Floor demolition involves a whole lot of processes starting from picking your preferred removal method, preparation, and demolition.
Floors are important parts of buildings that may need to go during demolition. So, are there certain procedures to follow during demolition? There are!
How To Demolish A Floor
These are only broad categories that include detailed steps. If the whole floor demolition process seems too much to process, it’s probably because you aren’t looking at it from a systematic point of view.
This guide helps out by providing key steps to follow during this procedure.
Picking Your Preferred Floor Demolition Method
The choice is crucial when it comes to floor demolition or any other type of structural teardown. You’ll either need to choose between performing a DIY procedure or calling a floor removal specialist.
Here, it’s evident that floor removal can be handled by the property owner.
DIY is mostly popular with persons seeking to cut down on floor demolition costs. So, is that the best method?
Not exactly! However, it serves a purpose as you get to perform the job yourself. The good part is, you’re provided with tips on how to proceed. This option will be discussed in greater detail shortly.
With mentions being made about DIY and floor removal specialists, it’s left for you to choose what works best for you. At this point, we’re assuming you’ve already picked our preferred floor removal approach.
So, we’ll be including information on both options. That is DIY and calling a floor removal expert.
What’s the extent of demolition? Demolition can either be conducted partially or fully.
The extent of demolition is a crucial decision you’ll need to make. Partial floor demolition tends to be more challenging than total demolition as it needs to be contained or confined within a certain space.
Partial demolition may be targeted at certain rooms. As such, the demolition area needs to be better managed by sealing it off.
Preparing For Floor Removal
Like any worthwhile undertaking, performing a great demolition job requires strategizing and planning.
Here, the tools for the job need to be available. These tools are either bought or rented. You’ll also need to rent a dumpster to make the demolition process less messy.
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Getting the Tools Necessary
Speaking of demolition tools, there are basic tools that make the demolition process less stressful. These tools range from floor scrapers, floor sanders & edgers, floor grinders, and floor stripping machines.
Other demolition tools include grinding & polishing plates, pry bars & molding lifters, carpet pullers, handheld grinders, self-leveling tools, and rotary & demolition hammers.
Some other tools include shot blasters and dust collectors.
Now, renting tools will only be necessary when you’ll be performing the demolition job yourself.
However, when floor demolition is to be done by a professional, you won’t have to be concerned about getting tools for the job. This is because the professionals come with their own tools.
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Renting a Dumpster
It’s no secret that most demolition jobs are messy and create a lot of debris. With a roll-off dumpster, you’re able to reduce the volume of debris to make the demolition area less messy.
With that provided, the target area needs to be cleared off in preparation for demolition.
How much debris is going to be produced by your floor demolition actions? This is crucial to knowing the dumpster size to rent. A larger demolition area will certainly produce more debris.
As such, there needs to be a larger dumpster to contain all of it.
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Preparing the Workspace
You’ll need to make the demolition area off bounds to anyone not involved in the work.
Sealing up the room is also necessary to ensure that dust is contained. This may seem like too much work for a lot of people to handle.
If you belong to this category, you may want to call a professional to handle your floor demolition
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Putting on Protective Gear
Floor demolition, like any other type of demolition job, is risky.
You’ll need to have protective gear to keep yourself safe from bodily harm.
Also, dust must not be inhaled. As such basic protective gear will include safety goggles, heavy-duty coveralls, nose masks, ear pads, and work gloves.
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Turning off Water Supply
During floor demolition, the water supply needs to be turned off. This is important because sometimes, accidents could occur where water lines are mistakenly crushed.
It’s best to keep the water supply around the demolition area closed until work’s completed.
With all of the above preparatory actions taken in readiness for demolition, work’s now ready to begin. From this point, we’ll discuss how the procedure is handled the DIY way as well as when a professional does the job.
i. DIY Floor Removal Process
To begin DIY floor removal, you’ll need to follow several specific procedures.
This is where the action starts.
