Floor Removal Pricing & Timelines
Removal pricing depends on the type of flooring, square footage, and how the material was installed. Below are typical ranges for Orlando homes — call us for an exact written quote.
Typical Timeline: Single room (1 day), full-floor demo (2–3 days), whole-house tile tear-out (3–5 days)
GET YOUR FREE QUOTEServing Orlando & Surrounding Areas
Cavalieri Flooring provides floor removal services throughout Central Florida.
- Orlando
- Winter Garden
- Clermont
- Kissimmee
- Lake Nona
- Windermere
- Winter Park
- Apopka
- Ocoee
- Sanford
- Altamonte Springs
DIY vs Professional Floor Removal: Florida Reality Check
Tile demo is one of the hardest DIY jobs — especially over Florida slabs where thinset is ground, not just scraped. Here's what the real comparison looks like.
| Factor | DIY Removal | Professional (Cavalieri) |
|---|---|---|
| Tile Removal Speed (200 sq ft) | 2–5 days | 4–8 hours |
| Thinset Grinding | Near-impossible without commercial grinder | Included — commercial equipment |
| Dust Containment | Minimal — house-wide dust | HEPA vacuums + barriers (95%+ contained) |
| Subfloor Damage Risk | High (inexperienced chipping) | Low — controlled technique |
| Debris Disposal | Dumpster rental + extra cost | Included — we haul everything |
| Total Labor Cost Saving (DIY) | $200–$600 (before tool rental) | Worth it for tile / glue-down jobs |
Carpet and floating LVP are reasonable DIY removals. Tile, glue-down, and hardwood are not — the equipment and dust alone justify professional service. Get a free removal quote.
Floor Removal FAQs
Usually yes. While some flooring (like floating LVP or laminate) can sometimes go over existing tile or vinyl, full removal gives you a flat, clean subfloor and a longer-lasting installation. Removal is required when old flooring is loose, damaged, water-stained, or raises floor height too much. We'll inspect on-site and tell you honestly which approach makes sense.
Tile and thinset removal is the dustiest job in flooring — but with proper dust containment (plastic barriers, zip-walls, HEPA vacuums) we keep 95%+ of it out of the rest of your house. Carpet, laminate, and vinyl removal is almost entirely dust-free. We always protect adjacent rooms and clean up daily.
Yes. Disposal is included in our removal pricing. We load all debris into our trucks and dispose of it at proper facilities. You don't need to rent a dumpster, schedule a pickup, or pay extra disposal fees.
Most single-room removals are done in a day. Carpet comes out fastest — usually a few hours. Tile with thinset is the slowest because of the grinding required. A typical whole-house tear-out runs 2–4 days, then we move directly into subfloor prep and new install.
For tile installed on concrete slabs (typical in Florida), yes — we remove the tile and grind off the thinset without damaging the slab. For tile installed over plywood subfloor, some surface damage is normal and the subfloor often needs minor patching or replacement, which we include in your written estimate.
Some vinyl tile and sheet flooring installed before the 1980s may contain asbestos. If we suspect this on-site, we'll stop work and recommend professional testing before any removal begins. Asbestos abatement requires a licensed specialist and we'll connect you with one if needed.
Yes. Many DIY homeowners hire us for the demo and disposal — the hardest, dirtiest part of a flooring project — and then install the new floor themselves. We can leave you with a clean, level, ready-to-install subfloor.
Ready to Tear Out Your Old Floors?
Schedule your free consultation and get a detailed written estimate for your floor removal project.
What Orlando Homeowners Say
Rated 4.9★ by 182 verified Google reviews
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"Whole-house tile tear-out — 1,800 sq ft of 20-year-old tile with thick thinset on a concrete slab. Cavalieri set up dust barriers, used HEPA vacuums throughout, and left the slab perfectly clean. Couldn't believe how contained the dust was."
— Thomas B., Orlando, FL
"Carpet removal before LVP install — they removed the old carpet, pad, and tack strips, swept and cleaned the slab, and left it completely ready for the next crew. Fast, professional, and priced fairly."
— Monica S., Winter Park, FL
"Glue-down vinyl plank removal — the adhesive was a nightmare. Cavalieri used commercial scraping equipment and got it off clean without gouging the slab. I had tried myself and gave up after two hours."
— Richard G., Maitland, FL
"Kitchen tile removal before a full remodel. Cavalieri ground off the thinset flat and clean — the kitchen was ready for new tile the next morning. Disposal was included and they hauled three truckloads of debris."
— Patricia N., Clermont, FL
"Hired Cavalieri just for demo — I was installing the new hardwood myself. They pulled up all the old flooring, removed the tack strips and staples, and left me a clean, flat subfloor. Saved me a week of misery."
— Jason A., Altamonte Springs, FL
"Bathroom tile removal before complete remodel. They found cracked cement board underneath and told us immediately. We were able to fix it before the new tile went in. Their thoroughness saved us from a future leak."
— Elena V., Winter Garden, FL
