How to Remove Glue Down Wood Flooring? [2022] (7 Super Easy Steps)

If you have hardwood floors that have been glued down, they are a wonderful addition to your home.

However, when it comes time to remove or replace them, they can be quite difficult to deal with.

Remove glued-down hardwood from plywood the incorrect method and you’ll end up with a major mess on your hands and a subfloor that will require extensive repair or replacement work.

If you decide to take on the task of removing glued-down laminate flooring on your own, it will be beneficial to learn how to do so securely and quickly.

Cut the individual boards into more manageable portions first, and then lift them with a pry bar to make them more manageable.

Afterward, you can either dispose of the items or recycle them for other creative purposes around your home.

How to Remove Glue Down Wood Flooring

When gluing down a floor to concrete, the process entails applying an adhesive to both the concrete base and the floor that will be installed on top of it.

Because you cannot remove a glued-down wood floor in one piece, it can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive task.

Instead, the boards must be broken into manageable pieces, which must then be dragged up from the bottom of the pile.

The Reasons for Gluing Down Floors

Checking to see that the floors have been installed correctly and that they are secure is one of the most crucial procedures in any flooring installation process.

While there are a variety of methods that wood floor installers and manufacturers can employ to fix their floors, the glue-down approach is one of the most used.

Many manufacturers, in fact, prefer this strategy because they believe it provides superior stability to other options.

In a nutshell, flooring is glued down to ensure that they remain in their designated locations.

It is critical to take the necessary measures before commencing the process of removing glued-down wood floors, even though it is not a difficult task.

Weekend Builds covers the procedure for removing glued-down wood floors, which begins with the requirement to put on protective gear such as knee pads, protective goggles, and work gloves before commencing the project.

Prepare the work area by moving any furniture and covering anything that cannot be moved, such as appliances and light fixtures, before you begin the installation process.

The time required to complete this project will be at least one day.

Getting Glue Off of Hardwood Floors: How Difficult Is It?

In a few hours, the average person can remove the glue from a room’s wood flooring and refinish it.

It is possible, however, that the process will become more difficult and time-consuming if your flooring extremely adheres to the subfloor or concrete beneath it.

It can take up to 85 man-hours to completely remove the hardwood and adhesive from some projects.

The majority of people are capable of eliminating 10 square feet every hour.

If you’re removing glued wood flooring from numerous rooms at the same time, you can consider renting a power tool to save on electricity costs.

In most cases, local tool rental companies charge a per-hour rental fee for their equipment.

The machines, on the other hand, are enormous and heavy.

You’re trying to find out how to get it in and out of your car or move it around the house.

How to Remove Glue On Flooring [Step-by-Step]

You’ll Need a Few Special Tools for the Job

Of course, there are a variety of items that you will need in order to finish any home renovation project properly, including the following:

• Chisel made of wood with a hammer
• A Bucket of Water is a bucket of water that has been filled with water.
• Sponge
• Remover of Adhesives (Goo gone, or even vinegar)
• Gloves for the workplace
• Scraper for the Floor
• Trash Receptacle
• Broom
• Shop-Vac
• Scrub Brushes are a type of brush that is used to clean surfaces.

Instructions Provided in Step-by-Step Form

Step 1: Identify an edge to which you can gain access.

The very first thing you’ll want to do is obtain access to the subflooring beneath the floor.

This is best accomplished by beginning at the doorway and working your way across the room.

To wedge the wood chisel beneath the wood flooring, drive it in with a hammer until it is flush with the wood flooring surface.

You will want to loosen the entire section of flooring that is immediately next to the entryway first.

When it comes to using the floor scraper, you will have a much easier experience if you do it this way.

Step 2: Utilize the Floor Scraper

Work gloves should be worn throughout this phase to prevent blisters, splinters, and slivers from forming on your skin.

After you’ve put on your work gloves, take your floor scraper and get started.

The blade of your scraper should be placed where you loosened the edge of the flooring with your sander.

To pry the flooring loose, squeeze the handle down.

Start scraping as soon as you have a good-sized section of flooring removed.

During this stage of the process, it is typical to observe strips of veneer remaining on the subfloor.

Those will be removed at a later time.

For the time being, concentrate on getting as much of the flooring up as possible.

Step 3: Organize Your Working Environment

The fragments of the floor should be thrown away now that you’ve torn up the majority of the surface area of the floor.

