How To Remove Laminate Flooring
Written by Brian B

How To Remove Laminate Flooring

Follow these eight steps to remove your laminate flooring properly and efficiently.

Step 1: Proper Equipment And Tools

Make sure to put on heavy leather work gloves and boots before tackling this project. Laminate floor edges are very sharp and can cut right through skin. Laminate planks can chip easily and cause serious eye injuries, as well. Wear protective glasses throughout the process.

Suggested tools and materials for the job:

  • Work gloves
  • Work boots
  • Protective eyewear
  • Hammer
  • Utility knife
  • Drywall knife (6-inch)
  • Side cutter
  • Floor scraper
  • Shop vacuum
  • Chisel
  • Flat bar
  • Heat gun

Step 2: Move Everything Out Of The Way

Move all objects, including furniture, out of the way before removing the flooring. After everything is removed, prepare to move the baseboards that cover the flooring’s edges. This is where you should use the utility knife. Slice through any paint that’s bonding the base to the wall. This is done to not tear the drywall as you pry the woodwork.

Step 3: Remove Baseboard

Slide the drywall knife between baseboard and wall. Then, put the flat bar between the knife and baseboard. The drywall knife is there to protect any potential damages done to wall. Use side cutters to clip any nails that are stuck to the wall after the boards are removed. A hammer could also be used to drive away any remaining nails in the wall. Repeat this action until all baseboards are fully removed.

Step 4: Pull Up Transition Strips

These strips are typically found in doorway(s) to a room covering flooring seams. To remove these strips, slide the “J” end of your flat bar underneath the strips and pry upwards. After, remove the screws holding the retaining channels to the flooring.

Step 5: Remove Laminate Flooring

Again, slide the “J” end of the flat bar into the gaps between wall and flooring plants and pry upwards. Do this at a 45-degree angle, if possible. If the flooring happens to be glued, grab the plank with your hands until the glued seams break apart.

Step 6: Remove All Planks

After the first row of planks is removed, slide the chisel under any additional plank and pry upwards. Remove each row of planks until they are all gone.

Step 7: Get Rid Of Foam Padding

Remove all of the foam padding you’ll find from the subfloor. Use a floor scraper and heat gun to remove any residue if the laminate was glued together.

Step 8: Final Cleanup

Vacuum the entire area (using a shop vacuum) to remove any wood, debris or leftover laminate.

Laminate Flooring Benefits

  • Is it affordable? There are many cases where laminate flooring will cost up to 50% less than your hardwood flooring, the traditional style.
  • Installation is quick! Being able to have installed quickly is one of laminate floors main features. Laminate flooring installation can be done in as little as one day.
  • Durable? “Definitely.” Laminate floors can take big impacts, hard to scratch, sunlight will not fade them, and they are stain resistant.
  • The appearance of laminated wood flooring come in a variety of various simulated types of wood, including their colors. Today’s technology has given the ability for laminated floors to appeal to the eye more than real hardwood floors do.
  • Besides being affordable, laminated floors nearly always are ‘floated’, which means that it is laid with foam under it (or a padding), and it has no adhesion on the sub-layer underneath. Manufacturers use a ‘locking tongue’ and a ‘grove system’ to hold all of the pieces together, with each pieces being adjacent to its neighboring pieces.
  • After which, by holding the laminate floor down by the edges and installing the base-board and putting in the T-molds, or one can use a quarter-round trim as an option, which is placed in front of the base-board already there.
  • This installation method is beneficial if the floor is needed installed quickly. The reason it can be installed more rapidly is because there is no sub-floor or adhesives to bother with during installation which lets things move a little faster. It can be installed and walked on both in the same day usually.
  • There is an added benefit to having a laminated floor, and that is that it is considered to be a floating floor which is due to its ability to serve as a temporary floor when needed. This is because it also be placed over the hardwood floor or tile floor you already have in order to change the appearance of the floor temporary, where that existing floor remains and it can be changed back.
  • Laminated floors have an incredible strength to ward off scratches, even dents, where there is a lot of traffic, and stains. The manufacturers of laminated floors (many of them) will offer warranties of up to 25 years or more.

