Replies

1. 
   Mike_Maines_ | Feb 09, 2002 03:36am | #1

   *
   Derek, kerosene, paint thinner, Goof-off, floor scraper....

1. 
   Joe_Hennessey | Feb 09, 2002 03:46am | #2

   *Derek, as many have found out, pilot lights will light off the fumes from most of the best solvents. Be careful so you aren't gassed or cooked. Joe Hb AND DON'T LEAVE THE RAGS AROUND INSIDE!!!Put them in a metal container with a tight lid or lay them out to dry. They will definitely cause a fire if stored improperly.

1. 
   derek_fenby | Feb 09, 2002 03:50am | #3

   *Kerosene & paint thinner can't use for the flash/flame factor and using a floor scraper will not work. No i did not Goof-Off.Derek

1. 
   Claude_Lord | Feb 09, 2002 04:37am | #4

   *Derrek, Have you tried a heat stripping gun, preferably a bodyshop style, to soften it up, and a narrow 1.5" scraper to scrape it off.Then straight to the stripper, no sanding so you don't lose the patina. If you damage it by chipping with an axe and then have to sand it all down to new wood you may as well start over with new wood. It will likely be cheaper.

1. 
   Jeff_J._Buck | Feb 09, 2002 06:37am | #5

   *sand it off...Jeff

2. 
   Dustin_ | Feb 09, 2002 08:27am | #6

   *I think you will have to try a few options first. I think as slow as the heat and putty knife trisk is, it's your best bet. Trying to just sand it off will probably gum up the paper in about 30 seconds if it lasts that long. Once you've gotten all those layers off, your heights must be able to allow new flooring to go down on top, even if it's 3/8" x 1 1/2". I believe in resolving the problem before you go forward too, but sometimes you must draw a line

3. 
   plantlust1 | Feb 09, 2002 08:44am | #7

   *I had something similar under the hideous split pea soup green tile in the kitchen. A black tar substance. I used a heat gun. Heat til it gets gummy. Use a putty knife to scrape it off. After it cools down, it becomes very brittle. Anything left was sanded off. Takes time, but it was worth it. Exquisite maple underneath.

4. 
   Brian_Smith | Feb 09, 2002 09:39am | #8

   *i just stripped laminate from a countertop using lacquer thinner and a putty knife. had no heat gun :-( best solution is to (turn off pilots) dampen with lacquer thinner, wait, apply low heat with a heat gun, and use a plastic scaper (maybe keep a file on hand). since you're going to be sanding this floor anyway, can be aggressive and use a 6" wallboard trowel. have wire brushes (brass)on hand and more lacquer thinner. i know you want to remove all the residue before sanding or it will get pushed into the wood.brian

5. 
   Brian_Smith | Feb 09, 2002 09:43am | #9

   *ps try cleaning your hands with automotive hand cleaner before using gasoline or thinner. better yet, do this work with those surgical gloves.brian

6. 
   Dave_Richeson | Feb 09, 2002 08:57pm | #10

   *Try a blob of GOOP hand cleaner on a spot. Let it soak a few minuets and scrape off. The stuff is made with kerosene, but is less flamable and smells better. You can buy it in gallon quantities at auto supply stores.Dave

7. 
   DeeVee_ | Feb 11, 2002 05:04pm | #11

   *Our entire 1st and 2nd floor of the old house we bought (i.e. 12l rooms/halls !!!) was covered with tile or carpet on top of tar paper that was either glued down to the wood, or over 50 years' time, kind of melted into the wood. The guy we hired had a really heavy duty sander ("the beast", he called it) that sanded the tar paper right off....not to say he didn't go through lots of sand paper, but his regular machine wouldn't have been able to handle it.He was one of 3 of a total of 8 floor sanders we interviewed that could deal with it...the other 5 of the 8 we interviewed wanted nothing to do with it.

8. 
   Stray_ | Feb 11, 2002 05:22pm | #12

   *Old felt and/or black floor mastic frequently has asbestos in it. Be carefull with the sanding dust. Have a sample tested if you want to know.

9. 
   ChuckT_ | Feb 11, 2002 05:55pm | #13

   *Anybody ever heard of using dry ice and letting it sit it in one spot for a few minutes until The surface below (tar paper/ lineoleum) gets so brittle that it can be chipped off with a scraper? What precautions should be taken with the dry ice?

10. 
    Luka_ | Feb 11, 2002 06:02pm | #14

    *Don't ever stick your tongue on it.

11. 
    David_Cass | Feb 11, 2002 07:50pm | #15

    *I learned from another carp to never take a portion of dry ice, put it in a plastic bottle (like a quart coke bottle), add a couple spoons of water, cap it and shake it.Then toss it away a few feet.Don't do that either.

12. 
    Rich_Beckman | Feb 12, 2002 05:44am | #16

    *Toss it awayb morethan a few feet?Rich Beckman

13. 
    madtea | Feb 14, 2002 01:56am | #17

    *I would use one of those super 6" razor type flooring scrapers(x-tendable handle). then a good stripper, befor rough sanding. Just one mention that I hate to bring up, the big "A" asthbestos(sp), recently on a commercial job we needed a abatement crew, for the black adhesive under tile. we were informed of the isues by local officials(Western Mass)good luck w/ that gooey stuff, Mark

14. 
    gary_gattis | Feb 17, 2002 08:36pm | #18

    *Another safety tip...When disposing of the flamable rags inside an airtight container, also fill it 1/4 to 1/2 with water. Leave it out and the can is a time bomb...

15. 
    Jason_Ellis | Feb 18, 2002 04:50am | #19

    *I just delt with the same exact problem with my own kitchen. I've also delt with it in the past, tried paint thinner, stripper and just about anything mentioned above, nothing really works (although I've never tired the dry ice method). This time around I First I mopped it down with citrus degreaser, and used a 6 inch razor scraper like the one above. Which got some of it off. Then I rented a floor sander and went over with 23.5 grit sand paper, then 33.5. There was still tar in places. Finally I made myself a moving chair with rollers and used an edger to get the rest off. Lots of work, but the floor turned out wonderful. So basicly it sucks but it can be doneJason

16. 
    AJinNZ_ | Feb 18, 2002 06:10am | #20

    *If your going to try any sort of solvents, wear a decent respirator cos those fumes will do nasty things to your brain and nervous system.

17. 
    Pete_Draganic | Feb 20, 2002 01:21am | #21

    *Please, do not use flammable substance to strip off your floor. BAD IDEA!Try elbow grease. Apply generously. Works every time.Pete

2. 
   derek_fenby | Feb 20, 2002 01:21am | #22

   *
   I was hired to remove old linoleum and tile floor from an 1800's VT farm house. There were 5 layers of linoleum, 1 of tile and 1 I don't know?. Under it all appears to be a beautiful hardwood floor (a few pipe holes and such that add charm, so I've been told) the problem is that before they began a 100 years of covering the floor, someone put down what appears to be tar-paper which will not come off the wood.
   How Do I Get It Off ???, When I get tar on my hands I use a little gas and it comes right off. I suggested that we soak the floor with gas, but the home owner sadly said no.