How to Pull Up Laminate Flooring

Whether you want to update your laminate flooring with a new style or whether you need to repair a damaged area, you'll have to remove the existing flooring. Your laminate floor may be glued to the subfloor or it may float on top of it with no glue. Either way, a heat gun will assist you in pulling up the flooring.

Things You'll Need

• Heat gun
• Pry bar

Instructions

1. Set the heat gun to about 300 BTUs.

2. Hold the gun over a section of laminate plank long enough to melt the rubberized seam sealant on the edge of floating flooring, or to melt the glue anchoring the laminate boards.

3. Gently pull up the edge of the laminate until it comes away from the flooring beneath. With glued floors, use the heat gun to spot-melt stubborn areas of glue. You may need a pry bar to assist you.

4. Pull up the laminate planks one at a time. If you have a glued floor, you may need to use the heat gun with each plank.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to reuse the laminate, do not hold the gun in one place for too long, as it can damage the flooring. You also can rent a motorized floor stripper. These can be expensive and do not allow you to reuse the laminate flooring in another space.

References

• Home Flooring Guide