Urban Customs Installs Hardwood Flooring In Phoenix, Arizona

At Urban Customs we offer all types of flooring installation in Phoenix, Arizona, including Wood flooring, stone flooring, and bamboo flooring. Request a free flooring installation quote from Urban Customs today! Our address is 8050 N 19th Ave #127, Phoenix, AZ 85021.

Written by webtechs

Laminate Flooring Pros & Cons

Laminate flooring pros and cons include:

Laminate Flooring Pros

  • Long-lasting and durable. Most manufacturers offer warranty on laminates, covering as much as 15-30 years after purchase.
  • Easy maintenance, and easy to clean. Laminate floors are also resistant to dents, physical damages and stains.
  • Since this is artificial flooring, it’s close to perfect in how it looks, with little imperfections.
  • Existing floors don’t need to be taken out for it to be installed.
  • Can be purchased in a number of different colors and patterns, allowing you to match the look and color of your floor to your furniture, rather than the other way around, which is normally the case with original material floors.

Laminate Flooring Cons

  • Even with the addition of a foam underlayment, laminate floors are generally hard underfoot.
  • Doesn’t increase the resale value to the house, whereas original material flooring would.
  • Can be slippery. However, non-slippery laminates are now becoming readily available in the market.
  • In case of damage, the damage area will have to be replaced as laminate flooring can’t be refinished or sanded to restore its look.
Written by webtechs

Benefits Of Laminate Flooring

If you are looking for the “benefits of laminate flooring” this post should help! Urban Customs is a laminate flooring contractor in Phoenix offering a variety of different laminate flooring options. If you live in the Phoenix Valley and would like to receive a free flooring quote, give us a call today at 480-747-2516.

Laminate Flooring Benefits

1. Is it affordable? There are many cases where laminate flooring will cost up to 50% less than your hardwood flooring, the traditional style.

2. Installation is quick! Being able to have installed quickly is one of laminate floors main features. Laminate flooring installation can be done in as little as one day.

3. Durable? “Definitely.” Laminate floors can take big impacts, hard to scratch, sunlight will not fade them, and they are stain resistant.

4. The appearance of laminated wood flooring come in a variety of various simulated types of wood, including their colors. Today’s technology has given the ability for laminated floors to appeal to the eye more than real hardwood floors do.

5. Besides being affordable, laminated floors nearly always are ‘floated’, which means that it is laid with foam under it (or a padding), and it has no adhesion on the sub-layer underneath. Manufacturers use a ‘locking tongue’ and a ‘grove system’ to hold all of the pieces together, with each pieces being adjacent to its neighboring pieces.

  • After which, by holding the laminate floor down by the edges and installing the base-board and putting in the T-molds, or one can use a quarter-round trim as an option, which is placed in front of the base-board already there.
  • This installation method is beneficial if the floor is needed installed quickly. The reason it can be installed more rapidly is because there is no sub-floor or adhesives to bother with during installation which lets things move a little faster. It can be installed and walked on both in the same day usually.
  • There is an added benefit to having a laminated floor, and that is that it is considered to be a floating floor which is due to its ability to serve as a temporary floor when needed. This is because it also be placed over the hardwood floor or tile floor you already have in order to change the appearance of the floor temporary, where that existing floor remains and it can be changed back.
  • Laminated floors have an incredible strength to ward off scratches, even dents, where there is a lot of traffic, and stains. The manufacturers of laminated floors (many of them) will offer warranties of up to 25 years or more.

Laminate Flooring Installation In Phoenix, Arizona

Urban Customs is a laminate flooring contractor in Phoenix offering a variety of different laminate flooring options. If you live in the Phoenix Valley and would like to receive a free flooring quote, give us a call today at 480-747-2516. We offer free laminate flooring quotes to the entire Phoenix Valley including: Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise and more.