Tools and equipment
The tools you use to pull up old floor coverings will depend on the materials involved and the original method of installation.
Below is a summary of the main types of tools used for a range of different floor covering take-ups.
Utility knife
for cutting old coverings
into strips, or trimming
around existing features
Claw hammer
for levering up materials,
and also for using with a
chisel or stair tool
Pinch bar
for levering up materials,
particularly products
fixed with nails or screws
Flat pry bar
for levering up materials,
with a similar action
to a pinch bar
Carpet claw
for gripping and pulling
up old floor coverings,
particularly carpet
Pliers
for pulling out staples,
nails, trims and other
items fixed in position
Heavy duty scraper
for removing adhesives
and other residues
from the subfloor
Hand held floor stripper
for working on stairs,
in confined spaces and
in other difficult areas
Floor stripping machine
for removing glued-down
coverings, including vinyl,
carpet, linoleum, parquetry
Floor scraper
for removing tiles,
adhesives and parquetry
from concrete subfloors
Power carpet puller
for pulling up large
areas of adhesive-fixed
carpet and underlay
Hand pump sprayer
for applying water and
detergent mix over floors
that may contain asbestos
Brooms
for sweeping up dust
and non-hazardous
particles from the floor
Vacuum cleaner
preferable wet-and-dry
type, for vacuuming up
dust and particles
Dolley or trolley
for transporting heavy
materials between the
work area and vehicle
Learning activity
Audio 2 (mp3 |6|KB)All tools have their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the application and surrounding site conditions.
Choose one hand tool (that doesn't use an external power source) and one powered tool from the examples shown above. Answer the following questions for each tool.
- What is the name of the tool (or item of equipment)?
- What types of removal jobs is it best suited for? Include in your answer the types of floor coverings and other materials it is best with, and also the size of the job.
- What are its main disadvantages? Include in your answer issues that might relate to PPE, noise, power requirements, inconvenience to others in the building, etc.