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Removing Tar and Felt From Wood Floors

Homeowners are generally pleased to discover hardwood flooring under tiles or linoleum after purchasing a home. However, removing the floor covering to expose the hardwood floor can become a homeowner's nightmare. Felt and tar paper were commonly used in older homes as an underlayment between tiles and subflooring. Over time, the underlayment bonds with the wood and becomes extremely difficult to remove. You may need to try more than one method to remove the felt and tar, depending on the strength of the bond and how large an area of the wood floor is affected.

Things You'll Need

  • Long-handled floor scrapers
  • Mineral spirits
  • Clean rags
  • Heat gun
  • Citrus-based paint stripper
  • Respirator mask (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Scrape off as much of the loose tar and felt as possible with a long-handled floor scraper.

    • 2

      Apply mineral spirits to a clean rag. Apply the rag to the floor, let it set for a moment to soften the adhesive and begin scrubbing. The mineral spirit application may be all you need to remove the tar and felt.

    • 3

      Use a heat gun to remove the tar and felt. Keep the heat gun moving as you work to avoid scorching the wood floor. Work in small areas, heating and scraping as you go. If you prefer not to use a heat gun, see Step 4.

    • 4

      Apply a citrus-based paint stripper according to the manufacturer's directions. In general, the stripper is liberally applied, allowed to set for several hours and then scraped off, taking the adhesive with it. Citrus-based strippers have a less objectionable odor and lower toxicity than the more volatile methylene chloride strippers.

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Floor Repairs
  1. Vintage Wood Floors
  2. Removing Urine Odor From a Wood Floor
  3. Removing Scratches From Tigerwood Floors
  4. Removing Linoleum Felt From a Sub Floor
  5. Creaking & Settling Floors
  6. Removing Latex Carpet Backing From Wood Floors
  7. Do Hardwood Floors Expand?
  8. Removing Old, Dry Adhesive From Wood Floors
  9. Removing Tar Paper Underlay From Old Floors
  10. Removing Tar From Floor Tiles
  11. Removing Nail Polish From a Wood Floor
  12. Removing Adhesive Residue From a Wood Floor With a Sander

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