Removing Linoleum and Icky Tar Glue
We embrace all our wood flooring projects with optimism, gusto and enthusiasm, bringing along our decades of experience. Some jobs, however, require more gusto and enthusiasm than others, and we discovered this recently on a floor renovation in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park. The neighborhood is a wonderful amalgamation of cultures, food experiences and historic buildings, while the park offers magnificent views of Manhattan’s skyline, the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island and New Jersey.
Linoleum tiles had been installed many years ago, and the volume of glue and tar or tar glue beneath them offered us the opportunity to test our mettle. We pried, scraped, scoured, grated, peeled and cleaned, only to pry, scrape, scour, grate, peel and clean again. And again. And again. One perhaps never appreciates the strength of acrylic-based adhesives used under such tiles, and over a hardwood floor, until they attempt to remove them. Indeed, we stood in awe at the power of that glue and tar.
But, we set out to conquer and conquer we did. After all the prying, scraping, scouring, grating, peeling and cleaning, we had visible hardwood, almost pleading with us to bring it back to the glory days. Which we did. Once free from any adhesive residue, we could sand and smooth the gorgeous wood grain back to its original, natural radiance. A few coats of sealer fused nature and beauty together, showcasing the luster, grace and warmth in this hardwood floor once again.
