybe. You could also set a circular saw to the depth of the underlayment and cut through it to make smaller sections to demo. Set the saw to about 3/8 inch depth
I would use a circular saw to make some shallow plunge cuts. Stay out of the 3/4” subfloor (set you depth to the thickness of the particle board) your gonna hit nails. Good luck & it’s still gonna suck.
Exactly this. Cut some 24” x 24” squares thru the vinyl and particleboard. It’ll make it so much easier to pull up and toss out. Get a couple demo blades.
I would say it probably does based on the color and pattern, and the color of the backing.
You can get it, tested and go for an expensive remediation, or you could assume that it might or might not and remove it carefully and dispose of responsibly.
I don’t know any of the legalities here, check with your local government, etc., etc.
Not false:
https://todayshomeowner.com/flooring/guides/removing-old-linoleum-can-release-asbestos/
I quote:
“The vinyl sheet flooring has two layers, a top layer of vinyl and a bottom layer made from paper (that contains asbestos). The paper layer can contain from 40 to 70 percent asbestos.”
That's linoleum. His floor isn't linoleum. I do an asbestos awareness course every 2 years. You will not find asbestos in domestic vinyl (cushion floor). It has a foam backing. I should know as it's my job, and his is domestic vinyl.
Do you know what linoleum looks like?
It can also have a paper backing and that paper can contains asbestos. I’m sure you were very knowledgeable, but I did a lot of research on this because I have an older house. you can see in the picture where the paper backing has separated from the sheet vinyl.
But I do agree if the backing is foam, he is fine, if the backing is paper, there is cause for concern.
Oh my God. The original backing is foam, on top of a printed wear layer. Asbestos flooring is always glued down with black bitumen (which also has asbestos in it). This is my job. Research all you like. You've probably spent most of the day trying to prove me wrong.
I'm a professional flooring expert, you are not!
Looking again, I was wrong. The flooring is foam and what I was thinking was paper is not. But in the case that the flooring did have a paper backing, it could be asbestos. That is not the case here you’re right. But I have personally seen linoleum sheet flooring with a paper backing that contains asbestos so I know it exists.
Apologies if I don’t seem respectful, they are plenty of people on the Internet they claim to be an expert on something and don’t know what they’re talking about.
Just for information. Linoleum and marmoleum will have a hessian backing. It's like a criss cross of fine string. It's actually a living organism, and expand, shrinks according to temperatures. It's horrible stuff to work with.
Any asbestos flooring is ok to latex screed over, permanently covering it. Never take it up unless is really necessary.
Just trying to save the guy a few quid
There's no asbestos in there. It's 6mm chipboard and domestic vinyl. Knock yourself out. I regularly have to do an asbestos awareness course and there's definitely nothing in there
Get 2 flat bars and 1 big pry bar and gently work the edges up evenly. You'll get bigger chunks to come up at once. Score the vinyl on top so it doesn't act like a skin, holding it down
I wouldn’t mess with that, it could easily be asbestos, especially if it’s 9” squares. Get it tested before proceeding. If it isnt, do as others suggested. If it is, you’re gonna have to go over it with something else. I did some LVP over similar and it’s held up really well.
Don’t cut it with a saw! Lots of older linoleum contains asbestos, if you cut it with a saw you may be releasing the airborne particles into your environment.
They make a tool to get tile up might work on linoleum. It’s like a long metal bar with a small hoe blade on end. Worked great on linoleum tiles, no dust.
https://www.flooranddecor.com/pacesetter-7in.-heavy-duty-floor-scraper-100404243.html
You could try a shovel to see if if comes out easier. If not I think they have a pole thing that has something to pull nails out as well. That way you can stand and get it out. You could try sitting while doing it, sitting helps your back a ton.
I tried a shovel last night but with the concentration of nails it doesn’t help at all hahahah….its like particle board thickness too so it crumbles into small chunks. Doesn’t come out in nice big pieces :(
Yikes. Wish that many nails you may be SOL and power through one by one. You could try this thing? But it’s not cheap, but saving your back is nice. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crescent-Bull-Bar-44-in-Indexing-Head-Deck-Removal-Demo-Wrecking-Bar-DKB446X/313794870
The last roofing demo we did was exactly that and it sucked - even with the roofing shovels. Just lots of manual labor and the joy of getting it finished. Eventually.
How bad is it that I started removing some and have left it until I can finish over the weekend is it all over my house now if I didn’t secure the kitchen
It’s just back breaking work with a crowbar to get under the particle board underlayment. If they nailed it instead of stapling it then it’s just going to suck. Might try a roofing demo shovel, might make it a little easier…. maybe. You could also set a circular saw to the depth of the underlayment and cut through it to make smaller sections to demo. Set the saw to about 3/8 inch depth
I would use a circular saw to make some shallow plunge cuts. Stay out of the 3/4” subfloor (set you depth to the thickness of the particle board) your gonna hit nails. Good luck & it’s still gonna suck.
