Asked on Nov 02, 2015

Easiest way to remove linoleum glue from concrete?

Winks74
by Winks74
Linoleum has been down since 1970 and is adhered to the concrete subfloor. We've tried boiling water with zero luck and a chemical remover that Home Depot carried to remove linoleum glue. Suggestions?
  29 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Nov 02, 2015
    The only solution I found was exactly what you already did.I would retry the boiling water a small space at a time and use a floor scraper.
  • Linda Barrett Dirksen Linda Barrett Dirksen on Nov 02, 2015
    Can you sand it?
  • Z Z on Nov 02, 2015
    Though I hate using chemicals, in this case all you can do is repeat with the chemical and scraping until it's clean. Hubby did this with the kitchen floor in our last home. Each step gets you closer to the clean floor.
  • Debbie Debbie on Nov 02, 2015
    I had this problem with my basement floor and sanding was working but there was so much that it was costing me a bundle in sandpaper so I took my trusty heat gun and a sharp putty knife, opened the windows and sat on the floor just heating and scraping. It took a few days but it was cheap and effective.
  • Mar2529658 Mar2529658 on Nov 03, 2015
    We had this problem and in the end used plain four and a scraper.
  • Mary Stanley Mary Stanley on Nov 03, 2015
    I used a heat gun and scrapper. You have to be really careful with the heat gun because it can cause a fire.
  • Diane Patterson Diane Patterson on Nov 03, 2015
    My husband used a flat bladed shovel and scraped it off, then followed up with a sander to get complete the job.
  • Joyce Mendoza Joyce Mendoza on Nov 03, 2015
    Yes, Ive used a heat gun also & flat spatula (tool type) to slide under it to lift it. 1. Heat with heat gun. Lift with other hand as heating. 2. When you hit a hard spot...hold up the lino with one hand & heat directly at the glue then slide the spatula under the tile to lift more. Please be careful because not only can you burn yourself with the hot lino...but the tile too. It takes a while but at least its not chemicals or odors. Removed tile that had been down over 30 yrs this way..
  • Joan Joan on Nov 03, 2015
    Some of this adhesive from the early '70's has asbestos in it. You might want to get it tested before you mess with it too much (scraping, sanding). If it were my house, I'd paint over it to seal it and cover the concrete with a floating floor of some kind, or ceramic tile.
    • Winks74 Winks74 on Nov 03, 2015
      @joan too late, we've drenched it in glue remover twice to no avail. Hopefully I'm not killing my fellow household members...sigh..
  • Lagree Wyndham Lagree Wyndham on Nov 03, 2015
    Furniture stripper will loosen the glue.
  • Mar2529658 Mar2529658 on Nov 04, 2015
    We used ordinary flour and a scraper
  • Ally | The Speckled Goat Ally | The Speckled Goat on Nov 04, 2015
    I'd recommend using a multitool with a flat scraping blade to get most of it off- we did this with our hardwood floors-- see here--> http://bit.ly/1LkG83e
  • Cathy Figahs Cathy Figahs on Nov 04, 2015
    vinegar paper towels let sit drench on glue areas 1/2 hour wipe with same towels scrap where needed repeat
  • Chris Holtz Chris Holtz on Nov 04, 2015
    hello i agree with sidewinder any house prior to 1990 one needs to test for asbestos. I know since i work in restoration and this is not something you just want to play with
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Nov 04, 2015
    Why bother removing it? If it is well adhered, you can tile (ceramic/porcelain) right over it. Used wood stripper to try to start removing indoor/outdoor carpet glue from concrete on my daughter's veranda. Much to our relief, tiler said not necessary - he just tiled over the glue remnants. Said as long as surface - vinyl, etc. (not carpeting) is well adhered, removal of it is not necessary for tiling. Hope this helps.
  • Kristin Topping Kristin Topping on Nov 05, 2015
    I think removing glue from concrete that is often successful begins by boiling a large pot of water. After the water reaches the boiling point, pour it on the glue, and let it sit for a few minutes before it has a chance to cool. The heat from the water will soften many types of adhesives enough so that they easily peel off with a hand scraper. This method is not recommended for areas with electrical outlets and wiring near the floor.
  • Cyndie S Cyndie S on Nov 08, 2015
    I have used vinegar to cut floor glue, then scraping. It sort of balled up to wipe away.
  • Franci Gilbert Franci Gilbert on Nov 10, 2015
    goo be gone.
  • Pam Lewandowski Pam Lewandowski on Nov 10, 2015
    Saw on an earlier post from a week or so ago - they suggested a "heat gun". Apparently works really well. Sorry - that's all I'm remembering.
  • Moxie Moxie on Jan 15, 2016
    sand it off with a floor sander
  • Winks74 Winks74 on Jan 17, 2016
    I gave up and covered it with a floating floor
    • Red Red on Jan 23, 2016
      @Winks74 Can you tell me how you did your floating floor. I have a 100 year old bungalow with very uneven floors. Would like to do a floor remodel. Help please. zxdxgx@gmail.com
  • Winks74 Winks74 on Jan 23, 2016
    Well we used a laminate floor that is actually quite gorgeous. I was totally against it at first but decided to give it a try. We bought Pergo Max laminate. It seems to be a better quality than most laminate I've seen. My hubby and a friend installed it...very tedious work and lots of measuring and sawing...not for the faint of heart.
  • Joe Joe on Jan 31, 2018

