Linoleum is a popular flooring material because it’s one of the most affordable—but linoleum flooring costs vary from project to project. Let’s break it down.
How to Remove Linoleum Flooring Safely in 6 Steps
Peel up glued-down flooring with relative ease
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Get quotes from flooring contractors near you
No obligation · 100% free
SKILL LEVEL
Challenging
COMPLETION TIME
12 hours
COST
$165–$265
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
- Utility knife
- Heat gun or hair dryer
SUPPLIES
- Floor stripper (rental)
- Solvent-based adhesive remover
Remodeling an older home means demolition and removal of outdated materials. Linoleum flooring is an example, and it can be challenging to get up due to the use of adhesives and the potential presence of hazardous asbestos. However, if you know the precautions and steps to follow, learning how to remove linoleum flooring can be straightforward.
Testing for Asbestos
If you know or suspect that your linoleum flooring was installed before the 1980s, there is a risk that the flooring contains asbestos. This hazardous material poses a serious health risk if disturbed due to toxic particles that can become airborne and breathed in.
To ensure your safety, do not cut into the linoleum until you've used an asbestos test kit or had a professional asbestos inspection. If asbestos is confirmed to be present, you must hire a licensed asbestos removal specialist near you. Expect the cost of asbestos removal in linoleum flooring to be anywhere from $5 to $15 per square foot.
How to Remove Linoleum Flooring
Images: Iuliia Alekseeva / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, Leo Malsam / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, narvikk / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Once you've confirmed that your linoleum floor does not contain asbestos, removing it is fairly straightforward. To remove linoleum flooring, score the floor with a utility knife, use heat to soften it, peel it up with a floor scraper, and remove the adhesive with a solvent. Follow the steps below for more details.
Clear the Work Area of Furniture and Appliances
Start by clearing the room of all furniture, décor, appliances, and trim. Have a plan for where it will be stored while you work since this project can take multiple days.
Wrap furniture in moving blankets to prevent damage, and get help moving heavier items to avoid injury. Safely disconnect water, electrical, or gas supply lines before moving appliances. Finally, remove baseboards from the room's perimeter, labeling them if you plan to reattach them after the project is complete.
Score the Floor With Your Initial Cuts
Photo: andrey gonchar / Adobe StockThe easiest way to remove a linoleum floor is piece by piece. Use your utility knife to carefully cut the floor into small sections of 12 to 24 square inches. Cut through the flooring all the way to the subfloor or slab below. When you're finished scoring, you'll be left with a grid pattern across the entire floor.
Heat the Floor
A heat gun or hair dryer on a high setting can soften the adhesive beneath the linoleum, making it easier to lift away. Carefully move the heat gun over the first section of flooring for about 15 seconds. If the floor isn't soft enough to scrape up after 15 seconds, continue heating it in ten-second increments until it is.
Scrape up the Floor in Sections
Use a power floor scraper to lever up the scored sections of flooring using your tool of choice and peel it back to remove it from the subfloor. You can also use a putty knife if you don’t have access to a floor scraper. However, this will require much more manual labor and significantly increase your project time.
Remove Adhesive Residue
You'll likely find a layer of old adhesive residue under the linoleum flooring. Use a solvent-based adhesive remover like paint thinner to break down the glue. Once it's softened, use a scraper to remove it by applying gentle pressure and pushing forward at an angle.
Dispose of the Flooring
Photo: cyano66 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty ImagesSome local recycling centers will recycle old linoleum flooring, so contact them to see if they'll pick it up or accept a drop-off. Otherwise, place the old flooring into heavy trash bags or rent a dumpster.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Removing linoleum flooring as a DIY project costs an average of $165 to $265. Most of that cost is the price of renting a floor scraper.
However, the amount of manual labor involved and the danger of asbestos make this a project that most homeowners leave to the pros. You can hire a local vinyl floor company to remove linoleum flooring for about $1 to $6 per square foot. This amounts to anywhere from $200 to $900 in a kitchen or bedroom or up to $1,020 in a large living room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Flooring services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.4★ avg. • 41 total reviews
- Sarah E.
Joseph did a great job with the staircase and trim. Timely and efficient, clear communication about the work, very fair pricing. For the stairs in particular, done very skillfully in an old house (1893) in a tight spiral, and very creative with how to do the handrail. Did a nice job with...
Vouis Trim Carpentry L.L.C. - Jena P.
This company does it right. Firstly, I want to say that Landan was a joy to work with. He was so kind, transparent, and had everything under control. His entire team showed up ready to work and they were all very respectful of the fact that we were in an office space. A little backstory – we...
Krumlauf Floors - Gina M.
Finished Basements Plus was wonderful from beginning to end! First, they came out quickly for an estimate. I had 4 estimates and theirs was by far the best. (2 of the estimates were more than $20K higher than for the exact same work). Beyond their fair pricing, the work was excellent. They...
Finished Basements Plus Inc. - Jeanann S.
Very professional, knowledgeable and helpful! Completed the install on time and as expected.
Ward's Services - Adam E.
Cole has been handling plumbing and general contracting for our four properties over the past three years, and he’s always done a great job. Most recently, he installed a sink and countertop in our retail store where none existed before, and it turned out exactly how we needed. He’s...
ANB Renovations LLC - Grace G.
Excellent, Prompt, Courteous Service!!! They were super friendly and quite personable. I felt very comfortable with the gentlemen that did the installation. They installed it exactly where I asked them to and they did an excellent job!! I loved their service so much.
Tether House - David E.
Window Depot did an amazing job installing the windows in my basement! The process from start to finish was by far more than what I expected. I would highly recommend Window Depot if you want professionalism from the the consultation to the installation. Dont settle for mediocre when you can...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Tom B.
AFS was excellent from start to finish. Jess, the sales associate, was fantastic...very knowledgeable and very professional. The installation crew was excellent. I couldn't be more pleased with the process. Best of all, my new floor looks fantastic!
America's Floor Source - Bob T.
We were having 2”x 2” tile installed . There was a small installation error and the new additional replacement tile was from a different lot and the colors didn’t match. Joe assured us that he would rectify everything , which he did without hesitation. We decided to go with the 18” x 36” tile...
CarifaTile - Jake H.
Did an amazing job transforming my yard. Also installed sod in places, would recommend to everyone.
Cardinal Landscaping & Construction LLC
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