You already know why you're looking at removing your flooring:
* It's out of date
* You're just kind of bored with it
* The surface is "banged" up

And why haven't you done it yet?
* You've heard that it's hard
* You're not sure what you want to do

If you've ever tried to removing linoleum and vinyl floors, it seems that every layer just yields more and more frustration. Not only is the original flooring seem almost impossible to remove (especially with age), but also doing so can harm the layer underneath, making new flooring lay unevenly. You might also find globs of concrete-like glue underneath, which may not be readily removable.

If you're dead set on removing the old flooring, then it will take a bit of time. You can start with chipping away at the old flooring and using heat to soften the material. A special chipper can help you in the beginning, and a heavy duty adhesive remover will help when you get to the clumps of glue from the initial installation.

A lot of homeowners have been rewarded in their floor removing efforts with a nice wood (or another material) floor underneath. This can be stained and sealed and make for a beautiful home accent.

If this sounds like too much work, there are alternatives or if the surface can't be saved, you may want to get creative and decorate it instead. Place plywood on top of the damage flooring (adhering it) and install your new flooring to the plywood. Many homeowners are turning to covering the old flooring with new flooring rather than go through the effort and mess of removing the old flooring first. If the surface is still usable, a coat or two of paint, using paint that adheres to vinyl and linoleum, can cover up the old design or color. Follow that with some urethane and you've got a new, beautiful floor.

Another fun idea is to literally decorate what's already there. Start with a clear coat of urethane, add some decorative items (glitter, coins, stamps, etc.), let it dry and then add more urethane. This is a great idea to enliven a new kids play room or bedroom, or to add drama to the kitchen. Involve the kids in picking out the "fun stuff" and you've got a fun family project. Of course, the fumes can be a bit much, so they should probably just be in on the planning part.

If you're starting with a clean and dry surface, you can start over in terms of your flooring options. Removing linoleum and vinyl flooring isn't the only option when you'we got a damaged or outdated floor. There are many hole fillers that can be used to create a smooth surface for painting, while the addition of some plywood can make what was old new again.

Don't feel that you're ever stuck with the linoleum or the vinyl flooring that you have -- get creative!