Test for Asbestos

• Before removing your tile, verify that it is actually vinyl tile and not an older style of tile that might contain asbestos. If you begin to pull up the tile and asbestos is present, you may place you and your family at risk for health issues because, once asbestos is airborne, it can contaminate your entire house. As a result, you should have an asbestos testing company come in to examine your tile if you are unsure what material was used or when it was installed.
  
  

Score the Tile

• To make the removal process go more quickly, use a sharp utility knife to score the tile. You can break the tile into several smaller pieces and pry it up from different angles, which often makes removal easier. However, take care not to push your knife into the tile too deeply, or you may wind up cutting into the subfloor beneath it.
  
  

Use Heat

• If your tile refuses to budge from the floor when you try to pry it up, heat can often help the process. Warming the tile will soften the adhesive that has it bonded to the subfloor, which makes removing the tile easier. Heat guns are available at most hardware and home improvement stores and are ideal for this type of project. As the name implies, they blow hot air in a concentrated stream so you can direct the heat precisely where you want it. You can find heat guns that blow air at temperatures of 800 to 1,000 degrees, which is usually more than sufficient to soften the tile's adhesive and make prying it off easier. If you do not have access to a heat gun, use a regular hairdryer. However, the air from a heat gun is much hotter, so the dryer may require more time and patience.
  
  

Try Dry Ice

• Dry ice may also be helpful in removing your vinyl tile. The dry ice makes the tile brittle so it cracks into pieces that can more easily be removed from the subfloor. Place small pieces of the dry ice on the tile, and allow it to sit for several minutes. You can tell when the tile is ready to crack as its surface changes. If you decide to use dry ice to remove your vinyl flooring, wear protective gloves and goggles because the dry ice may cause burns.