We know pulling up old flooring isn’t exactly a fun job, but a little prep before we arrive means your fitting day goes smoothly, with no delays and nothing left for our fitters to sort out first. Here’s a simple, no-stress guide to get your room ready.
Quick answer: before your fitter arrives, your old flooring needs to be lifted and the room cleared. Carpet and underlay usually come up by hand, laminate and click vinyl lift apart at the joins, and glued-down vinyl takes more work with a scraper. Gripper rods only need removing if you’re switching to laminate or vinyl, if you’re getting new carpet again, leave them in place and we’ll replace any damaged ones free of charge.
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What You’ll Need
This depends on what’s coming up, and what’s going down in its place.
Removing carpet
- Pliers
- Utility knife
- Gloves and knee pads
- Bin bags or rubble sacks
Removing laminate or click vinyl
- Flat pry bar
- Gloves
Removing glued vinyl
- Utility knife
- Long-handled floor scraper
- Heat gun or hairdryer
Everyone
- A vacuum, for the subfloor once it’s clear
Lifting Carpet and Underlay
- Start in one corner and gently pull the carpet up by hand, most carpets lift more easily than you’d expect.
- Roll it back as you go rather than handling one big sheet, it’s much easier to manage.
- If the room’s large, cut the carpet into strips with a utility knife first.
- The underlay usually comes away the same way once the carpet’s clear.
Getting new carpet again? Leave the gripper rods in place, they can usually be reused. If any are damaged or need replacing, our fitters will sort that for you free of charge.
Switching to laminate or vinyl? The gripper rods need to come up, as hard flooring doesn’t sit on them. Slide a pry bar underneath and ease each one up gently, then pop them straight in a bag, the nails are sharp.
Lifting Laminate or Click Vinyl
- Check the edges of the room for any beading or trim covering the gap between the floor and skirting board. If there is any, gently prise it away first with a flat pry bar, most is only lightly nailed or clipped on.
- Laminate and click vinyl usually lift from the edge closest to a wall, work a pry bar gently under the first board to release it.
- Once that first board’s free, the rest tends to click apart easily by hand, working row by row.
- Stack the boards flat as you go, they’re often reusable if you ever need spares, or easy to bundle up for disposal if not.
Laminate and click vinyl often sit on a thin foam underlay. This usually lifts up in one sheet once the boards are clear, roll it up the same way as carpet underlay.
Removing Glued-Down Vinyl
This one’s a bit more work than click vinyl, since it’s stuck to the subfloor rather than just clicked together.
- Cut the vinyl into strips, around 30cm wide, using a utility knife, cutting right through to the subfloor.
- Starting at an edge, work a long-handled floor scraper underneath and lever each strip up.
- If it’s not budging, gently warming the vinyl with a heat gun or hairdryer softens the adhesive and makes it much easier to peel back.
- Work in small sections rather than trying to pull a whole strip up in one go.
- There’s often a layer of old adhesive left behind once the vinyl’s up. A scraper will shift the worst of it, but don’t worry about getting every last bit off, that’s something our fitters will take care of before your new floor goes down.
If your home’s flooring was laid before the early 2000s, older vinyl and its backing or adhesive can sometimes contain asbestos. If you’re not sure how old it is, it’s best to get it checked before cutting into it rather than disturbing it yourself, give us a call if you’re at all unsure.
What About Tiles?
Good news if you’re switching to laminate or vinyl: you often don’t need to remove existing tiles at all. As long as they’re firmly stuck down, not loose or cracked, and reasonably level, our fitters can usually lay straight over the top.
Not sure about the condition of your tiles, or would rather have them removed anyway? That’s fine too, here’s how:
- Start at a corner or an already-cracked tile if there is one, this gives you a starting point to work from.
- Use a hammer and bolster chisel to break the tile up into smaller pieces, then lever the pieces away from the subfloor.
- Take your time around the edges of the room, it’s easy to damage the subfloor if you rush.
This is genuinely one of the harder jobs to do safely and cleanly. If you’d rather leave it to us, just give us a call and we’ll talk through your options.
Getting Rid of the Old Stuff
- Most councils run a bulky waste collection service, check your local council’s website for cost and booking.
- A trip to the local tip works well for smaller amounts, often free or for a small fee.
- Clearing a few rooms? A small skip can work out cheaper than several tip runs.
The Final Check Before We Arrive
Once the old flooring’s out:
- Give the subfloor a quick vacuum or sweep
- Spotted any damp or damage? Just let us know beforehand
- Clear all furniture out of the room. For laminate fittings, large items can be pushed against the wall and worked around if needed, but having everything out means we can get the job done as quickly as possible
- Make sure there’s a clear path from your front door through to the room
Ready for the Next Step?
Once your room’s ready, here’s where to go next.
Common Questions
Do I need to remove my old carpet before my new floor is fitted?
Yes, your fitter needs a clear subfloor to work with. Anything left down on the day may mean a delayed fitting.
Can I leave the gripper rods down?
Only if you’re getting new carpet again. If you’re switching to laminate or vinyl, they need to come up first, as hard flooring isn’t laid over them.
Is it safe to remove old vinyl flooring myself?
Usually yes, though if your flooring was laid before the early 2000s, the backing or adhesive can sometimes contain asbestos. If you’re not sure how old it is, get it checked before cutting into it.
Can I leave my old underlay down?
Yes, if you’re getting new carpet again and the underlay’s still in good condition. If you’re switching to laminate or vinyl, or the underlay’s worn, it’ll need to come up.
Can I lay laminate or vinyl over my existing tiles?
In most cases, yes. As long as the tiles are firmly fixed, level, and not cracked or loose, laminate and vinyl can usually go straight over the top, no need to remove them first.
Do I need to remove tiles myself?
Not necessarily. If you’re switching to laminate or vinyl, our fitters can often lay straight over sound, level tiles. If you’d rather have them removed, or you’re not sure about their condition, it’s the hardest job on this list, so give us a call and we’ll talk through your options.
What do I do with my old flooring once it’s removed?
Most councils offer a bulky waste collection, or you can take it to your local tip. If you’re clearing several rooms, a small skip can work out cheaper than multiple trips.
How long does removing old flooring usually take?
It depends on the room size and flooring type, but most single rooms take a few hours. Glued vinyl and tiles generally take longer than carpet or click flooring.
