Removing vinyl tiles

JayneH_3

I am struggling to remove vinyl tiles from my kitchen floor, as we are having underfloor heating laid and have been told by the heating company they need to come up. I am using a hot air gun and wall paper stripper tool, and slowly lifting a tile at a time. Please does anybody know an easier way? Or a good technique? Normally OH does this type of thing, but he's away and I really am a novice in DIY technique!

ben500

Are you aware that some of these tiles contain asbestos and taking relevant precautions? I wouldn't recommend using chemicals or a hot air stripper as the fumes can be toxic, try using a steam iron with a thick cloth between it and each tile, heat the tile gently and when the glue starts to melt you should find the tile easier to lift, always use some kind of respiratory protectioin when carrying out such jobs on vinyl floor tiles and artex as both commonly contain asbestos.

Try to have a fine water spray bottle handy, if any dust should become airborne spray the room liberally with water to bring the dust back to ground, some vacuum cleaners can disperse this dust throughout your home whilst there is little risk from the type of asbestos used in these products "Chrysotile" it is obviously better to limit your exposure to such products.

sooz

rent a great big tile lifting machine from hss or similar