How to Remove Carpet Glue from Hardwood Floors

Because of their durability and style, hardwood floors are one of the premier flooring choices for homeowners across the country. However, this was not always so, and many homeowners carpeted over their hardwood floors. If you have removed previously installed carpet to reveal the beautiful hardwood floors underneath, then you may notice the unsightly carpet glue left behind. This glue will need to be removed before your hardwood floors are returned to their former glory, but it must be done with care lest your hardwood floors be damaged in the process. Keep reading to learn the best ways to remove carpet glue from hardwood floors, including hiring an expert flooring professional by signing up with ServiceWhale.

Remove Adhesives with Elbow Grease

For homeowners who do not mind getting their hands dirty, one of the most efficient, although time-consuming, methods for removing carpet glue from hardwood floors is by chipping it away manually. Manually removing carpet glue has several benefits, but the primary one is that it protects your floors from the type of discoloration that can happen with the use of chemicals. Using a plastic putty knife, carefully pry away the carpet glue from your floor, being especially careful only to attack the glue itself and not the underlying floor. Once all of the glue is detached, clean it up with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. You may also want to sand the floor afterwards if you are planning on staining the wood.

Attack Glue with Chemicals and Solvents

Sometimes, unfortunately, carpet glues are too firmly attached to the floor to be removed through brute force. In these instances, you will need to weaken the carpet glue’s bond through the use of solvents. First, you need to determine what type of carpet glue was used on your hardwood floor. For carpet glue that is tar-based, you should use a tar remover with mineral spirits. For all other types of carpet glue, an orange oil solvent should suffice. Apply the solvent and give it time to work on the glue. When the glue has been sufficiently loosened, you can pry the remainder away using your putty knife.

Be Cautious About Damaging Your Floor

Occasionally, when the previous two methods have not worked to remove the carpet glue, homeowners will resort to even harsher chemicals or extreme physical methods to speed the removal process along. If you are considering either of these options, you should think again. Although you may end up removing the wood glue, it is also likely that you will severely damage the underlying hardwood floor, wasting your effort and costing you thousands in repair costs. Instead, you should hire expert flooring contractors to help remove your glue.

Remove Carpet Glue from Hardwood Floors with Flooring Professionals

When you remove carpeting only to find hardwood floors underneath, it can feel like you’ve hit the jackpot right up until you notice the unsightly residual carpet glue. To return your hardwood floors to their former glory, you need to remove the leftover carpet glue. Even though you could do it yourself, the best way to remove carpet glue from hardwood floors is to hire an excellent flooring professional through ServiceWhale. ServiceWhale connects you with only the best home improvement professionals that your city has to offer. Using our request wizard, you will quickly find a list of top flooring contractors who cannot wait to offer you rock bottom prices. Contact ServiceWhale right away and start the process of returning your hardwood floors to tip-top shape