ᐅ Disposing of Hardwood Flooring Too Expensive – Any Alternatives?
Created on: 25 May 2023 14:42
J
Jurassic135
Hello everyone,
we want to have the hardwood floor in the living room replaced.
Today we received the quote. Overall, everything seems reasonable and clear. But the disposal cost shocked us: "Disposal landfill – €75 per square meter (ft²)" 🤨
That’s almost as expensive as the new hardwood floor itself. Altogether, disposal alone will cost us nearly 2,000 euros.
The company surely knows what they’re offering and why.
But there must be a cheaper way to do this, right?
Is it worth doing the disposal ourselves?
We don’t have a trailer, and unfortunately, I’m not sure if the hardwood is glued down. It’s definitely coated with a finish.
we want to have the hardwood floor in the living room replaced.
Today we received the quote. Overall, everything seems reasonable and clear. But the disposal cost shocked us: "Disposal landfill – €75 per square meter (ft²)" 🤨
That’s almost as expensive as the new hardwood floor itself. Altogether, disposal alone will cost us nearly 2,000 euros.
The company surely knows what they’re offering and why.
But there must be a cheaper way to do this, right?
Is it worth doing the disposal ourselves?
We don’t have a trailer, and unfortunately, I’m not sure if the hardwood is glued down. It’s definitely coated with a finish.
The problem, as mentioned earlier, is the adhesive that remains. At least the formaldehyde should have released into the air and lungs over the years.
At the top of chemists’ watch list, however, is the carcinogenic substance benzo(a)pyrene, which represents the large group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in tar-based adhesives. But besides this group of pollutants, there is a second danger hidden in other adhesives: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
PCB-containing parquet adhesives have so far played hardly any role in public discussions. Even official recommendations often warn about the (more common) PAHs in connection with parquet, but rarely about PCBs. This is a shortcoming, as these legacy contaminants are serious: high concentrations of 10,000 to 20,000 milligrams of PCBs per kilogram (1 to 2 ounces per 2.2 pounds) of parquet adhesive are not uncommon.
Considering the production conditions in the chlorochemical industry of the 1950s and 1960s, the question of further pollutants in the adhesives arises. For example, two samples were tested for highly toxic dioxins and furans—and they were detected. The unit for such chemical mixtures is called toxic equivalents (TE). Chemists found 107,000 and 210,000 nanograms TE per kilogram (about 0.004 and 0.008 ounces per 2.2 pounds) of adhesive mass in the samples.
For comparison: according to German soil protection and contaminated site regulations, 1,000 and only 100 nanograms TE per kilogram (approximately 0.00004 and 0.000004 ounces per 2.2 pounds) of soil are allowed for residential areas and playgrounds, respectively. While parquet adhesive is certainly different from soil in terms of assessment, the extreme toxicity of dioxins and furans calls for particularly cautious consumer protection.
Therefore, this material should be disposed of as hazardous waste if not thoroughly tested beforehand. In some communities, however, glued parquet is still officially classified as bulky waste. But think carefully about whether the new floor really needs to be glued down.
At the top of chemists’ watch list, however, is the carcinogenic substance benzo(a)pyrene, which represents the large group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in tar-based adhesives. But besides this group of pollutants, there is a second danger hidden in other adhesives: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
PCB-containing parquet adhesives have so far played hardly any role in public discussions. Even official recommendations often warn about the (more common) PAHs in connection with parquet, but rarely about PCBs. This is a shortcoming, as these legacy contaminants are serious: high concentrations of 10,000 to 20,000 milligrams of PCBs per kilogram (1 to 2 ounces per 2.2 pounds) of parquet adhesive are not uncommon.
Considering the production conditions in the chlorochemical industry of the 1950s and 1960s, the question of further pollutants in the adhesives arises. For example, two samples were tested for highly toxic dioxins and furans—and they were detected. The unit for such chemical mixtures is called toxic equivalents (TE). Chemists found 107,000 and 210,000 nanograms TE per kilogram (about 0.004 and 0.008 ounces per 2.2 pounds) of adhesive mass in the samples.
For comparison: according to German soil protection and contaminated site regulations, 1,000 and only 100 nanograms TE per kilogram (approximately 0.00004 and 0.000004 ounces per 2.2 pounds) of soil are allowed for residential areas and playgrounds, respectively. While parquet adhesive is certainly different from soil in terms of assessment, the extreme toxicity of dioxins and furans calls for particularly cautious consumer protection.
Therefore, this material should be disposed of as hazardous waste if not thoroughly tested beforehand. In some communities, however, glued parquet is still officially classified as bulky waste. But think carefully about whether the new floor really needs to be glued down.
J
Jurassic13525 May 2023 15:54It is supposed to be installed as a floating floor, but I might need to double-check that, as I’m not sure how it was planned. The quote doesn’t mention any adhesive, only possibly leveling compound and impact sound insulation.
I don’t think I can dispose of it as bulky waste since it is at least lacquered. How can I tell as a layperson if it is glued down? Only if I lift something somewhere, right?
I don’t think I can dispose of it as bulky waste since it is at least lacquered. How can I tell as a layperson if it is glued down? Only if I lift something somewhere, right?
Jurassic135 schrieb:
It is supposed to be installed as a floating floor, but I might need to double-check that—I’m not sure how it was planned. The quote doesn’t mention any adhesive, only possibly leveling compound and impact sound insulation.
I don’t think I can dispose of it as bulky waste since it’s at least painted. How can I tell as a layperson if it is glued down? Only if I lift something somewhere, right?Remove the baseboard in one spot and try to pry up the floor with a screwdriver. Sometimes just pressing down lightly at the edge is enough—if it moves, it’s floating. If it’s rock hard, then it’s not. You might also see adhesive residue in the joint.J
Jurassic13525 May 2023 16:49I spoke with the painter again; it was a mistake – it should be a flat rate of 75€ and not per square meter. Now the amount is completely different and looks much better.
Thank you all, we were already starting to doubt whether this has become normal by now.
Thank you all, we were already starting to doubt whether this has become normal by now.
J
Jurassic13526 May 2023 09:15In short: Yes.
It is a lacquered beech parquet floor (you might remember my personal opinion on beech from my first thread, which was about our staircase), which is hopelessly scratched and dented, and also has moisture damage on the edges of the individual planks—probably from being frequently mopped with water in the past. It already looked bad when we moved in, and the toddler phase finished it off. Think flying wooden toys.
Additionally, the area under the play mat (one of those large eco-rubber ones, about the size of a carpet) has discolored differently from the rest.
My mother-in-law has a great oak parquet floor, oiled and whitewashed, which looks fantastic and has withstood years of visits from toddlers and dogs without any problems. That’s exactly what we plan to install, assuming this will be the floor “forever.”
I’m really happy to see the yellowish floor go.
It is a lacquered beech parquet floor (you might remember my personal opinion on beech from my first thread, which was about our staircase), which is hopelessly scratched and dented, and also has moisture damage on the edges of the individual planks—probably from being frequently mopped with water in the past. It already looked bad when we moved in, and the toddler phase finished it off. Think flying wooden toys.
Additionally, the area under the play mat (one of those large eco-rubber ones, about the size of a carpet) has discolored differently from the rest.
My mother-in-law has a great oak parquet floor, oiled and whitewashed, which looks fantastic and has withstood years of visits from toddlers and dogs without any problems. That’s exactly what we plan to install, assuming this will be the floor “forever.”
I’m really happy to see the yellowish floor go.
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