Flooring removal and subfloor prep
Every new floor is only as good as what is under it. Removal is the unglamorous half of a flooring job and the half that determines whether your new floor telegraphs every dip or lays dead flat.
What we remove
- Carpet and pad — including tack strip and every staple
- Ceramic and porcelain tile — plus the mortar bed or backer board, the hardest tear-out there is
- Glue-down vinyl and VCT
- Sheet linoleum — including old felt-backed material adhered with cutback
- Laminate and floating floors
- Hardwood — nailed or glued
- Multiple layers, which is extremely common in older St. Paul and Minneapolis homes
Then the part that matters
- Flatten the subfloor — most new floors need flatness within 3/16 inch over 10 feet; luxury vinyl plank is especially unforgiving of dips
- Self-leveling underlayment where the slab or subfloor is out of tolerance
- Replace water-damaged or soft subfloor sections
- Refasten squeaky subfloor to the joists — a free win while the floor is open
- Address moisture — vapor barrier on slab, testing on below-grade concrete
Planning ranges (Twin Cities, estimates)
| Work | Per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Carpet and pad removal | $0.50 – $1.25 |
| Laminate / floating floor | $0.75 – $1.50 |
| Glue-down vinyl | $1.50 – $3.00 |
| Ceramic tile and mortar | $2.50 – $5.00 |
| Nailed hardwood | $1.75 – $3.50 |
| Self-leveling underlayment | $2.00 – $5.00 |
| Subfloor replacement | $3.50 – $8.00 |
| Disposal / dumpster | $300 – $900 per project |
Estimates for planning.
The two things that blow up flooring budgets
Asbestos. Nine-inch vinyl tile and the black cutback adhesive under old linoleum in homes built before roughly 1985 may contain asbestos. It has to be tested before disturbance, and if positive, abated by a licensed contractor. Do not let anyone dry-scrape it.
The subfloor. You do not know what is under the floor until the floor is up. Around bathrooms, dishwashers, and exterior doors, soft or rotted subfloor is common. We quote removal with an allowance and show you what we find before we spend the allowance.
What's included
- Free, no-pressure estimate
- Licensed & fully insured crew
- Cleanup included — we leave it spotless
- Same-day or scheduled service
- Written quote, fair pricing
- 24/7 emergency response
FAQ
Do I need to remove old flooring before installing new?
Usually yes. Laminate and LVP can sometimes float over one layer of sound, flat vinyl, but stacking layers raises the floor height at doors and transitions and hides subfloor problems.
How do I know if my old tile has asbestos?
Nine-inch tiles and the black adhesive under old sheet flooring in pre-1985 homes are the classic suspects. A lab test on a small sample is inexpensive and worth doing before any demolition.
Why does my subfloor need leveling?
Most new flooring requires flatness within about 3/16 inch over 10 feet. Luxury vinyl plank in particular telegraphs dips, and the joints can separate over an uneven spot.
Can you remove flooring without wrecking the house with dust?
Tile removal is the dustiest work in remodeling. We use dust-shrouded equipment, plastic containment, and negative-air fans, which controls most but not all of it.
Flooring Removal & Subfloor Repair near you
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