Removing lino adhesive

[thunderhorse]

In the course of renovating our kitchen, I'll be taking up the lino in order to tile. The cement screed has been thinly glue-combed all over with what appears to be a PVA type of stuff, with the lino then rolled out on it. It's been down several years.

It's a pain ripping up the lino [+o(], but once done, would it be safe to apply tile cement straight over (seeing as how some apply PVA before tiling anyway?) Assuming not, what would be the best way of getting rid of the thin adhesive coating? (A hot-air paint stripper and a lot of elbow grease has been suggested...)

Cheers

[Gastines]

Try and scrape off as much as you can. You can get a long handled stainless steel scraper which the trade use and SOMETIMES helps. Apply a thin coat of latex screed and that kills off most adhesives and gives a good finish.

[ash]

We have just finished our "night-mare" of pulling up old lino and removing the adhesive,  we have found this system  works

Once you have removed the top layer (lino) use some acetone, bought from most bricolage magasins, pour on and leave for a few minutes for it to break down, then scrape off using a normal scraper.

Bit sticky, but it does work like magic.

Bonne courage.

[thunderhorse]

Many thanks, peeps. [B]

[richyrich2]

Masonary chisil and hammer worked for me. Stll took time, and hurts hands though

[Jonzjob]

Using acitone, make sure that you have PLEANTY of ventilation!!!! AND DON'T SMOKE!

Richy, try hitting the chisil. It puts a lot more of the wack onto what you are doing and doesn't hurt your puddies half as much [:P][:D]?!

What does it look like, because if it is PVA then you can use it as the bedding for your tiles and acitone probably wont touch it anyway? Try a drop of water on it and leave it for a couple of hours. If it goes wet, almost slimey and goes dryish and rolls into small 'strings' when you roll it between your fingers then it is probably PVA. Then if you want to remove it then water will do the job, but possibly not needed?

[Richard T]

Just a word of warning. Some older lino tiles (say pre-70s) are backed with asbestos and need to be removed with great care.

Richard T

[Chancer]

[quote user="Jonzjob"]

 If it goes wet, almost slimey and goes dryish and rolls into small 'strings' when you roll it between your fingers then it is probably PVA. [/quote]

Well that saves me a trip to the medecin, but how on earth did PVA get up my nose while I was sleeping?[:D]

[Jonzjob]

Obviously you take yer pick??[:P][:D]

Edit. Also you can tell the difference because PVA isn't salty, or so I have been told [6]!!

[nectarine]

[quote user="ash"]

We have just finished our "night-mare" of pulling up old lino and removing the adhesive,  we have found this system  works

Once you have removed the top layer (lino) use some acetone, bought from most bricolage magasins, pour on and leave for a few minutes for it to break down, then scrape off using a normal scraper.

Bit sticky, but it does work like magic.

Bonne courage.

[/quote]

 

Mr. Nectarine suggests this is highly dangerous, as there is the risk of spontaneous combustion in large amounts.  He knows these things, you see, as he used this in his job.  He suggests using a hot air gun and a scraper.

[ash]

Just to clarify using acetone to remove the adhesive, AFTER you have removed all the top layer of lino and consequently there is no heat device around when you are using the acetone, you have to do this on a SMALL area at a time, approx. 50cm x 50cm max, obviously NOT TO SMOKE and PLENTY of ventilation, as the working time is very short, as the acetone evaporates. Apart from being dangerous in large quantities, it is non workable to try doing it  any larger. Bearing in mind this is on a concrete floor. BTW Mr Ash is a professional, too.