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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Alphonso Sirtle.. | Posted under Home Improvement
5 Tips for Removing Carpet from Hardwood Floors
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1. First, you should get a pair of pliers and lift the carpet up from one corner of the room a few feet. Inspect what is underneath. Usually, the actual removal of the carpet is actually the easy part. All you have to do is lift from that corner, and then cut the carpet as you go. Make sure to take as much of that carpet up off of the flooring as you go. This will make room for your future task of removing the adhesive strips. 2. Now, you have to do is discover what type of adhesive was used in installing the carpet. See if the glue is a dark tan to black color. If it is, you probably have a tar based adhesive. Using mineral spirits will remove that tar based adhesive with relative ease. If you have a yellowish color or tinted substance on that flooring, you probably have a carpet tape. This is removed with a general purpose adhesive remover. 3. Remember safety first. I suggest this because these general purpose adhesive removers are extremely toxic and flammable. Make sure you have extinguished all flames, including pilot lights, before you start this project. You should were a protective mask, and protective gloves. In addition, open those windows and doors. You want to get as much fresh air in as possible. I suggest you also get all pets, including fish and small animals, out of the home. If at any time you start to get groggy, tired, faint, or weak, leave the house immediately and get some fresh air. Give yourself time to breathe before reentering for round two. You should always consider your own safety first. Remember, you should always be sober and in your right mind when working with these solvents. When you are finished, let the room breath for at least 24 hours before allowing yourself or your pets to enter. Do not relight pilot lights or start the stove before those 24 hours is up. One "mistake" and your floors will be the last thing on your mind. 4. I suggest running a damp mop with minimal detergent over the floor before you do anything else. This is after the 24 hours has passed. Make sure that it is not a chemical based detergent. You can still get a chemical reaction that can be just as deadly as the adhesive remover. In addition, you will want to let that hardwood floor dry completely before continuing. 5. Finally, you will want to remove any old nails and screws, flatten or fill in any gouges bumps, or imperfections. You can sometimes find old hardwood flooring to match what was under the carpet by visiting a closet somewhere in your home. These makes for great replacement planks for repairs. You should take a good look at what is laying underneath to decide if you truly want to keep that hardwood flooring after removing carpet from hardwood flooring underneath. About The Author: Alphonso has been working in the home remodeling industry for last 5 years. Take advantage of his experience and written material on flooring ideas at his website at http://www.improve-home.com |
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