Engineered Glue Down Hardwood Removal in Raleigh, NC

Hardwood Flooring in Raleigh, NC

If you’re dealing with glue-down engineered hardwood floors in Raleigh, proper removal is critical. These floors are permanently adhered to concrete, and removing them the wrong way can damage your slab, delay new flooring installation, and void manufacturer warranties.

At Carolina Floor Demolition, we specialize in professional glue-down hardwood removal throughout Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle area, using a controlled, dust-conscious process designed to protect your home and prepare the subfloor correctly.

Our Glue Down Hardwood Removal Process

1. Home Preparation & Dust Protection

Before any demolition begins, we carefully pack and protect the home. Furniture can be professionally packed out into an on-site storage container if needed, and the work area is fully sealed using plastic masking and dust-control barriers to protect the rest of the home.

2. Precision Scoring of the Hardwood

Glue-down engineered hardwood cannot simply be pulled up. We score the flooring using commercial circular saws, set to the exact depth of the hardwood only—never cutting into the concrete slab.

This controlled scoring weakens the tongue-and-groove boards, allowing us to remove the flooring in small, manageable sections using industrial removal equipment. This is the most crucial steps to being able to actually perform glue down hardwood floor removal.

3. Adhesive Removal & Concrete Prep

Once the hardwood is removed, the real work begins. Glue residue and wood fragments are almost always left behind. We scrape and grind the slab clean, ensuring the surface meets manufacturer requirements for new flooring adhesion.

Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons flooring fails later.

4. Leveling the Concrete Subfloor

Demolition often leaves dents, gouges, or uneven areas in the slab. To fix this, we apply self-leveling compound across the concrete, restoring it to a flat, level surface.

This step ensures:

proper flooring installation
compliance with manufacturer specs
no warranty issues down the road

5. Finish Work, Cleaning & Furniture Reset

After new flooring is installed, we:

install new shoe molding
caulk and paint baseboards
perform a professional post-construction cleaning
move furniture back into place once the space is dust-free

The goal is a finished home that feels clean, complete, and move-in ready.

Why Raleigh Homeowners Choose Us

Specialized in glue-down hardwood removal
Concrete-safe demolition methods
Dust-controlled process
Proper subfloor prep for new flooring

Local Triangle-based contractor

Raleigh Glue-Down Hardwood Removal FAQ

Please reach us at jake@carolinafloordemolition.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Do you specialize in glue-down engineered hardwood removal in Raleigh?

Yes. Glue-down engineered hardwood removal is one of our core services in Raleigh. These floors are permanently adhered to concrete slabs and require specialized equipment and techniques to remove without damaging the subfloor.

Why can’t glue-down hardwood floors just be pulled up?

Glue-down hardwood is bonded directly to concrete using industrial adhesive. Pulling it up without scoring and sectioning the boards can cause severe slab damage, increase dust, and make proper subfloor prep much more difficult.

Will removing glue-down hardwood damage my concrete slab?

When done correctly, no. We use controlled saw-scoring set to the exact depth of the flooring and remove the boards in sections. After removal, we grind and repair the slab as needed to ensure it’s ready for new flooring installation.

Is concrete grinding and leveling really necessary after removal?

In almost all cases, yes. Glue residue, dents, and uneven areas are common after demolition. Proper grinding and self-leveling are required to meet new flooring manufacturer specifications and to prevent future flooring failures. answer to this item.

Do you handle dust control during hardwood removal?

Absolutely. We use plastic masking, sealed work areas, and professional dust-control methods to minimize airborne dust and protect the rest of your home during demolition. We also have patents pending on machines we fabricated to lead the industry in dust containment and efficiency.

Can you help move furniture before demolition starts?

Yes. We can professionally pack and move furniture into an on-site storage container before demolition begins, then move everything back once the project is complete and the home has been cleaned.

What types of flooring can be installed after glue-down hardwood removal?

Once the slab is properly prepped and leveled, you can install new engineered hardwood, LVP, tile, or other approved flooring systems depending on manufacturer requirements.

How long does glue-down hardwood removal take in a Raleigh home?

Most residential glue-down hardwood removal projects in Raleigh take 2-4 days, depending on square footage, adhesive strength, and the condition of the concrete slab.

Do you offer free estimates in Raleigh, NC?

Yes. We provide free, no-obligation estimates for glue-down hardwood removal and concrete subfloor prep throughout Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle.