You can purchase 1-inch wide abrasive stripping at your local Home Depot store.

I would say adding the peel strips will not do all that much but make them look very cheap. My answer would to have a carpet runner installs over the stairs. Runners are offered in all sizes, styles and colours which in the end will richen the look of the stairs and even add to the look of the house.

I have slippery steps to the basement and I'm going to try the peel and stick appliques that are used in the tub. You can get different designs and they should provide some traction.

When my mother moved to her current house, she experience the same situation. They had GLUED mint green carpet on top of the gorgeous, pristine hardwood floors. The carpets had been there for ages.
She bought a large water kettle (the plug in kind), she'd fill it with water, boil it super hot, then bring it to the area she was working on, and pour a little over a spot, gently scrape the glue away with a plastic scraper, use a towel to mop it up, and repeat in the next area, and then the next, until it was all gone. It went so well, she had two rooms and a hallway done in one day, the hardwood floors were not damaged, and it was environmentally friendly.

if you use a power scraper that vibrates you will have no arms left,we did this for our floor and the power scraper is too hard on the arms and hands.the manuall way would be the best for your body

You can use power scraper designed for it. It has a long 5ft handle, and a scraper head around 4 inches wide that vibrates. Pro's use it for removing glue from concrete floors and it works like a charm. So easy. I'd try to rent one of those.

If it gouges the wood fllor in spots you can fill it, sand it smooth when done and then stain and finish. You might end up with a nice floor.

If your going to do it, do it right. Remove the carpet, clean the concrete, then install the dricore subfloor. That's the ultimate. Then simply put your laminate of choice.

We actually put the dricore panels in ours and we have not had any problems with dampness or warping. We do have a wood stove with a hearth and we find that in the winter the laminate shrinks around the stove, then 'un-shrinks' in the summer. The dricore costs around $6.50 per 2x2 panel but I would definitely recommend it to make sure that your longterm investment on flooring stays longterm!

Liza, looks like your home is over 20 yrs old. Houses done at that point in time, the concrete pad itself can allow moisture to penetrate through. Ultimately it is correct to install a sub-floor system (vapour barrier, insulation, sub-floor) but sometimes we need to balance $$ and quality. In HD you can get a underpad for laminate flooring that also acts as vapour barrier. Just put that down (according to manufacturer's instructions) before laying your laminate flooring and it will save your flooring from buckling. Hope this helps.

I agree with the last answer but would like to add that HD does sell with their laminate floors a sealant (like a silicone) that is designed to be used anywhere you may have a protential water leak (ie; in front of a vanity, around a toilet flange). It usually is colour co-ordinated to match the floor, and/or you could put a shoe molding or 1/4 round to cover the gap in front of the vanity if you don't like the look.

I have tried the following and it can prolong the life of the laminate flooring in one of the kitchen project that I did: when you install the laminate click flooring, the instruction says there is no need of laminate flooring adhesive along the click joint. Do apply a bead of laminate flooring adhesive along all joint and wipe the excess adhesive off while its still wet after you click the pieces together. By doing so, it will seal the joints and help protecting moisture from seeping through. Caulk the expansion 1/4" gap with silicone. This may prolong your laminate floor in your bathroom - but it is really highly not recommended! Hope this helps.

Homedepot carry the vinyl flooring that looks like laminate....its going to be what I put in my bathroon

Wood looks great but I do prefer tile. I put 12" real slate on my kitchen floor. I loved it. It looked great, cleaned up well (lots of sealer), and was therapeutic on the feet. Everyone who walked on it loved it also. Just my 2 cents.

I find tile is a practical and attractive option - but on the other hand, it's hard and cold on the feet and it's unforgiving if you drop something breakable,
Wood looks great, it's warm and even though it's likely to show wear and tear in the kitchen earlier, distressed wooden floors have character.

ceramic tile

using a swiffer dry for dusting is good for a couple of times per week. Hardwood floors generally don't need washing unless you have had a spill. Just a little water on a cloth (never put water directly on your hardwood floor) works for small areas. Or use a slightly damp floor mop. Don't use product as that will just dull the shine

I would strongly recommend the Method OMop. It's a non toxic microfiber. You can clean hardwood floors or regular floors. It's environmentally safe, child safe and pet safe. I've had people come to my house and ask me what I use on my floors.

