Help!: Vinyl tiles AAHHHH

[BigAl]

OK, so I'm going to tile my kitchen floor using large tiles. I've lifted the old tiles and at the moment the floor has VERY well stuck down vinyl tiles. These were stuck onto VERY well stuck down vinyl tiles!!! There are also some areas that have no tiles on at all.

Now, I tried to get them up and they are a PAIN. Those I did manage, left half the foam and adhesive on the floor. The floor itself is pretty flat, apart from the odd few areas, but as I'm using huge tiles I want to use SLC. Are 60x60 tile very unforgiving?

MUST the vinyl tile come up in order to use SLC? (I hope they don't) If so, can I SLC over the old bits of foam and adhesive?

[Dave]

Use a hot air( heat gun) gun to soften them and they will just peel up..

[Scott]

I use a wall scraper, preferable a bladed one like this

Long handled Wall Scraper (4 inch blade) - UK

Or just a normal wall paper scraper, once you get under it they should lift. The heat will defintely help otherwise.

[SandyFloor]

I've lifted a lot over the years. The two posts above have it spot on. Sometimes I've even used two heat guns in one hand. Occasionally you can get a jemmy bar under them and slide it under. If they're the old Marley tiles bonded down with the black adhesive, be careful of the fumes when heating them. Always have the door and windows open anyway. Other than that it's just a case of patience.

[tfs]

Hammer and chisel does the job too mate!

[grumpygrouter]

OK, so I'm going to tile my kitchen floor using large tiles. I've lifted the old tiles and at the moment the floor has VERY well stuck down vinyl tiles. These were stuck onto VERY well stuck down vinyl tiles!!! There are also some areas that have no tiles on at all.

Now, I tried to get them up and they are a PAIN. Those I did manage, left half the foam and adhesive on the floor. The floor itself is pretty flat, apart from the odd few areas, but as I'm using huge tiles I want to use SLC. Are 60x60 tile very unforgiving?

MUST the vinyl tile come up in order to use SLC? (I hope they don't) If so, can I SLC over the old bits of foam and adhesive?

Yes!!!!

[whitebeam]

As above, there's no leway

[Pebbs]

Al,
In this heat do yourself a favour get someone in to do it!

Pebbs

[marbleman]

bully scraper or just us a can-go withthin blade scraper works well, nasty job to do gl

[easyt]

I used a wallpaper stripper steam plate and no problem. Left it on each tile for 10 seconds or so, lifted edge with a paint scraper and pulled up.

[BigAl]

D'oh. I suppose i'd better get cracking.
The tile's are actually 50x50, not 60x60. Still not very forgiving I suppose. I'm regreting getting the large ones now

[Dave]

It will be fine, just take your time..

[Scott]

As Dave said, take your time.

Mix in small quantities so you dont feel pressured by the adhesive going off (or better still get some Mapei maxi)

Lay and level each one as you go, lift and relay if you are not happy with it, good luck with it

[BigAl]

OK, so I've lifted the vinyl tiles. Took AGES! Now there is a sort of paper/foam stuck on the floor, and this is STUCK HARD!. Tried heating it, scraping it, even tried sanding it off with a angle grinder, but nothing seems to work well. Can I tile onto this stuff? I think i might have to!