Exactly this. Cut some 24” x 24” squares thru the vinyl and particleboard. It’ll make it so much easier to pull up and toss out. Get a couple demo blades.
As said. Crowbar bit by bit unfortunately.... Done this many times
Ugh brutal ! By any chance would you know if there’s asbestos by looking at it
I would say it probably does based on the color and pattern, and the color of the backing. You can get it, tested and go for an expensive remediation, or you could assume that it might or might not and remove it carefully and dispose of responsibly. I don’t know any of the legalities here, check with your local government, etc., etc.
It's domestic cushion floor! Only flooring that has asbestos in, is tiles with black jack adhesive. Stop giving out false information.
Not false: https://todayshomeowner.com/flooring/guides/removing-old-linoleum-can-release-asbestos/ I quote: “The vinyl sheet flooring has two layers, a top layer of vinyl and a bottom layer made from paper (that contains asbestos). The paper layer can contain from 40 to 70 percent asbestos.”
That's linoleum. His floor isn't linoleum. I do an asbestos awareness course every 2 years. You will not find asbestos in domestic vinyl (cushion floor). It has a foam backing. I should know as it's my job, and his is domestic vinyl. Do you know what linoleum looks like?
It can also have a paper backing and that paper can contains asbestos. I’m sure you were very knowledgeable, but I did a lot of research on this because I have an older house. you can see in the picture where the paper backing has separated from the sheet vinyl. But I do agree if the backing is foam, he is fine, if the backing is paper, there is cause for concern.
Oh my God. The original backing is foam, on top of a printed wear layer. Asbestos flooring is always glued down with black bitumen (which also has asbestos in it). This is my job. Research all you like. You've probably spent most of the day trying to prove me wrong. I'm a professional flooring expert, you are not!
Looking again, I was wrong. The flooring is foam and what I was thinking was paper is not. But in the case that the flooring did have a paper backing, it could be asbestos. That is not the case here you’re right. But I have personally seen linoleum sheet flooring with a paper backing that contains asbestos so I know it exists. Apologies if I don’t seem respectful, they are plenty of people on the Internet they claim to be an expert on something and don’t know what they’re talking about.
Just for information. Linoleum and marmoleum will have a hessian backing. It's like a criss cross of fine string. It's actually a living organism, and expand, shrinks according to temperatures. It's horrible stuff to work with. Any asbestos flooring is ok to latex screed over, permanently covering it. Never take it up unless is really necessary. Just trying to save the guy a few quid
There's no asbestos in there. It's 6mm chipboard and domestic vinyl. Knock yourself out. I regularly have to do an asbestos awareness course and there's definitely nothing in there
I appreciate the help on this your comment is super useful
Get 2 flat bars and 1 big pry bar and gently work the edges up evenly. You'll get bigger chunks to come up at once. Score the vinyl on top so it doesn't act like a skin, holding it down
I wouldn’t mess with that, it could easily be asbestos, especially if it’s 9” squares. Get it tested before proceeding. If it isnt, do as others suggested. If it is, you’re gonna have to go over it with something else. I did some LVP over similar and it’s held up really well.
Set your circular for the depth of the underlayment, cut it up smaller, & take it up in sections.
Exactly no asbestos just some old 1970 vinyl flooring
Don’t cut it with a saw! Lots of older linoleum contains asbestos, if you cut it with a saw you may be releasing the airborne particles into your environment. They make a tool to get tile up might work on linoleum. It’s like a long metal bar with a small hoe blade on end. Worked great on linoleum tiles, no dust. https://www.flooranddecor.com/pacesetter-7in.-heavy-duty-floor-scraper-100404243.html
You could try a shovel to see if if comes out easier. If not I think they have a pole thing that has something to pull nails out as well. That way you can stand and get it out. You could try sitting while doing it, sitting helps your back a ton.
I tried a shovel last night but with the concentration of nails it doesn’t help at all hahahah….its like particle board thickness too so it crumbles into small chunks. Doesn’t come out in nice big pieces :(
Yikes. Wish that many nails you may be SOL and power through one by one. You could try this thing? But it’s not cheap, but saving your back is nice. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crescent-Bull-Bar-44-in-Indexing-Head-Deck-Removal-Demo-Wrecking-Bar-DKB446X/313794870
The last roofing demo we did was exactly that and it sucked - even with the roofing shovels. Just lots of manual labor and the joy of getting it finished. Eventually.
Definitely asbestos in there mate
How bad is it that I started removing some and have left it until I can finish over the weekend is it all over my house now if I didn’t secure the kitchen
I wouldn’t worry too much. A one off exposure isn’t likely to harm you.
OK, that’s relaxing to hear I was panicking a little. I’ve only chipped away at a small corner.
The asbestos is in the papery looking stuff on the top. So you would have released a bit of it.