We have different types of carpet installation. Each and every homeowner chooses which installation will fit their home and offices. Glued installation is appropriate for many homes. This is because it lasts longer and doesn’t pull off easily. We have two types of glued carpet installations. The first one is directly glued-down carpet installation. This is whereby the carpet is glued directly to the floor. Mostly, this type of installation is for commercial purposes. The floor needs to be very smooth in this type of installation. If the floor is rough it will cause the carpet to wear out quickly.
The other type of glue carpet installation is the double glued-down carpet installation. This is when the glue attaches to the carpet pad. A densified pad is necessary for this type of installation. This type of glue installation is usually more comfortable and also has more insulation compared to the other type of installation. And when you want to remove such a carpet, you will require a team of carpet removal professionals such as Jiffy Junk.
After a period of time, the glued carpet needs to be replaced. One can choose to hire the services of a professional or they can choose to do the work on their own. Carpet removal involves a lot of work. Especially the glued one. It requires a lot of work and time. One also has to have the right tools for the work. Below are some of the steps you need to follow when considering glued down carpet removal:
Tools Needed
- Utility knife/Sponge
- Gloves
- Ropes/Heat guns’ /Blow dryer
- Adhesive removing solvent
- Face mask
- Dry clothes and towels
Wear Protective Gear for Carpet Removal
Before you begin the whole process of carpet removal, it is important to wear your protective shields. Gloves are important considering most of the work involves pulling out the carpet. The face mask is also important especially if you are sensitive to dust. That’s why it’s advisable for one to clean the carpet before removal. Knee pads are also essential because most of the work will require kneeling on the floor.
Decide On Approach
This basically means getting to know what type of glue was used on the carpet and floor during the installation. This is achieved by pulling up one corner of the carpet by cutting it up and then you pull it. There are two types of glues that can be used during installation. There is the commercial carpet glue and tar-based glue. Tar-based glues are basically light or dark brown in color. If the carpet you are dealing with is over fifty years old, then most probably the tar-based glue was used. Mineral spirits apply during carpet removal. If a commercial glue was used during installation, then a citrus-based solvent applies during the removal.
Pull the Staples/Tacks
Pull the carpet starting from the farthest part of the room. With your utility knife, hold the carpet and cut it down to a portion you can easily carry. Continue working your way to the right until you have covered the entire perimeter of the room. Use a scraper or prying tool to pull up the staples from the carpet. Also, pull out the stacks.
Pull Back the Carpet
Using a pair of pliers or any related tool, hold the carpet from one corner of the room and pull it. Pull it about one or two feet backward and walk as you pull the carpet with each and every step that you make. As you pull the carpet, make sure it is in one pile. This is to avoid having a dumping floor once you finish pulling it. This also helps in the disposal process. Always pull the carpet from the wall coming to the middle of the room to make work easier.
Roll Carpet
Once you have pulled out the carpet, then it is advisable that you roll it and even tie it up in rope. This normally helps when it’s time for disposal. It also helps when moving the carpet from the room.
Removing Adhesive/Carpet glue
Removing the carpet glue is normally the main job during this particular process of carpet removal. Solvents used to remove the glue from the carpet normally vary with the type of glue they apply during the installation. If it’s a thick layer of glue, apply a solvent to the floor. Then you can use the utility knife to slowly break it up into chips so that you can throw it away. If it is a thin layer of glue, then you can pour boiled water to the floor and let it soak for a while then slowly start brushing it off. A sponge is necessary for this process.
If a solvent doesn’t remove the glue after two trials, then you can use a heat gun to help soften the glue so that it can peel off. Once you finish, you should clean up the area to ensure the floor is level and all the glue is out.
Final Thoughts On Carpet Removal
When all is complete, then the floor is now ready for another installation. If you can’t do all this alone, then just hire a professional carpet removal company to lend a hand.
