How Do You Remove Carpeting With Foam Backing Glued To The Floor?
Everyone’s heard one of those home improvement stories about how the Joneses removed their carpeting only to find gorgeous, pristine hardwood floors. The truth is, you’re liable to find anything under your old carpeting. It’s not uncommon to find floors covered with foam backing, material that’s been glued straight to the floor. Removing it the wrong way could cause damage to the floor and to the carpet, and that’s the last thing you want. Test the floor. Go to any corner of the room and pull up a small area of the carpet until you can see the floor underneath. If the old glue has a brownish tint to it, you can assume it’s made with a tar-based material. You’ll be using mineral spirits as a solvent to remove the foam from your floor. If the glue is more yellowish in color, choose an adhesive remover. Open windows and doors to ventilate the area. Working with solvents can be dangerous if you’re not getting enough fresh, clean air. Be sure to keep the room airy, to avoid breathing the fu
