If you own a house built in the 70s or 80s there is a good chance there is vinyl flooring in the kitchen and the bathrooms. Once in vogue, vinyl is no considered an eyesore and some vinyl yellows over time. Ugly vinyl flooring makes the whole house look bad, and therefore makes it less desirable to potential homebuyers. Even if you’re not shopping your house at the moment, replacing vinyl floors can make your house look more presentable for guest gatherings and just simply for your enjoyment. So, before you can replace the vinyl flooring with wood or carpet, you need first to remove the vinyl. Here are some tips about how to improve your home value by getting rid of vinyl flooring.
Rent a Dumpster First
You will need a dumpster to dispose of your old vinyl flooring. What size? It is contingent on the size of your house. In most cases, you will have an average size house, and a twenty-yard dumpster should be more than enough to manage the project. Conversely, if you have vinyl flooring in almost every room in the house or have a larger size home, you will require a forty-yard dumpster for your project. Make sure to measure your floor prior to beginning the project to know what size dumpster to order.
Asbestos in Vinyl Flooring
Asbestos can’t be thrown in a dumpster, so it behooves you to check your vinyl flooring to see if it contains any. Many states have laws that restrict homeowners from removing any substances that contain asbestos from their residences. If you have vinyl flooring which has asbestos in it, specialized contractors who are authorized to remove asbestos will have to pull up your flooring. Here are some ways to identify vinyl flooring with asbestos.
- If the vinyl flooring was produced prior to 1980.
- The vinyl squares are 9X9 or bigger.
If you want to be sure your vinyl flooring doesn’t have asbestos, you can have a contractor examine it. You can also buy an asbestos testing kit that allows you to send samples to a lab that will conclude if your flooring has asbestos.
Removing Vinyl Flooring
Clear the Room
To take out vinyl flooring, you must clear the furniture from the room, providing yourself with a bigger work area. Also, remove baseboards and any other trim that has contact with the floor and throw them in your dumpster.
Cut Floor into Strips
Find a segment of the floor that has no glue beneath it. Use this area to start removing your vinyl flooring. Use a straight-edge knife or a utility knife to separate the vinyl flooring into 12-inch strips and delicately pull them up. When a strip won’t come up because of glue, use a scraper to free the strip. Be sure to place of the strips in the dumpster.
Remove the Glue
When you get rid of vinyl flooring, you may find glue stays stuck to the subflooring. An excellent way to remove it is by mixing warm water and soap in a pail and then applying it straight to the glue. Let the mixture sit, giving it time to soak in. When half an hour has passed, the glue should be malleable and simpler to remove.
In Conclusion
If you have old vinyl flooring in your house, it is bringing down your home’s value. You need to replace it with wood flooring or carpet in order to improve your home’s resale value and make the interior of your house look better.
Megan Dowdy Realty Knows What it takes to Sell a Home
At Megan Dowdy Realty, we understand what it takes to sell a home built before 1985 and how to advise you on what to do. If you are thinking of selling your home, call us today or fill out our simple contact form. We will be happy to discuss selling your home.