I use a Vileda microfiber mop, and a bucket of warm water with a splash of vinegar to cut the grease. When you wash your mop head, use only soap, no fabric softener, and lay flat to dry. Themore chemicals you put onto your mop, the more are going to end up on your floor.

If the particle board is rotted right through, you need to cut it out between joists and replace the rotted area with same thickness plywood. Depending on whether your floor is strong enough, another stagger layer of 1/2 ply may be necessary (screw along joists with min. 2-1/2" screws and glue down with PL premium or subfloor adhesive). Then, use ring nails for underlayment flooring to nail down a sheet of 1/4 plywood underlayment for vinyl floor. Now you are all ready to put on your favourite vinyl floor of your choice!

Remove the old damaged subfloor. You'll need 2 layers of subfloor. The flooring on the joist. And then you'll need a second subfloor to glue the vinyl too. You don't want to be glueing any type f floor to the main underlay o the house. Always use a second subfloor. I'd use OSB...it's cheap and works well. It's pretty much standard now. Use a leveler on the subfloor before applying the vinyl. Glue the vinyl down good and you'll have a waterproof floor that shouldn't damage. Just caulk around the edges to prevent water from getting through.

I recently removed carpet from my basement. Here are some steps you could follow:

1. First remove the border where the carpet meets the wall.
2. Next, cut a patch in the center of the carpet using a "black-blade" exacto-knife.
3. Whereing gloves, pull the carpet out.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all the carpet is removed.
You should now have what looks like grey foam covering your basement floor.

5. Using a floor scraper which can be found at Home Depot for around $30 scrape the entiire floor.
6. Clean! You'll need to clean up the grey foam left over from scraping.

Note: steps 7-10 are only needed if you have holes the walls from removing the border.
7. Patch walls if needed. Remember to let patching compound dry!
8. Sand.
9. Clean up from sanding.
10. Prime and paint.
Note: steps 7-10 are only needed if you have holes the walls from removing the border.
Remember: Let primer and paint dry!

11. Determine layout
If you buy the self-adhesive vinyl-tiles from Home Depot it's easy and inexpensive but looks awesome! They also have a wide selection.
Note: DO NOT GLUE DOWN! Lay down floor-tiles first to make sure your layout fits. Then remove backing and glue down.
Note: you can use your "Black-Blade Exacto-Knife" to cut the tiles if you need to using a ruler.
Note: you can start laying down the tiles anywhere but some people recommend you start from the center of the area and work out.
12. Remove backing and glue-down tiles.

13. Install new border where new floor meets wall.
Note: You can use your tiles as a border if you want or purchase base-boards. Home Depot can cut the boards for you if you give them measurements. Prime and paint the base-boards if you want. Then just nail the base-boards in using base-board nails!

14. Lay-down area rug(s).
15. Enjoy your new floor!

Hope this helps!

Professionals use an electric floor scraper. It has a long 6 foot handle, and the scraper head is around 4inches and vibrates. It takes glue off of concrete with ease. You can try it on other surfaces as well. I'd try to rent one of those. It works very easily and shouldn't take too long to do just 1 room. Maybe a few hours.

Floating floor means that it doesn not stick, glue, or nail to the subfloor. Your options are hardwood which is noisy and expensive. Laminate is cheap but noisy. Resilient plank such as Traffic Master Allure at Home Depot is cheap, quiet, easily installed, and waterproof. I'd give that a shot.

A floating floor is basically an underpadding for laminate floors which greatly reduces the level of noise transmitted through walking on this floor. Myself I have installed this in my son's bedroom and used the higher quality brand so as not to disturb anyone playing piano in the room below his bedroom.

the cowboys answer is correct

Beware...there is no manufacturers warranty when the room isn't temperature controlled year round. To be safe...leave a bigger than usual expansion/contraction gap than the 1/4" recommended.