Removing tongue and groove laminate flooring is not a difficult project. Homeowners who need to remove laminate will find the process easy. The life of a floor goes through repairs, reuse and general maintenance that will require a laminate floor to be removed at some point.

There are many reasons why someone might have to lift the laminate to get to the floor below, whether it’s moisture, water spills, or the need to access pipes. Simple tools and a gentle hand will lift laminate planks with minimal damage, so they can be reused. Not having to replace or reuse planks saves money, helps the environment, and preserves its beauty.

Reuse of a laminate floor

A room with beautiful flooring provides more than pleasing availability to the eye. Sometimes this foundation needs to be removed to repair potential water damage or to figure out why a spot is bending under pressure. Tongue-and-groove laminate flooring is generally not glued down by installers, and it can lift in pieces. The flexibility of this flooring allows the homeowner to relocate the planks or even recycle them in a different room.

A homeowner who wants to remove laminate flooring must be very careful when lifting the planks. Applying too much pressure can break the tab portion of the laminate. If the tab breaks in the removal process, the board must be discarded as it will no longer fit correctly on its partner. Since the tongue of the board can easily break, it’s wise to keep a box of replacement boards on hand (or certainly not to throw away leftover boards from when you bought them).

How to remove the planks

Tongue-and-groove laminate flooring fits together like a puzzle. The planks fit together perfectly and require a light hand when separating. The puzzle-like configuration makes removing the planks an easy project. Often you may find that it floats on top of a base rather than having glue to secure it, so you don’t need to be too aggressive.

Removal and replacement of laminate flooring requires a rubber mallet and a 90 degree crowbar. It is imperative to lift the first board that sits closest to a wall. Using the lever, gently lift the board off the floor. If the flooring is glued down, be careful when removing it and be prepared to use new planks. Since the boards are at a 45 degree angle, gently slide and move the board away from your partner without damaging the tongue. Number each plank as during removal to ensure a painless replacement process.

Benefits of Reusing Floors

Reasons for removing laminate flooring can vary from homeowner to homeowner. Reusing this soil not only saves money, but also helps save the environment. Recycling and upcycling material helps keep unnecessary trash out of landfills and doing so is an environmentally responsible endeavor. Accessing the subfloor and reusing the planks is a simple process that saves money and is environmentally responsible.