After you’ve finished cleaning up the debris, go over the area with a broom to collect any larger bits that have remained.

While sweeping, it is critical that you open a window or put on a dust mask to keep the dust-out.

After you’ve finished sweeping, grab your Shop-Vac and vacuum the floor thoroughly.

This will aid in the removal of any remaining dust and debris that was not picked up by the broom.

Step 4: Soak the Remaining Areas

When it comes to peeling up the adhesive, it might be difficult at times.

If this happens to you, soak a sponge in water and squeeze it over the remaining parts of the meal you had.

The water will aid in the softening of the flooring, allowing you to scrape it away with your scraper.

Allow the water to settle for approximately 15 minutes once you have finished soaking the remaining pieces.

Don’t be scared to saturate the soil with a large amount of water.

The goal here is to absorb up any leftover fragments of floor covering.

If your floor is made of concrete, you can simply throw the bucket of water on it.

The sponge method is preferable if you have a wooden subfloor beneath your carpet.

Step 5: Scrape the Adhesive Off the Surface

After the water has been allowed to sit for the recommended amount of time, you can use your scraper once more.

When you’re scraping up, make sure you’re pushing down as much as possible. This will assist in keeping the blade at an angle that will allow it to go beneath the flooring pieces as they are installed.

Don’t be concerned if your floor feels or appears to be sticky.

The goal for this phase is to just finish putting in the rest of the flooring for the time being. The remainder of the adhesive will be removed in the following phase.

Step 6: Dissolve any Adhesive residues that may have Remained

When you have finished scraping, you may have discovered that you have a significant amount of adhesive left over.

If this is the case, you can use baking soda to dissolve the sticky residue.

In order to accomplish this, products such as goo gone or even white vinegar should be used.

Use an adhesive remover according to the directions on the package if you purchase one.

Pour the vinegar directly onto the affected area and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

After the vinegar has been allowed to sit, clean the area with a scrub brush.

After that, the glue should be removed from the floor.

Step 7: Clear the Area

Now that you’ve finished, you can tidy up your workspace for the final time before leaving.

Grab your Shop-Vac and thoroughly vacuum up all of the liquid and glue that has remained on the floor.

Maintain an open window or turn on a fan to assist in drying the floor as soon as it is finished.

If you have a wooden subfloor instead of a concrete subfloor, you must remove all of the liquid from the subfloor.

If you leave the liquid lying for an extended period of time, the subfloor will gradually absorb it and get damaged over time.

If you want to prevent having to replace your subfloor in the near future, it is preferable to get the liquid up as soon as possible.

How to Remove a Section of Wood Flooring

The techniques outlined above will instruct you on how to remove any amount of hardwood flooring from your home.

If you only want to remove a portion of the floor, for example, to construct a tile entryway in a room with a wood floor, then follow these instructions:

Mark the area you want to pull out with a tape measure and a large square to make it easier to work with.

Make a pencil mark on the old flooring to indicate these measurements.

In order to obtain a clear and full contour of the area, you must connect the measurements.

To outline the area you marked, use a large piece of painter’s tape.

This will produce a protective coating for the flooring that you intend to maintain, preventing the saw from scratching the surface.

Apply the tape on the lines on the outside of the lines only (the area you are not tearing out).

The tape should be perfectly aligned with the markings on the wall.

To protect the floor, place numerous strips of tape in an outward direction.

A circular saw guard should be at least as wide as the blade of your circular saw.

Set the cutting depth on your circular saw to be as close as feasible to the thickness of the floor.

Cutting all the way through the flooring will make the tear-out process easier, but you don’t want to go too deep — especially if the flooring is installed over a solid subfloor.

Make every effort to match the depth of the hole to the exact thickness of the hardwood.

Cut all the way around the perimeter of the tape border you created.

Slowly work your way around the corners to avoid overcutting the flooring and leaving gaps in the finished product (if you do, you will have to fix them with color-matched wood putty).

This will provide you with a clear border from which to begin your tear-out.

Follow the rest of the instructions in the preceding section on the portion of flooring that is being removed.

Our Final Thoughts

Reminder:

You might be tempted to use solvents to adhere to the glue, but resist the temptation!

Because the solvents are usually poisonous, there is no need for you to be exposed to the fumes of the solvents.

Additionally, avoid using acid (aside from vinegar.)

If you have wood subflooring, the acid can and will degrade the wood, causing damage that will necessitate the replacement of the subflooring.

Frequently Ask Questions