Floor removal
Thinset and mortar bed removal
Thinset is the layer below the tile. Many people forget it in their budget. We grind thinset, mastic and old mortar beds to flat, bare concrete.
Why this step makes the most dust
The tile is loud to remove, but it stays in large pieces. The thinset below it is different. When a grinder cuts thinset, it makes a very fine dust. This dust goes into the air ducts and onto all flat surfaces in the house. It then continues to appear for several weeks.
Our grinders collect the dust inside the shroud, at the slab. We do not clean the dust after it is in the air. This is the difference between a job you can live with and a job you cannot.
What a ready slab is
A slab is ready when it is clean and flat, and no material prevents a bond. We give you the slab in this condition. There are no ridges of old mortar and no areas of glue. Your installer does not repair the slab before the installation.
This is the important part for a flooring store or an installer. You set the installation date. We make sure the slab is not the reason the date moves.
Questions and answers
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Does tile removal include thinset removal?
- Yes. It is part of the price for each square foot. It is not a separate item. A floor with thinset on it is not a complete job.
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Can you remove thinset if the tile is already off?
- Yes. If another person removed the tile and left mortar or glue on the slab, we grind it clean. Tell us the area and we give you a price.
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Do you remove glue and mastic from carpet or vinyl?
- Yes. We use the same equipment and the same method. This includes cutback adhesive, carpet glue and vinyl mastic.
Related
Other things we remove
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Tile removal
Ceramic and porcelain tile, and the thinset below it.
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Travertine
Natural stone in deep mortar beds.
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Slate
Natural slate and its mortar bed.
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Flagstone
Irregular stone on patios, entries and pool decks.
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Carpet
Carpet, pad, tack strip, and the glue below glue-down carpet.
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Linoleum, vinyl & LVP
Sheet vinyl, linoleum, LVP and LVT, and the glue below them.
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Wood flooring
Engineered and solid wood, glue-down or nail-down, and the glue.
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Installation
A new floor, from the same crew that removed the old one.
One telephone call is usually sufficient.
Tell us the area in square feet and the material on the floor. We give you a price during the call. If you want us to measure the area, a visit takes 20 to 30 minutes.