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How to Remove Glued Down Carpeting After a Water Loss

10/9/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's carpet removal process Water damage carpet can start growing mold in as little as 24 hours. If your home suffers water damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb as soon as possible.

So you’ve experienced a water loss in your Cobb County home or business and you are trying to sort out the mess caused by the water damage. Perhaps a toilet supply line leak caused water to spill from your bathroom into other living spaces that happen to have glued down carpeted flooring. When dealing with water damaged glued down carpeting there are a few things to consider. How large of an area is affected? What type of water caused the damage? Has the carpet begun to delaminate? How old is the carpet in question? All these questions must be considered when deciding how to handle a restoration project that includes water damaged glued down carpeting. 

According to IICRC S500 standards if a living space suffers water damage and the carpet shows signs of delamination, has been in contact with grossly contaminated water, or shows signs of microbial growth the carpet most likely needs to be removed and disposed of properly. Removing carpet often requires that the baseboards in the room also be removed and cleaned (if the baseboards were exposed to grossly contaminated water they will need to be replaced and disposed of properly). Removing carpet can be tricky particularly if it is glued down. SERVPRO of East Cobb strongly advises all property owners faced with water damage to their home or business to work with a reputable, licensed, and insured restoration company that they trust to complete any restoration project or repairs to their property.

SERVPRO’s Professional Guide to Removing Glued Down Carpeting

SERVPRO technicians will don appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves during the restoration project. Cleaning up after a water loss can require a wide array of PPE depending on whether the water contains hazardous materials and the type of materials the water has come in contact with. If the water is grossly contaminated or the materials contain heavy metals or other caustic elements, tyvek coverall, rubber boots, chemical resistant gloves and respirators may be required. For other water losses that have less caustic conditions protective goggles, rubber gloves, and a respirator or dust mask may suffice. SERVPRO of East Cobb’s highest priority is the safety of our technicians and customers alike. Our technicians are specifically trained to deal with dangers one faces when mitigating or restoring a water damaged property. You should never put yourself in harm's way by taking on a restoration project, unless you are properly trained and experienced in the water restoration field. 

Other equipment and supplies needed to remove glued down carpet include professional cleaning products like those found in SERVPRO’s line of proprietary cleaning products (CitraSolvent and Bright-N-Neutral Cleaner), as well as pump sprayers, hand scrapers, squeegees, a buffing or sanding tool, air movers, mop, mop bucket, and carpet removal tools like a carpet puller or electric floor scraper.

How to Remove Glued Down Carpet

Glued Down Carpet Removal

  • Remove glued down carpet using carpet removal tools like a handheld scraping tool, carpet puller, or an electric floor scraper. Be sure to consult the operational manual or owners manual prior to using each piece of equipment to ensure safe operation.
  • If the carpet will not release from the subfloor or other substrate using hand scraping tools, carpet puller, or electric floor scraper apply a professional grade cleaning solvent like SERVPRO’s CitraSolvent to help release carpet from the floor.
    • Make sure to properly ventilate the work area while performing this procedure.
    • Apply professional grade cleaning solvent between the carpet and floor if possible.
    • Saturate the carpet with professional grade cleaning solvent to allow penetration through the carpet backing.
    • Let professional grade cleaning solvent dwell on carpet for 10-15 minutes.
  • Utilize hand scraping tools, carpet puller, or an electric floor scraper to remove remaining carpet.

Removal of Glue from Concrete

  • Using the aforementioned handheld scraper tool or an electric floor scraper, scrape up as much glue and glue particles from the floor as possible. A buffing or sanding tool may also be used to buff or sand away glue residue. 
  • Generously apply the professional grade cleaning solvent to the carpet and concrete. This will loosen the glues hold and help facilitate glue removal.
    • On smaller jobs you can use a brush to work professional grade cleaning solvent into glue that is stuck to the concrete.
    • On Larger jobs you can use a buffing machine with a brush attachment to work professional cleaning solvent into glue that is stuck to the concrete.
  • Allow the professional grade cleaning solvent to dwell for 10-15 minutes. This will help the solvent’s effectiveness and help the glue release from the concrete.
  • Scrub the affected area using hand scrapers, electric floor scraper, or with an abrasive sanding block or buffing tool.
  • Remove any excess liquid and residue using a squeegee or portable water extractor.
  • Repeat as needed until no glue remains adhered to the concrete.
  • *IMPORTANT* Mop the floor with hot water and a professional grade cleaning product like SERVPRO’s Bright-N-Neutral Cleaner to remove any residual adhesives or solvents.
  • Finally rinse the entire affected area by mopping with clean clear water to remove any residual residue left behind by the professional cleaning product.

When water damage happens it can cause a whole host of issues in your home. From damage to your belongings and contents, to structural damage that denies you access to parts of your home that could force you to make adjustments to your living arrangements while the issue is resolved. Water restoration projects are never fun for homeowners to deal with, but choosing the right restoration company to handle your claim can save you tons of headaches and stress. If your home or business suffers water damage call SERVPRO of East Cobb today. We can restore your property quickly, safely, and cost effectively. Let the professionals at SERVPRO of East Cobb ease your burden and take all of the guesswork out of restoring your property.  

SERVPRO of East Cobb is Cobb County’s Preferred Water Restoration Services Provider... Don’t Take Our Word For It....

*If you enjoyed this blog check out some of our previous blogs on water restoration: “Drying and Mitigation of a Three Bedroom House in Marietta, GA”; “Roswell Toilet Leak Lead to Water Damage Throughout Home”; “5 Way Hard Water Can Damage Your Cumberland, GA Home”; “How to Handle a Cobb County Clogged Toilet, Sink, and Other Simple Plumbing Issues”; “The Best Water Restoration Company in Kennesaw, GA”; “The Science Behind the Drying Process”

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