Removing green layer under cement board

Q: The house we purchased recently came with heart pine floors in the living room. There’s carpet and tile in the other rooms. We found out that the wood covers the entire house. The carpet was easy to take out, but in removing the tile, we found this paint/stain green layer under the cement backer-board. It’s not an adhesive since the cement board comes off fairly easy in between screws. Any ideas what this green stuff might be and a good way to remove it?

There’s about 500 square feet that I’ll have to use a hand sander on otherwise. Thanks for any suggestions.

A: I’ve sanded many softwood floors that were very old and painted. I’ve never come across green. In any case, the floor probably needs to be sanded to bare wood and re-finished. You may want to consider hiring a professional for this job.

Leave a Comment