Removing old laminate flooring is a necessary step for any homeowner looking to renovate a room or install a new surface. While the process might seem straightforward, doing it correctly is key to protecting your subfloor and avoiding a month of dust and debris in your living space. This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step approach to taking up your existing floor efficiently and safely.
Preparing for Removal
Before you pull up a single plank, preparation is the most critical factor for a smooth project. A solid plan saves time and prevents damage to the walls or baseboards. You will need specific tools, including a pry bar, a hammer, a utility knife, a broom, and a heavy-duty contractor trash bag or tarp for disposal.
Clearing the Room
Start by removing all furniture from the room. If moving large pieces like a bed or sofa is impossible, push them to the center of the space and work around the perimeter. Take down any curtains or window treatments and remove the outlet and switch plate covers from the walls. This not only gives you full access to the floor edges but also protects your electrical fixtures from dust and accidental damage.
Protecting Adjacent Areas
Laminate removal can be aggressive, and scraps or debris often get kicked behind baseboards or into adjacent rooms. Lay down drop cloths or heavy plastic sheeting over any doorway leading to other parts of the house. Securing these with painter’s tape ensures that the dust is contained to the workspace, saving you hours of cleanup later.
The Removal Process
With the room cleared and protected, you can begin the physical work of removal. Depending on how the laminate was installed, you might encounter tongue-and-groove edges glued to the subfloor or simply locked together floating floors.
Dealing with Floating Floors
If your laminate sits on top of a foam underlayment without being glued down, the process is relatively easy. You can usually pry up the first row of planks near the wall using a flat pry bar. Once you get a grip, grab the board with both hands and wiggle it up and out. Because these floors are not adhered, you can often lift the entire floor in one continuous sheet, locking pieces apart as you go.
Handling Glued-Down Laminate
For older installations, the planks may have been glued to the subfloor for stability. In these cases, a simple pry bar won’t be enough. You must first cut through the grout lines or the tongue of the board using a reciprocating saw or a circular saw with the blade raised just above the floor. This severs the adhesive bond and allows the planks to be removed without cracking them.
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Dealing with Obstacles
Every room has challenges, and the toilet, cabinets, and fixed vanities are usually the biggest hurdles. You cannot simply lift the floor up to the base of a toilet; you need to get underneath.
Shutting Off Water
Before attempting to remove laminate in a bathroom, turn off the water supply to the toilet. Flush the remaining water out of the tank and pipes. Then, use a turkey baster or a small cup to remove any residual water from the bowl. Once the area is dry, cut the sealant around the base of the toilet with a utility knife, disconnect the bolts from the floor, and lift the fixture. Place it on an old towel or tarp to avoid soiling the bathroom.
Cabinetry and Fixtures
Removing Trim and Baseboards
Baseboards and quarter-round trim are usually the final barrier between the floor and the wall. Rather than breaking them, it is best to remove them gently to reuse them elsewhere or to ensure a clean transition with new flooring. Use a pry bar and a hammer to slowly separate the trim from the wall, working your way along the length. Keep a block of wood as a fulcrum to apply pressure against the trim without denting the drywall.
Subfloor Inspection and Cleanup
Once all the laminate is gone, you are left with the subfloor, which is usually made of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB). Take a moment to inspect this surface before installing new material.
Addressing Residual Adhesive
If the old laminate was glued down, you will likely see strips of hardened adhesive where the planks were bonded. These sticky spots must be removed before new flooring can adhere properly. Use a paint scraper or a heavy-duty putty knife to scrape the glue off. For stubborn areas, a heat gun can soften the adhesive, making scraping much easier. Always wear a dust mask during this process to avoid inhaling fumes or particles.
Checking for Level and Nails
Run a straightedge or level across the subfloor to check for any dips, bumps, or protruding nails. You need a flat, stable surface to prevent cracking in the new flooring. If you find loose boards, reattach them with screws or nails. Countersink any nail heads and fill the holes with wood filler to create a seamless surface.
Disposal and Final Steps
Old laminate flooring takes up a significant amount of space in a landfill, so proper disposal is a priority for many DIYers. The planks are bulky and heavy, so simply piling them in a dumpster might not be the most efficient method.
Recycling Options
Check with your local waste management facility to see if they accept laminate for recycling. Some facilities can process the material into pellets or composite boards. If recycling is not an option, you will need to bag the pieces tightly. Because the material is lightweight, even a small living room can produce dozens of bags. Stack the bags securely in your dumpster to prevent them from blowing away during transport.
