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We are trying to remove an old wooden parquet floor from the kitchen floor. The flooring was glued down to the plywood in squares like tile and looks like its been there about 25 years. We have been trying to chisel it up with hammers, wide putty knives, pry bar and the problem is the glue is so strong that the wood is just breaking. We even tried using a heat gun, but it was not very effective and started to burn the wood. With 3 younger children in the house, I don’t want to use a strong solvent to loosen the glue. Any suggestions?
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Ruth:
That type of installation is a pure nightmare to remove and chances are great you'll begin removing some of the subfloor along with it. Have you considered just going over the old parquetwith a new subfloor? What type of new floorcovering are you intending on using?
*As Ken has already stated, this is difficult to remove without ruining the sub-floor.I have removed small areas by making a series of cuts with a circ. saw about 1" apart, almost through the parquet, then chiselling off and finishing with a belt sander and coarse belts, but it's a lot of work.
*Try renting a tile chipper for removing your floor. Once had to do a 25000 sq. ft. store that way...worked great.
*If you have a subfloor b and underlayment and height is a problem going over it. You might try to take the parquet and underlay which is usually well nailed/stapled. It's not easy and you'll be bangin the nails you miss forever, but it's a way.Seal the room, provide dust protection and set your circular saw for parquet and the underlay. Make your cuts at the tile to tile line, so you don't have to go through all the parquet wires. Saw in sizes you think you can handle (smaller/easier). If the base is over it, you might have to make some goofy cuts up to it and anything you can come up with to keep from damaging it. Remember safety glasses, cuz you're going to cut through a lotta nails/staples. Take your time and adjust your cut if you see sparks. You can miss em if you try and best of luck.
*KenThe parquet is only on a portion of the floor. It's an eat in kitchen and this is under the table area. Putting the floor on top of that and the rest of the floor wouldn't work, two different heights. What do you all think about the tile chipper?
*Ruth,I agree with calvin. I just filled a dumpster with a butt end parquet floor about 600 s.f. and the easiest and fastest way was to use an old saw blade in my worm drive to cut through both floors.After that you can replace the subfloor with the right thickness to bring your finish floor to its correct height.You might have to do a little framing or sister a joist or two but cosidering the alternatives such as chipping and sanding this method was alot easier.Ditto on the safety glasses. knee pads help too.
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We are trying to remove an old wooden parquet floor from the kitchen floor. The flooring was glued down to the plywood in squares like tile and looks like its been there about 25 years. We have been trying to chisel it up with hammers, wide putty knives, pry bar and the problem is the glue is so strong that the wood is just breaking. We even tried using a heat gun, but it was not very effective and started to burn the wood. With 3 younger children in the house, I don't want to use a strong solvent to loosen the glue. Any suggestions?