by Nancy Holloway-Prince
Removing old laminate flooring is easily achieved in a relatively short period of time. There are a number of laminate floor removal methods to choose from ranging from hand tools to floor stripping machines. Determining the best method of removing old laminate flooring will depend on the method used to install the floor, the size of the room, if the old laminate flooring will be reused in another room or sold. There are also different types of laminate floors made from a variety of materials. Laminate floors have a plank design other laminate floors have a tile design.
Tools needed include:
Adhesive or glue remover
Long Handle Scraper
Stripping knife
Heat Gun
Protective gloves
- Consider reusing the old laminate floor in another room. Investigate the possibility of selling the old laminate floor once it has been removed. If reselling or reusing the flooring is an option choose a method of removal that will preserve the floor. If selling the old laminate floor is a consideration researching classified ads in newspapers and online. Pricing the old laminate floor should be contingent upon the asking price of similar used flooring.
- Decide on a method of removing the laminate floor. Some laminate floors are planks and can be removed by separating one plank for another by hand. If glue or adhesive was used an adhesive remover or heat gun will aid in removal and should leave the old floor intact.
- Identify how much time you have to spend removing the old laminate floor and if you will have friends helping you of if you will hire additional help.
- Organize the materials and tools you will use to remove the old laminate flooring. Make sure you have protective gloves and if you are using an adhesive remover open all windows for proper ventilation.
- Apply adhesive remover to the glued areas of the laminate planks or tiles. Follow the directions of the adhesive remover and allow the remover to set before attempting to remove the old floor then separate the planks by hand. In the event that the old laminate flooring adhesive or glue has seeped down to the sub floor a heat gun can be used to melt the glue or adhesive.
- Locate and reserve any machinery before you schedule the old laminate floor removal and arrange for immediate sale or disposal of the old laminate floor. Use of a floor-stripping machine will generally render the old floor unusable.
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