How to Remove Glued-Together Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a composite product designed to look like solid hardwood, yet costs just a fraction of the price. When this material was first introduced, it was installed using glue to fasten the planks to one another. Glue was not typically placed on the floor surface, but some adhesive from between each board would often soak through onto the sub-floor. Because of this glue, these floors can be tricky to remove. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Hammer
- Utility knife
- Circular saw
- Pry bar
- Mini sledgehammer
- Floor scraper
- Bucket
- Soap
- Sponge
Instructions
-
-
1
Remove the baseboards and trim from the perimeter of the room. Use a hammer or pry bar to gently pull them away from the wall. Remove the nails from each section and set them aside for disposal or reuse.
-
2
Examine the base of the walls around the floor. Some laminate floors may have a caulk joint installed in the expansion joint around the floor's perimeter. If you find a caulk joint, use a utility knife to cut through the caulk so the floor can be removed more easily.
-
-
3
Set a circular saw so it is the same depth as your laminate flooring. Use the saw to cut through the joints between each floor board. Continue these cuts across the entire length of the room, taking care not to damage the walls.
-
4
Use your circular saw to make perpendicular cuts every 18 inches across the width of the room. These cuts will help break the floor into small, manageable sections to make it easier to remove.
-
5
Start along one corner of the room and slide a pry bar into the gap around the floor boards. Use the pry bar to lift the board and remove it from the floor. Repeat this process as you work your way across the floor. You may need to use your mini sledgehammer along with your pry bar to force tough sections out of place.
-
6
Scrape the floor with a large floor scraper immediately after removing all of the laminate. The glue will stay slightly pliable when it is covered by the laminate, but will start to harden once all of the laminate is gone and it is exposed to the air. By scraping the glue away quickly, you'll have an easier time removing it.
-
7
Soften any remaining glue spots by wetting them with a soapy water solution. Allow the water to soak into the glue for a few minutes, then use your floor scraper to remove it. You can also sand away tough glue on a wooden sub-floor if you're having trouble scraping it up.
-
1
