Sometimes flooring that goes down, must come up. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as soft strip demolition, change of design or even an adhesive or sub layer failure. This can become a one or two stage process which is completely dependent on a case by case basis.
Stage 1 – Remove the soft floor – carpet, vinyl, rubber, LVT, wood, ceramic tiles
Your choice of machine will require three questions –
- How big is your area?
- What power do you have access to?
- What type of soft floor are you trying to remove?
For smaller areas, such as offices, schools and retail units, the Wolff Turbo Stripper is an ideal machine.
It is 110v 32amp, so can plug straight into a mains power socket, with a 5KVA Transformer. It is an easy to use, self-propelled, walk behind machine and has removable weights.
For larger areas with restricted ventilation, the Blastrac BMS220 machine in the perfect choice.
Again, it is 110v, so can plug straight into two mains power sockets, with two 5KVA Transformers. It is a ride on machine, and provides quick and easy removal for material such as carpet and vinyl on a large scale.
For larger areas with good ventilation and for more stubborn materials, the Innovatech Terminator T2200 is the machine for the job.
It runs on its own 18kg FLT gas bottle, and is available with a multitude of attachments depending on the project requirements.
Stage 2 – Remove adhesive/ Sub Layer.
Now this is where things become a little less straight forward, as there are a number of variables to consider. Is the material you’re trying to remove on concrete or screed? How thick is the adhesive? Do you need a smooth or textured finish?
These are all questions we would ask prior to providing a quote for machinery. Questions such as these are crucial to us being able to advise whether you need to scabble, grind or use a combination of both.
It is important to remember that there is no “one size fits all” and what may have worked on one site, may not always work on the next. Again, there are a number of reasons why this may happen, but we have the knowledge and experience to be able to guide you through alternative solutions.
How long will my project take?
Although this is largely down to the size of area, there are a few things you can do in preparation, which will give you the best chance of speeding up the process.
Firstly, if you’re removing floors such as sheet vinyl or carpet, make sure you’ve sliced it into strips first. We know that may sound like were telling you to suck eggs, but you’d be surprised how many times we’ve had to remind people!
Secondly, let the machine do the work – it’s what they’re designed for. These are all essentially heavy duty machines, and will make light work of soft flooring removal if used correctly. Our drivers are trained to give on site set ups and demonstrations upon delivery, and operation manuals are readily available.
How long will the stripping blades last?
The answer to this question is largely down to the material you’re removing, however the main thing we always advise here is to watch out for bolts! Check your area thoroughly for bolts and remove as needed. If you hit one whilst using a stripping machine, you will be sure to damage the blade.
Why should I hire from Concept?
As always, if you’ve reached this point in the blog post, you’ll have realised were more than your standard hire company. We provide more than just the machine, we provide knowledge, experience and guidance to our customers. We take surface preparation seriously, it’s what were good at and it’s what we focus on.
Related Hire Items
