glued tile to hardwood

missmom65 · 06-01-2008, 11:18 PM

after pulling up carpet in our bedroom, there was a gough in the tile underneath which revealed hard wood flooring beneath the tile. as my husband and i started to try and remove the tile, it became clear that trying to remove glued tile from the wood w/o damaging it is very difficult. the glue is removing a small layer and it's very difficult not making goughes in the wood. also, there are a few spots where the wood is "shredding" from us trying to remove the tile. we've been using a rubber mallet and a putty knife. we could really use any advice and it would be greatly appreciate it since we're at a standstill so we don't cause any more damage. what tools should we use and it there a product out there that would loosen the tiles/glue?

Bud Cline · 06-01-2008, 11:25 PM

These tiles are vinyl tiles???

missmom65 · 06-01-2008, 11:32 PM

i'm not sure what they are....they feel like plastic. if i get a chunk off, as if there wasn't much glue in a certain area of the tile, it snaps--hard and brittle. plus, there's a grooved design etched into the tiles...like there from the 70's or so.

Bud Cline · 06-01-2008, 11:44 PM

Possibly those nasty "Lick 'N' Stick" tiles.

Try using a three or four inch rigid putty knife. Heat the tiles with a hair dryer (heat gun would be much much better) and slowly pry the tiles. Try to remove them in one piece. See what happens using that approach then we'll talk.

missmom65 · 06-01-2008, 11:47 PM

thanks for the advice, but won't the hair dryer make the glue gummy? could you please explain what "lick n stick" tiles are exactly?

angus242 · 06-02-2008, 01:57 AM

thanks for the advice, but won't the hair dryer make the glue gummy?
Exactly. If the adhesive is gummy, it's not gonna damage the wood! Remaining residue left on the hardwood could be sanded off.

could you please explain what "lick n stick" tiles are exactly?
Could be the old peel and stick. It was like a sheet of wax paper covering the adhesive. You'd peel the wax paper off and then stick the tile to the floor......but I don't wanna speak for Bud.

Also, how old of tile would you guess you're removing? There's the nasty word ASBESTOS that starts coming to mind....

missmom65 · 06-05-2008, 12:06 AM

sorry it's taken so long to reply, life sometimes does that to you. the house we live in was built in the 1940's, and i'm sure the tiles are really old. they break "snap" when i get a large piece at once. how can you tell if they're asbestos? and how worried do you think i should be about them if they are??

angus242 · 06-05-2008, 12:19 AM

Well if you're the least bit worried about it, STOP MESSING WITH THE TILES!!!!

Read this:
http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html

Asbestos removal can be time consuming and expensive. OR, you can chance spreading it around the house, breathing it in and possibly developing respiratory issues.

I'd do some serious reading before you continue with tile removal.

Personally, I'd get a pro involved. Last house I had a potential issue with, it cost me $50 for a same-day asbestos test and it turned out negative. A very well spent $50 in my book!