Should I Handle Floor Removal Myself?

Updated February 27, 2024

Because of the availability of information on the internet, more and more people are choosing to remodel parts of their home themselves, but this may not always be the best decision.

Taking the DIY route can be very economical and practical for certain projects, but there are some projects best left to the pros.

When deciding whether or not to do a project yourself—particularly floor removal—there are a number of different opinions.

We’re here to explain the benefits of hiring a professional to handle your floor removal and the pitfalls of handling it on your own so you can make the right decision for yourself.

Find local floor removal professionals

Benefits of Hiring a Professional for Floor Removal

While tearing up floors seems like a simple thing to do, it can be quite time consuming and tedious.

Hiring a specialist will save you time, stress, and a lot of mess.

While it’s possible to remove and replace your floors yourself, your safety should always be the top priority. If you have neck/back issues, respiratory sensitivities, or are pregnant, we highly recommend finding a professional or experienced family member/friend to help you with your floor removal.

Some of the biggest benefits to hiring a pro include...

There’s less danger to worry about.

Removing floors is a messy job, and when you do it yourself, it's necessary to protect the rest of your house from the potential damage that can happen from the rough and dirty process. You will need to cover and properly protect walls, appliances, furniture, and any flooring that is not being removed.

Because tearing up floors creates a lot of debris, it could present problems to your home and your family’s quality of life if not managed and disposed of properly.

A professional floor removal or interior demolition company can efficiently manage all of the safety precautions. They have the experience and equipment required to adequately protect your home and family.

You waste less time.

The entire floor removal process can take days, weeks, or in some cases, longer.

Removing flooring of any type takes a lot of prying and cutting in order to remove the materials. Not only that, but there are countless nails and staples that will need to be found and picked up to be sure the space is thoroughly clean and safe.

Professionals have the efficient tools and expertise to get a job done quickly and safely.

Not only will hiring a floor removal professional save you a ton of time, but it will also save you from lots of headaches, back pain, and potentially dangerous situations.

Keep reading:

You don’t have to struggle with messy glue.

Underneath all that flooring—especially vinyl, tile, or linoleum—is a bunch of glue or thinset that will need to be removed as well.

This messy step can’t be avoided, and it requires specific tools and lots of time spent on all fours.

A floor removal specialist will have the tools needed to remove the glue, and they’ll do all the back-breaking work rather than you.

There’s no dust and dirt to manage.

Removing flooring materials, like tile and wood, creates an overpowering amount of dust and airborne debris, and it can quickly spread throughout your house.

Cleaning up all that dust on your own can be nearly impossible to do, but a professional will be able to prevent the dust from getting loose in the first place.

Not only is this good for a clean house, but it’s good for a healthy family, too!

Cons of Hiring a Professional for Floor Removal

If you're weighing your options on whether or not to hire a pro for your floor removal, your biggest holdup is likely related to your budget. The only real downside to hiring a professional is that it will cost more than the DIY route.

That is, however, assuming that nothing goes wrong during your DIY project. There are always risks involved in laborious projects that can end up causing a world of hurt—both physically and financially.

You're more likely to make a mistake than a seasoned professional and if you damage your sub flooring or other room features, you're solely responsible for paying for the repair. Not only is a licensed and insured contractor less likely to make costly mistakes, but they're responsible for paying for any repairs in the event that a mistake is made.

You should also consider the physical risk involved with interior demolition work. If you throw your back out or accidentally injure yourself in some other way, not only will you be responsible for your medical bills, but your ability to do your day job may also be affected.

Before you're swayed by the cheaper price point, carefully consider the value of your time and the potential risks involved with DIY interior demolition projects. Hiring a pro can actually save you money in the event that an accident were to occur, and it certainly saves you a significant amount of time as well.

The best thing to do when you're looking for a floor removal pro on a budget is to get several quotes from local contractors so that you can compare pricing and feedback from past customers.

Hometown makes it quick and easy to request quotes from multiple contractors at once. You can fill out a single quote request form on our site and then choose up to 3 services in your area to send your quote request to. From there, compare the quotes you receive and hire the best demolition contractor for your floor removal on a budget and timeline that works for you.