Buzz
Although it's called "glued" laminate flooring, the planks aren't actually glued to the floor. Instead, they are glued to one another. There are various methods for removing laminate flooring, but you may be able to lift the planks manually. However, if the adhesive has seeped down and attached the planks to the subfloor, removal could be tricky. In such cases, you can either melt the glue or use a motorized floor stripper to help remove the flooring.
Here's a simple method to manually remove laminate flooring.
- Begin by cutting down the middle of each laminate plank using a skill saw (rentable if needed). This will help break up the adhesive holding the planks.
- Use a chisel and mallet to tap under the edges of the planks.
- Remove the planks [source: DoItYourself].
Alternatively, you can use a manual scraper to pull up the flooring by hand. It's cost-effective but requires significant physical effort.
If you're unable to remove the flooring manually, consider trying one of these methods instead:
- Use a heat gun. With the help of a contractor, alternate between pulling up sections of the flooring and melting the glue underneath until all the planks are removed.
- Rent a motorized floor stripper with claws. The claws will lift the planks, but this method can be costly and will damage the laminate, making it unusable for reinstallation.
If the laminate is glued down with a strong adhesive and you're concerned about causing damage during removal, it may be wise to hire a contractor. You may need one anyway to repair or resurface the subfloor after the laminate is removed [source: MyHomeImprovement].
"Floating" laminate flooring fits together like a jigsaw puzzle and is sealed at the edges with rubberized seam sealant. If your flooring is of this type, simply melt the sealant using a heat gun. Once the sealant is gone, the planks can be easily removed [source: Home Flooring Guide].
