Flooring Tile - removing the old vinyl

I am now on my second bathroom tiling project. I removed the old vinyl from a concrete slab on the first one and after reading some of the messages here I am glad that I did. However I would like to know if there is an easier way of getting all of that glue off of the slab. I used a chisel and a paint scraper. They eventually did the job but it was very time consuming. One suggestion has been acid but I do not want to go that route.

Acid won't do anything to vinyl adhesive...You can buy a 4 inch floor scraper at a flooring store...it has a replacable razor blade..and it works great.

CW,
Try a little heat with a heat gun and the 4" wallpaper scraper that adanac suggested. (once you get the scraper you may not need the heat). I have heard that mineral spirits may soften it up as well but, the Idea of using a petroleum based product on a concrete slab, that you are trying to stick tile to, makes me a little skeptical about if that's the right thing to do.
Regards,

Rich Gately (Tileman1)

http://www.gatelytile.com

We've been doing the same thing, removing vinyl. We used a long handled scraper to pry up the vinyl sheeting and remove it. Then we used a 4" scraper with a razor blade edge, and it works wonders! Even I, (a woman) had no problems using it to remove the adhesive, even big globs of it at the edges.

at home depot they have an adesive remover made by "jasco" you'll find it in the wallpaper section...it is wonderful stuff...must wear all protective gear..but the stuff works...i just worked on a house that had 3 layers of tiles...i chipped most of it off...it was taking forwver...then where the tile was off i had glue...and the tar adhesive...and i applied the Jasco adhesive remover...in 1 bathroom...1 application worked and in the kitchen i had to do it 3 times...but it also makes the small bits of vinyl tiles very soft...15 minutes scrap it off...and wash floor completely...and if their is still more glue or black tar adhesive do it again...and you will get to you concrete floor as if it was new...i swear by this product..it saved me alot of time and muscles...cause all i used was a cheap paint roller to apply it...a cheap scapper to remove it and a cheap mop to clean it up...cause time is money..and this will save you some of both...good luck

Jasco or whatever may work on "tar," but it probably won't do much for the vinyl adhessive. Follow the advice of the previous posters (Hi, Rich), and get up what you can. Then go right over the residue with multi-purpose thinset. We do it all the time.

John

http://www.johnbridge.com

well..i suppose these are oppinions on experiences...i have used the Jasco adhesive remover on tar adhesive and also on regular vinyl tile adhesive...and is worked wonderfull...and fast results..and effortless...if it hadn't worked i would of never mentioned it..but it did...good luck

If you want the easiestb and safest method for removal of adhesives use the PEEL AWAY 5 product. It is agel and can easily be spread over the surface. About two hours kater effortlessly remove tyhe product and the adhesive

I'm starting this job tonight/tomorrow. I have 2 questions:

1. Any tips on gettting started with getting the linoleum up?

2. Does all the adhesive have to come up or just the loose stuff? If it sticking pretty good can I just leave it?

thanks

Remove the baseboards and you'll probably find the vinyl doesn't go all the way to the walls, and may even be curling a tad. Use a small scraper to get it started. Also, under my stove, they didn't even go all the way to the wall with it, so I had an easy place to start.

The most important part is to get any paper backing that pulls off the back of the vinyl and stays stuck to the adhesive on the floor. I made sure to scape that all off, even if some adheasive was left. Remember, anything you leave has to be firmly attached or the thinset could stick to it and pull it away instead... This means your tile won't trully be attached to the floor.

Am I right? Didi I learn good from this site?

You done good, Dorsey.

John :-)

Thanks for all of your help. I used a razor blade type scraper and elbow grease and the second bathroom is done! Now the wife wants to do the kitchen. It is much larger than the two bathrooms together. I am out the door to Home Depot to get some of the removal products. I will post which one I use and the results I get.

Thanks again everybody