How To Remove Glued Down Carpet Tiles

Carpet tiles are popular for basements and rec rooms because they are easy to put down. However, getting them back up is another issue! Some carpet tiles are the self-stick variety but many are glued down with an adhesive applied to the concrete or other substrate. In this video I'll show you my method for removing these glued down tiles.

[@rickfarber4243]

Thanks for a helpful video. Using this method also gives you good practice for shoveling snow that has turned to ice.😊

[@batbawls]

I can tell that's a workout. I know there's probably one guy out there that in the 80s thought he was doing a service by really making sure those suckers have enough glue, all over town! :)

[@aaroncorrea7776]

Hi,
Any advice on removing old and VERY STICKY linoleum tiles from hard wood floors?!

[@enduringcharm]

First, let me note that it may not be linoleum. That term is often used generically, and you may be looking at vinyl tile rather than linoleum. Second, I should note that SOME true linoleum tile or sheets contains asbestos. There's no way to know without sending a sample to a lab, and it isn't necessarily dangerous unless it gets airborne, but just be aware. Finally--how to remove the stuck tiles? Typically I don't. Many times the tile is applied to a layer of plywood, and I will simply set my circular saw to a depth equal to the thickness of that first layer of plywood, and cut the whole room into squares. Then I can lift the small squares of plywood with the tile still attached and start over with the clean layer underneath.
If you have actual finish flooring under the tile, you have poor luck! You can try to peel up the layers going with the grain of the finish flooring. Use a sharpened ice breaker/chopper with a long handle. You can get much more force out of that tool and it will be easier on your back. A sharpened flat bar tapped with a hammer is another option, but slower. With the tile removed you'll still need to do a LOT of sanding of the finish floor to get the adhesive off. Is it worth it? For a pro, probably not. For a homeowner, maybe. But, you should still consider just cutting up the strip flooring underneath and starting over. By the time you do the removal, the sanding, the staining and the clear finish, it may not have been any cheaper than just replacing it with new.