Flooring Removal and Installation Tips

Flooring removal can be a tough job. But The Home Depot’s one-stop shop can cover everything you need, like rental tools and equipment, materials and flooring.

The first step in a flooring removal project is to assess the safety of the flooring you’re pulling up. If you’re remodeling an older fixer-upper that had vinyl or linoleum flooring installed prior to 1980, it may contain asbestos. In this case, you’ll need to contact a local asbestos abatement officer to test the flooring. Flooring that is contaminated with asbestos is best left to the professionals.

Next, empty the room of furniture and appliances. If you’re removing the flooring in a kitchen or bathroom, turn off water supplies. You should also remove all appliances, like refrigerators, ovens, pedestal sinks, vanities and toilets.

Once the room is empty, carefully remove the baseboards from the wall with a trim puller. You may prefer to use a prybar and rubber mallet. Little by little, work the trim free from the wall. If you plan to reuse the trim, mark the back with its location in the room. You can then reinstall it after your new flooring installation.

Every type of flooring removal is different. Here’s how to tackle your project, whether you have laminate, tile or carpet.

Laminate:

• Start in the middle of the room when removing laminate flooring.
• Use a utility knife to cut down the middle of the flooring.
• Make secondary cuts in strips, 12 inches parallel to the first cut.
• Gently lift one end of the flooring and roll the strips up for disposal.
• Use a prybar to help lift stuck flooring.

Note: If you want to finish the job even faster, consider a floor stripper rental. A pro flooring stripper can remove large amounts of laminate or vinyl flooring at one time.

Tile: Removing tile takes a bit more heavy-duty demo work. However, you can break up the tile as you go. Use a combination of a breaker and hammer cart for large areas. For tight spots, you can use a demo hammer rental.

Carpet: Removing carpet is the easiest flooring to strip.

• Pick a corner and use a strong set of pliers to pull it from the tack strip.
• Continue pulling the carpet, cutting it into long strips. Then, roll it up and haul it away.
• Continue the same process for the padding underneath.
• Don’t forget to pull up the tack strips around the border of the room once you’re finished.

If you tackle flooring removal with laminate or tile, you may find residual adhesive and mortar left over on the subfloor. Depending on the subfloor type underneath, a floor stripper or floor maintainer with the proper attachment can make quick work of the task.

A new flooring installation can transform any space. Depending on the room size, this DIY project may take a weekend, or a few weeks to complete. You won't break your budget when purchasing the new flooring and materials.

Even better, The Home Depot carries the rental installation equipment you need, like floor strippers and attachments. But be sure to always consult the operations manual before using your rental equipment.