Above - crowbar(l) and pry bar (r)

Imagine a floor covered with curling linoleum squares on moldy chipboard over over curling linoleum squares.  This was my first demolition project in the hacienda. 

I have no idea why one of the owners nailed a layer of chipboard over the original tile and added another layer of tile rather than simply removing the tile and retiling; the underlying concrete floor was level.  (However, they must have liked the result; the kitchen got the same treatment.)  Then during over a  decade of neglect, a roof leak flooded the room repeatedly, leaving a smelly, ugly mess.

After sweeping out the detached tiles, I set to work with  a pry bar and a claw hammer.     Once the top layer of tile was gone, I started on deteriorating chipboard,  This time the claw hammer was insufficient for the task - nails plus concrete require leverage.  I pulled the pry bar out.of the tool kit to discover a need for more leverage.  A crow bar joined us on our next trip from Phoenix.  Success was mixed.  Some nails came out, usually leaving divots; others just lost their heads.  By experimenting, I learned to clobber the remains with a  hand sledge.  Best results came from beating them until they bent and slipping the pry bar under the bend to pop off a section of nail. 

The uncovered concrete wasn't a pretty floor, but it functions well for a temporary storage area. 

Lessons learned:
    Linoleum doesn't burn well.  Bag it and send it to the landfill.
    Chipboard doesn't hold up to repeated flooding.
    Don't leave home without your crowbar.