What is the DustRam® System Equipment?

How Does it Make Dust-Free Tile Removal Possible?

The DustRam® System Equipment specially designed by Jack King, a 40+ year professional of the Flooring industry in the Phoenix, AZ area, and President of Arizona Home Floors, LLC.  After years of installing beautiful new floors, Jack could not tolerate the dusty conditions homes were left in and was concerned about his client’s health, as well as the workers of his company.

He took it upon himself to find a way to change the way the industry was performing flooring removals.  The DustRam® System Equipment consists of patented and patent-pending tile removal tools for each step of the tear-out process.  These are used in conjunction with modified, high-performance vacuums to capture the dangerous silica dust created, so it never has a chance to get airborne and contaminate your home.

I’ve Heard Tile Removal Is A Horrible, Dusty Mess

Is it Dust Free with the DustRam® System Equipment?

Unlike traditional tools and methods used in the industry for years, the DustRam® System Equipment is a revolutionary, new technology developed and proven to eliminate dust at the source.

There is a growing number of DustRam® Certified Contractors nationwide who no longer use ineffective plastic barriers, fans, water or other haphazard methods to try to limit the invasive dust from getting onto your ceilings and walls, into your cabinets and drawers, on your draperies, furniture, carpets, or in your electronics and ductwork.

Cleaning up the dust produced from removing the thinset off the concrete subfloors with scraping tools can take months or even longer.  Stopping the dust contamination by ensuring immediate capture in each step of the removal process is the only way to produce genuinely dust free results.

Clean, 99.97% Dust-Free, or Virtually Free Tile Removal

What Is The Difference Between These Methods & Equipment?

Various tile removal tools marketed for years claim they reduce or eliminate dust.  Some companies believe that incorporating air handlers, standard Shop, and even some commercially produced vacuum systems in their removal process allows them to claim their service is less dusty or almost dust free.

If a flooring removal project makes 500 pounds of dust and the removal system used only captures 99% of it, it means there will be 10 pounds of dust left behind to circulate throughout your home for months or even years.

The DustRam® System Equipment of tile removal tools and high-powered, high-performance vacuums, along with the specially developed processes for their proper use, is unmatched in the industry and produces consistent, repeatable dust free results every time.

How Much Does A Dustless Tile Removal Cost?

Is It More Expensive Than Traditional Removal Methods?

If you pay for the least expensive flooring removal option you can find to install a more costly new flooring, remember the adage “Buyer beware.”  Low-cost removal companies, who have not invested in quality equipment or employee training and retention, typically do not spend much time worrying about the mess that will result from your flooring removal.

They are more concerned about getting the job done and moving on to the next tear-out project.  These companies make money in the volume of work, not the quality of work they do.  Some companies offer removal of tile flooring for as little as $1.50 to $2.50 a square foot.  Some flooring retailers, who sell new flooring, removal, and installation, will charge prices higher than this for tear-out.

Still, they do not have actual employees doing the work, just subcontractors who are only charging them the lowest price, so they can mark it up for additional profit.  DustRam® Certified Contractors charge a competitive fee for a dust free service, which has added value and benefits.

Traditional tools not only leave dust behind but cause the removal process to be much slower and can potentially leave behind thinset or other adhesives, or even cause damage to your concrete subfloor requiring repair before the installation of your new flooring. Tile removal machines that allow operators to ride on them like a lawnmower do not perform well in tight areas like kitchens, narrow hallways, bathrooms, pantries, or other confined spaces.  See the video below for some dangerous examples of ride on floor scrapers in action.

Often damage can occur to drywall, baseboards, and cabinetry when using these machines in a residential home.  The additional cost for repairs from damage caused by these unskilled companies was probably not in the remodel budget planning.  Hiring a professional cleaning service multiple times in an attempt to remove most of the dust, cleaning required of HVAC ductwork, adverse effects from prolonged exposure to and breathing in the dust, which may require medical attention or time off from work must be planned and taken into account.

Always be sure to check that a company is a registered contractor in good standing, and their reviews and references reflect what you would expect from hiring them.  If your home is of great value, full of valuable belongings, and you value the health of you, your children, pets, and elder parents, call to find out about the cost of a dust free removal before you finalize your remodeling budget.  You may pay a little more for a dust free removal but save in overall costs in the long run.

Are There Any Additional Benefits From A DustRam® System Equipment Removal?

All Certified DustRam® Contractors Not only have the best equipment, but they are also required to attend three days of hands-on equipment and process training at the DustRam® corporate headquarters. Learning the proper operation of the equipment and techniques ensures every removal is done efficiently and delivers dust free results.  DustRam® Contractors spend most of their time on the floor using the equipment, it is more ergonomic than bending or leaning over machine tools, and allows them to be closer to the work surface to monitor what they are doing.

The specialized, horizontal grinding tools used to remove the thinset mortar or adhesives from the subfloor will typically leave the subfloor flatter than the day the slab was poured.  Traditional blade scrapers held from a standing position, in almost a vertical position to the subfloor, can often leave gouges or ridges in the surface, mainly when concrete imperfections exist.

Is there anything else I should be concerned about in regards to my Flooring removal project?

Every project is different, just as every home is different.  Even if you are the original owner of the house, there may be surprises under your tile, carpet, linoleum, or wood flooring you do not know about until you remove them.  It is possible to discover loose tiles, cracks along grout lines or through the tiles, and lifting of tiles caused by movement in your concrete slab, various contaminants like curing agents, paint on the concrete during the flooring installation, or just a shoddy structure in general.

If you have your heart set on new flooring such as long, wood-look tile planks, luxury vinyl products, or expensive wood flooring, you may want to have your existing flooring removed before you make a final decision. These types of flooring materials require, often by manufacturer’s warranty specifications, a floor that is flat and level, as well as being free of any contaminants.

Imagine the flooring installers showing up at your home, removing your carpet, or another flooring, only to discover the materials you purchased require additional floor prep.  This situation can happen if the salesperson in the showroom sold you the new flooring without ever coming to your home.

Due to economic conditions and the quick ‘flipping’ of homes when market demand is high, the flooring you now see may have been quickly installed over an existing flooring material like tile or vinyl.  Both layers will need to be removed before the installation of your new flooring so the exposed subfloor is clean, and will allow for better adhesion of either wood glue or thinset.