Removing Adhesive (Lino) Floor Tiles

[tafkap68]

Just been prepping for a job and had to remove 8m2 of adhesive backed lino floor tiles from floorboards before starting the job.
Not removed these before so I guessed at half a day to remove them but it took all day Just wondering if anyone else has removed these before and has any tips. I was just lifting them off with a scraper but this takes forever. Somebody suggested using a heat gun to relax the adhesive but my liability insurance doesn't cover for the use of these.
I feel like I should have just screwed down the ply over the tiles but I really prefer to do a good job without taking shortcuts. Next time I will get the customer to remove them themselves or charge a lot more for doing it.

[trevortine]

Im just in from doing the same thing in sainsburys plant. They are a nightmare mate. I ended up using my kango hammer with sharpened chisel blade, made it easier to do but still a real pain. I done 60 today and have about the same to do tommorow, they are replacing them with same so sticking them downs no prob!

On a wooden floor, I would have ply boarded over them with 18mm ply. Otherwise, lesson learn't for next time when it comes to quoting!!

[L & R CERAMICS]

try a hairdryer

[trevortine]

I had the heat gun on them but wasnt makin much odds.

[Dan]

It is a case of just getting stuck in. Sometimes they are not fixed so well, sometimes they jus don't want to come off the damn floor. Heat guns can help, you can use a hot air blower or a flame gun, obviously the hot-air is safer and should really be covered by your liability.

We've all removed them and all hate doing it but we'll pretty much all do it again one day.

Next time, get the customer to get most of them up or charge them well for doing it yourself.

[trevortine]

Been back up this morning and found that if you use a sharp chisel and heat gun at the same time the peel of a lot easier, defo seems to soften the adhesive and make it more malleble.

[tafkap68]

Thanks for the advice. Lesson learned for next time!