Using Dry Ice to Remove Old Floor Tiles

Dry ice can do some nifty things – from helping your plants grow to acting as a mosquito repellent in your back yard. It can even help you tackle that DIY project you’ve been putting off: removing an old tile floor.

Yup, you read that right: dry ice is so cold that it will shatter the glue bonds that make old vinyl, asphalt and linoleum floors virtually impossible to remove any other way.

Learn how to remove old tiles with dry ice below – just remember to always follow all precautions for safe dry ice use and handling!

What you’ll need

• 30 lbs. dry ice
• Insulated gloves
• Wax or parchment paper
• A hand towel or rag
• A small flexible putty knife

What to do

1. Make sure your room is well ventilated and keep small children and pets away (since dry ice emits a small amount of CO2)
2. Tear off a piece of wax / parchment paper large enough to cover a tile plus about 1 to 2” of overhang on each side.
3. While wearing insulated gloves, place a block of dry ice on top of the paper to cover the tile you want to remove; cover the ice with a towel or two to insulate it.
4. Wait 2-3 minutes; you can sometimes hear a “pop” when the tile comes loose.
5. Slide the edge of the paper to reposition the dry ice to the next tile.
6. Use the putty knife to lift the previous tile; put the junk tile in a bag or box (it can re-adhere once it re-warms if you leave it on the floor).
7. Repeat these steps until the floor is done!

Ready to take on your old tile floor, or any other dry ice DIY project? We’ve got all the dry ice you need. Stop by one of our convenient locations in Buffalo, Rochester, or Columbus today!