    Buy a floor scraper. You can use a putty knife, a chisel, a pry bar... anything with a fine edge that can get under the linoleum. The sharper the better...and the longer the better. You'll get better leverage and you won't have to work on your knees as much.


    That's one reason why a floor scraper is worth spending the money on. They only cost around $30 and they make a miserable job A LOT easier.


    Removing the linoleum is still only half of the job, though. Thoroughly removing the residual glue and prepping the concrete is the other.


    Again... a floor scraper is the way to go.


    However, you'll still have glue

  • Scott Scott on Jul 12, 2018

    So, has anyone used a concrete grinder or a sandblaster?

  • Derek Derek on Nov 27, 2018

    I’m in the process of the right now


    1. Cut strips of lino
    2. Peel off (mind your back)
    3. Spray & soak 1 meter square with hot soapy water and leave for 20 minutes
    4. Use a floor scraper
    5. Make sure you pour yourself a proper gin and tonic because it’s a ball buster

  • David Neave David Neave on Aug 22, 2019

    I have just removed Lino glued to concrete

    The Lino would not come off. I cut 200mm strips, these would then rip up. The residue of Lino left I was able to remove using a combination of the following:

    -Odd bits sticking up I was able to simply pull up and quite a bit more

    came up with it.

    -Next is used a wallpaper scraper by going at the same bit.

    -For the remaining stubborn bits I used an old woodwork chisel, turned over (bevel down).


    I found it better to completely clean each strip before pulling the next piece up


    it is also dependent on how strong and possibly the type of glue on your particular. I have no idea about the glue used on my Lino

  • Brenda Guns Brenda Guns on Feb 23, 2020

    Heat works great. I used heat gun which softens it and makes it easier to work. But the I tried on old iron. I put a piece of tin foil over it to prevent clogging the on the highest setting ,I sat it on the floor. After a few minutes I started scraping. moving the iron to the next spot as I scraped the current one. It was a chore. But much faster and easier. Then the hot water. The stripper or the heat gun.

  • Tommy Oakley Tommy Oakley on May 31, 2020

    After peeling up the linoleum, I took a grinder with an abrasive pad to the glue and any paper left behind. It took less than 10 minutes to clean up a 30sqft bathroom, but it created quite a mess.

  • Collinsworth Collinsworth on Nov 26, 2020

    I removed the old tiles with a stream clothes iron hottest setting. Lots of water.. There's still some glue remaining.