Removing Carpet in a Boat

Q: We just recently purchased a 50′ yacht and we want to remove all the carpet from its floor. I am not sure what type of flooring is underneath whether It is parquet or teak flooring. What tool(s) would you recommend for us to use to do such a deed? Thank you for your response.
Lorraine and Chuck
A: More than likely the carpet you have is glued down over teak, as this is a very common install method and wood flooring choice in yachts. Typically to remove a glue down carpet, you will take a razor blade, cut the carpet into strips about 12-14″ wide whilst slowly ripping up the carpet. You should be able to rip the carpet up by hand as long as you cut it into strips. If you are having any trouble with removing some of the carpet, try using a floor scrapper to lightly pry the carpet away from the cured adhesive.
Once the carpet is removed, you will want to use a solvent, typically citrus based ones are your best bet, to restore the adhesive to a paste-like consistency. Once it is paste-like, you should be able to scoop it up by lightly using a floor scraper. You will need to let the solvent sit for a bit to break down the adhesive, so pay attention to the instructions for the solvent.
From here you will need to sand down the wood floor to smooth out and remove any marks or gouges from the scraping, then refinish the floor. Remember, before applying the first coat of stain or finish, sand the floor using 220 grit sand paper to prep it. Between each coat of finish, buff the floor with the 220 grit paper again to ensure proper adhesion between coats of finish.
In the end here, you will need a razor blade or carpet knife, floor scraper, adhesive solvent and a floor sander to get the carpet removed and the wood floor prepared for finishing.