Doing anything outside of the normal won’t give desired results. Basic steps include removal of fixtures, creating a starting point, removing tile, assessing underlayment, and cleaning up.
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Removal of Fixtures
Before demolition starts, it’s important to get rid of all fixtures that stand in the way.
Having them removed ensures that the job site is free and less complicated. Here, you’ll need to turn off all water supply followed by removal of sinks and toilets.
All reservoirs must be drained of water and any bolts removed before the process begins. With this done, you’ll need to proceed to the next stage.
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Creating a Starting Point
Creating a starting point simply means locating an exposed edge to begin from.
With the help of a hammer and chisel, break up some parts of your starting point to enable prying off of tiles using a pry tool among other equipment.
The condition of tile adhesives will determine how much effort is applied.
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Removing Tile
Tile removal is a painstaking procedure as you’ll need to follow each tile by chiseling and prying off with your tools. Having a wheelbarrow or other container close by will help with conveying debris to your roll-off dumpster. The work area mustn’t be occupied by so much debris.
You may want to have a helping hand for tile demolition jobs. This helps you move faster and also ensures that debris isn’t left to pile up.
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Assessing Underlayment
With the tiles completely removed, what follows is to assess the condition of the underlayment. Underlayment isn’t present on all floor types. Sometimes, tiles may be attached directly to the floor.
In some cases, there will be an underlayment. Here, materials like plywood are placed underneath.
Now for floor replacement jobs, the condition of the underlayment needs to be assessed first. Assessment is necessary to help fix damaged underlayment before replacement.
If this is what you wish to do, you’ll need to have it inspected. However, if another type of flooring is required, there’ll be no need for assessment.
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Cleaning Up
Cleaning up the demolition area follows next. Even when debris was prevented from piling up, there’ll still be a significant amount of cleanup work to do. This will involve a lot of cleanups.
Apart from dust and smaller pieces of cracked tiles, other forms of debris may include adhesives and nails.
ii. Professional Floor Removal
Professional floor removal is a much comprehensive approach to demolition.
Here, a demolition expert handles the job with little to no action required from the homeowner. This is best for people who seek expert help for their demolition jobs.
So, what’s the extent of your action as a homeowner? It mostly has to do with contacting the right professional for the job. Reputable demolition contractors will have to be sought.
There are basic procedures to follow when hiring who performs your floor removal process.
These include getting about 2 to 3 estimates, verifying a contractor’s license, asking for a written contract, and monitoring the job as it progresses.
At your end of the deal, you’ll need to make payments as work gets completed and keeping track of everything.
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Getting Multiple Estimates
Asking for multiple estimates is the best way to compare pricing between different demolition services.
The aim is to get the best price possible. You mustn’t focus on the cost alone, but also on the contractor’s reputation, experience level, and how long the project will take before completion.
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Verifying A Contractor’s License
Based on your state’s licensing laws, you may have to verify a contractor’s license. Not every state has such provisions. As such, you’ll need to find out what applies to your location.
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Asking for Written Contract
To eliminate the chances of surprises, it’s important to ask for a written contract. Such a contract should clearly spell out the particular work (in this case floor removal) to be done, and equipment used.
Also, the payment schedule is important including a timetable for completion.
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Monitoring the Job as it Progresses
It’s necessary to regularly inspect the progress of work. Also important is the need to have permits displayed onsite. This should remain until the job is fully completed.
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Making Payments As and When Due
Your own end of the obligation should be met.
Here, you’ll need to make payments as agreed upon in the agreement. The floor removal process and demolition tips have been outlined above.
These are key demolition actions to consider when performing any floor removal work.
Hello! My name is Oluwasegun, and I am the founder of SafeandSanitaryHomes.org.
As a young boy who grew up in the suburbs, my family had a green lawn. I actively cared for this and maintained hedges and trees.
I’ve also grown into a DIY enthusiast for cleaning tasks and home improvements. As an expert animal healthcare provider, I also discuss tips to help you combat pests.
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