I recently bought an older home and it has this really awful 1970s carpet that's glued down to the subfloor. I've tried ripping it up, which isn't too easy, and I've noticed there's a thin board-like layer that the glue seems to be sticking to. There's even a sort of webbing pattern within the glue that I'm trying to navigate. Right now, I'm testing a floor glue remover on one patch, but I'm looking for better options. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to make this easier?
2 Answers
You should use a cats paw wrecking bar for the best results. It helps you remove the carpet and the thin wood layer (often called lauan) in one shot, but be careful not to damage your subfloor in the process!
Before diving in, it's super important to check if the carpet glue has asbestos. You definitely don’t want to risk exposure! If it's clear of asbestos, consider renting a power scraper specifically designed for removing this kind of glue. That should save you a lot of backache.
Phew! I found out it’s not asbestos, so that’s a relief!