The Removal of Felt Underlayment for Concrete

Have the felt underlayment tested for asbestos. If the felt underlayment tests positive for asbestos, consult an asbestos removal professional before removing the underlayment.

Put on a dust mask, gloves and safety glasses.

Cut the felt underlayment into small, manageable pieces with a utility knife or shears, beginning along an edge. Cut around the adhesive bond, leaving any bonded areas attached to the concrete.

Roll or fold the section of underlayment and dispose of it in a trash bin. Continue to cut and roll the felt underlayment until no underlayment covers the concrete substrate or only the bonded areas remain.

Pour boiling water over the bonded sections of the felt underlayment. Let the water penetrate the felt for three to five minutes.

Scrape as much felt underlayment off the concrete as possible with a metal floor scraper. Begin at the edge of the bonded underlayment and forcefully push the scraper to remove it.

Pick up pieces of underlayment by hand or sweep them into a pile for disposal.

Add more boiling water as necessary to remove the felt underlayment until adhesive with no felt or very little felt remains on the concrete. Depending on the type and age of the adhesive, the boiling water may reactivate it enough so you can scrape it all from the concrete surface. Some adhesives will only soften enough to release the felt underlayment.

Apply a commercially available, citrus-based adhesive remover to the remaining adhesive. Let the adhesive remover sit on the surface until the adhesive becomes soft and pliable, usually between 10 and 30 minutes.

Scrape the concrete with a metal scraper until you remove all adhesive.