Resilient Flooring

Removing Glue-Down LVT and Sheet Vinyl

Scraping up glue-down LVT and sheet vinyl: when to presume asbestos, which blade to run, and how clean the substrate needs to be.

Updated · 2 min read

Modern glue-down LVT and sheet vinyl usually come up cleanly with a scraper and the right blade. Older sheet vinyl is a different story: its felt backing and the adhesive under it may contain asbestos, and the industry's own work practices say to presume it does until tested.

Presume asbestos until tested

Unless you know for certain the flooring is asbestos-free, treat it as asbestos-containing. Don't dry scrape, sand or mechanically pulverize old flooring or adhesive.[1][4] Get samples tested first. See Cutback adhesive and asbestos ID, OSHA 1926.1101 and EPA asbestos.

Pick the blade

Each blade type is matched to the material you're removing.[2]

Blade Use[2]
Standard (.062") Soft goods, carpet and vinyl flooring
Heavy-duty (.094") VCT, VAT, wood, tile and rubber
Extra heavy-duty (.187") Tougher tear-outs: VCT, VAT, wood, tile and lighter ceramic
Self-scoring (45° or 90° wings) Vinyl-backed goods, soft to medium PVC and linoleum
  • Bevel up on concrete; bevel down on wood or other soft substrates so you don't gouge the subfloor.[3]
  • Wider isn't faster. A narrow blade cuts with less effort and usually leaves a cleaner floor.[3]
  • More on setup in Scraper blade selection.

Removing LVT and newer sheet vinyl

Once testing clears the material, it comes down to blade choice and technique.

  1. Pull base, transitions and anything fastened down.
  2. Start at a doorway or seam where you can get the blade under the flooring.
  3. Run a walk-behind in straight passes. Go narrower before you go slower if the machine bogs.
  4. For thin sheet goods that tear, switch to a self-scoring blade so the material comes up in strips.
  5. Hand-scrape edges and toe kicks.
  6. Remove residual adhesive to what the new flooring and patch require, then HEPA-vacuum.

Old sheet vinyl with felt backing

This is the case the industry work practices were written for. If the backing or adhesive tests positive, removal is regulated asbestos work. Under those practices, the removal is done wet, never dry-scraped:[1]

  • Wet the area with water and detergent.
  • Scrape with a stiff blade while keeping it wet.
  • Bag the residue and pick up the water with a HEPA vacuum.
  • Repeat until only a thin film remains.

Check your state's rules before doing any of this yourself. Many require a licensed abatement contractor.

Common mistakes

The expensive mistakes on this job are about testing and blade setup.

  • Scraping old sheet vinyl dry because it "looks newer." Only a lab result clears it.
  • Running dull blades. A dull blade slows the machine down.[3] Sharpen or swap.
  • Running bevel up on plywood. It digs into the subfloor.
  • Leaving adhesive the new product can't go over. Check the new adhesive and patch instructions before you leave.

Tools we carry

These are the machines and blades most used for resilient removal.

References

  1. RFCI: Recommended work practices for removal of resilient floor coverings (2018)
  2. National Flooring Equipment: Ride-on tooling guide
  3. National Flooring Equipment: 550 manual
  4. OSHA 1926.1101, Asbestos (construction)

Linked PDF documents are archived copies saved by PreFloor Tools so they stay available if the publisher moves or removes them. Check the publisher's website for the latest revision.

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