Ask Anthony: How to Remove Old Floor Covering and Sticky Adhesives

on September 2, 2009 at 11:00 AM

Today HGTV's Anthony Gilardi provides advice for the quick removal of floor covering and adhesives underneath one CafeMom's carpets.

Ask Anthony your home improvement or home repair question TODAY in the comments below! Anthony pops by CafeMom with free advice every other week.

Q: Anthony, can you suggest a simpler way of removing old foam rubber backed carpet padding from the floor beneath that has been stuck down for several decades? I am willing to scrape but do not want to damage the floor or subfloor (not sure what I have) more than necessary. Is there a solvent product to use? Any help appreciated.

—DogsMom

A: Hey, DogsMom. Thanks for writing in.

I did some research for you. What we're looking for is an affordable "Do It Yourself" floor covering and adhesive remover product that can save you time on labor, yet keep you and your family safe. I found the website of a product that I've used in the past for just such a purpose.

This is a low VOC product that will do the job: ROBERTS 1920 Lift-Off Carpet and Adhesive Remover (PDF data sheet).
Depending on what carpet adhesive you find underneath, I want you to have options. This second product is still safe but more industrial: ROBERTS 1912 Adhesive Cleaner (PDF data sheet).

Anthony Tip:
Read the manufacturer's directions CAREFULLY. Follow SAFETY advice!!!

Be smart. Be an "Anthony Apprentice." Good luck, and let me know how it goes.

—Anthony Gilardi

Have a question about a home improvement topic to Ask Anthony? Leave your question in the comments below.

:: previous Ask Anthony posts ::

About the author Sheri Reed

is a writer and the Entertainment, News & Sports editor for The Stir. She loves a good film, watches lots of good TV and follows Ryan Gosling's every move because she has to -- for work.

Filed Under: ask anthony

Comments (10)

DogsMom

on Sep 2, 2009 at 1:45 PM

Thank you for your help. This is a project I have been putting off but now am eager to get started. It would be great to have the old floors cleaned up before holiday company arrives.

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Carey2006

on May 5, 2010 at 1:18 AM

I was half expecting homemade adhesive remover...LOL

tonyalynn

on May 5, 2010 at 8:02 PM

i wish i would have seen this when we were tearing up our floor to put down hard wood. thanks!

tazdvl

on May 6, 2010 at 5:18 PM

Will have to look for these, we are ripping the carpet out of our living room.

Radarma

on May 7, 2010 at 12:36 AM

This makes me love my tile.

sweeping

cleanaturalady

on May 8, 2010 at 2:36 PM

Thanks for the low VOC tip.

bamababe1975

on May 10, 2010 at 12:02 PM

Bookmarking this one for our DIY project later! Thanks!

fryshannon34

on May 10, 2010 at 12:38 PM

Thanks will have to keep this in mind for the next project

Pnukey

on May 13, 2010 at 9:08 PM

I wish we knew this when we were redoing our floors years ago.

kkw59

on Jul 26, 2010 at 12:54 AM

Imagine a knotty pine wood walled room that some boy ,50 years ago put travel stickers on. Now I have bought the house from the 60 year old son. But his travel stickers won't come off the knotty pine wood. Can you please help me? My only option is to continue to hide the Galveston, Houston, Grand Canyon and San Francisco travel stickers with a very large window decoration or sand the stickers off the wood and then hope I can match the finish with the rest of the 60 year walls.. Help me please.