Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - uncovering hardwood floors

I bought a house that has hardwood flooring that is covered by vinyl and a thick underlayment I can find all sorts of help on removing the vinyl but nothing about getting up the thick underlayment that is on top of the wood floor. How should I do this? I cant tell if there have been nails pounded everywhere unless take up the vinyl first but would hate to have to remove it from the underlayment since I have to remove that as well. Is there a way I can remove them together without killing the hardwood?

Thanks

How thick is this underlayment? If your heat registars are in the floor, take up the cover and see what's underneath.

Vinyl is usually laid on 1/2" particleboard or OSB which is nailed or stapled to the subfloor. You would remove the vinyl and underlayment together.

When you get it up, you'll probably find hundreds of nail/staple holes in the hardwood. Fill them and refinish the hardwood.

Yes, it is about 1/2 in thick. How do I get it up? Do I use a crowbar or something?

You're going to need a couple of "Wonder Bar" wrecking bars.

Find someplace unobtrusive and drive the end of one under the underlayment and pry up. As it begins to loosen, use both of them to "walk" across and raise the underlayment/vinyl. Once you get going, it should break off in chunks. Be careful......you'll probably leave nails/staples behind since they usually stay in the floor.

If you're feeling really gutsy, use a circular saw set to 1/2" depth to score the vinyl/underlayment. It can make it easier to get off. Don't cut deeper than 1/2" or you'll wreck the hardwood under the underlayment.

Have Fun :)

Thanks a bunch. I will let you know how it goes!!!!