Flooring Removal
Every new floor starts by taking the old one out. Lunko Construction plans flooring removal for Huntsville and North Alabama homeowners around access, dust control, disposal and an honest look at whatever the old covering has been hiding.
Removal is scoped by material, because each one behaves differently. Carpet and pad cut and roll quickly, then leave hundreds of staples and a perimeter of tack strip to clear. Sheet vinyl and linoleum range from a clean lift to a fully adhered sheet that comes away in pieces with felt backing or adhesive left bonded to the subfloor. Floating laminate and click-together vinyl plank usually lift in rows once trim and transitions are off, while glue-down plank behaves much more like adhered sheet goods. Nailed or stapled hardwood comes up board by board with fastener cleanup behind it, and tile is the most demanding of all, since tile, thinset and sometimes an underlayment or mortar bed all have to come off.
Protection is planned before demolition begins. Depending on the rooms and the material, that can include plastic at doorways, covered pathways to the exit, protecting or temporarily closing nearby supply and return openings so dust is not carried through the system, and vacuums with appropriate filtration during scraping or grinding. Dust control reduces dust; it does not eliminate it, and we tell homeowners in advance which days are likely to be the loud, dusty ones so they can plan around them.
What stays stuck to the subfloor matters as much as what comes off it. Adhesive ridges, felt paper, thinset remnants, staple stubs and old patching compound are cleaned back, because a floating floor telegraphs whatever is underneath it and a glued or nailed floor bonds poorly to a contaminated surface. This is slow, unglamorous labor, and it is usually the reason a removal scope costs more than homeowners expect from the square footage alone.
We are direct about the limits. Not every material can be removed without affecting the substrate beneath it. Fully adhered sheet goods, mortar-bed tile and flooring installed over particleboard or thin luan underlayment sometimes take part of that layer with them, and older assemblies can be brittle or contain previous work that is invisible until it is uncovered. We do not promise damage-free removal on every assembly, and we do not offer fixed pricing or fixed timelines for a floor nobody has opened yet.
Disposal and haul-away are handled as scoped and confirmed in writing, including anything excluded. When removal is complete the subfloor gets a real inspection: flatness measured against the tolerance the new flooring publishes, soft or moving areas, loose or protruding fasteners, squeaks, previous patching, moisture evidence and height differences at doorways. Those observations drive the preparation scope, which is why we price preparation from an exposed subfloor rather than from a guess.
Services included
- Carpet and pad removal with staple and tack strip cleanup
- Sheet vinyl and linoleum removal, including adhered material
- Laminate and vinyl plank removal
- Nailed or stapled hardwood removal
- Tile, thinset and underlayment demolition where scoped
- Adhesive and residue cleanup
- Trim and transition removal, jamb undercutting
- Debris disposal and haul-away as scoped
Materials and finish options
- Dust sheeting and doorway protection
- Floor and pathway protection materials
- Filtered vacuums for scraping and grinding
- Scrapers, pry bars and demolition tooling
- Replacement tack strip and transition pieces
- Debris containment and disposal bags
Do you haul away the old flooring?
Disposal and haul-away are normally part of the scope, and we confirm in writing what is included and anything excluded before work begins.
Can old flooring always be removed without damaging the subfloor?
No. Fully adhered sheet goods, mortar-bed tile and floors installed over particleboard or thin underlayment can take part of that layer with them. We document what we find and get your approval on any added work before it proceeds.
How much dust will removal create?
It depends on the material. Carpet is comparatively clean; tile demolition is loud and dusty. We use sheeting, pathway protection and filtered vacuums to reduce dust, though no removal is dust free.
Can new flooring go over the old floor instead?
Some systems allow it over a sound, flat surface, but height at doorways, cabinets and appliances has to be checked, and covering an unknown condition is a risk. Removal is often the more dependable route.
How long does removal take, and what does it cost?
It depends on the material, square footage, how the floor was attached, access and what turns up underneath. We give a project-specific expectation after seeing the rooms rather than a fixed promise in advance.
Request a consultation or call (256) 795-3451.