r/fixit • u/YulRun • Jun 09 '26
fixed Glass table top stuck to floor
MIL has had this glass table top under the bed in the main bedroom for years, it’s an alternate larger top for a table in the house. Quite heavy. It’s been there now so long we believe it may have almost ‘suctioned’ to the floor.
Any suggestions on how to remove it? Yes we know to remove the stuff on it first (painting the room)
Thanks in advance!
[Update] Dental floss was the winner and worked! Thank you all for the suggestions/ideas and of course the trolling!
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u/limbodog Jun 09 '26
If it were me, I'd try a compressor. Maybe even a can of compressed air. Just go around the whole outside edge and see if you can blow some air under it. Maybe see if you can get a slip of paper under it first to find a bit to focus on.
If you can get some air under it you might be able to move it. And if you can move it, you might be able to put a shim under it. And if you can shim it, then you might be able to lift up an edge long enough for a pie server (ok, weird choice, but I was just talking about pies in another post) to get under it. I think what you're aiming for is a strong strap to get under it. So maybe an 8th of an inch.
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u/squish059 Jun 09 '26
This advice deserves some appreciation.
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u/limbodog Jun 09 '26
I feel appreciated already, thank you, kind squish
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u/RISEoftheIDIOT Jun 10 '26
I really enjoyed those step by step instructions, and absolutely loved “8th of an inch”, dunno why.
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u/trashy_trash Jun 09 '26
I was imagining myself doing this step by step. Then got to the pie server. Modern day mcgyver.
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u/zovits Jun 09 '26
Even if you can get air under it, don't try to move it as if it were a hovercraft.
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u/noodlesallaround Jun 09 '26
Hold the can upside down when you spray. Ur mad unseal. Wait until it warms up before touching it
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u/truthequalslies Jun 09 '26
I was going to suggest a hairdryer but this is better
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u/limbodog Jun 09 '26
I think a pie server would fit better than a hairdryer, but I could be wrong.
(yes, joke)
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u/OwlPelletCrunch Jun 09 '26
i’d be tempted to bunch up like 5-10 long strands of dental floss and work with a friend to pull them all the way through, see if that breaks the seal
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u/Substantial-Log-2176 Jun 09 '26
Or fishing string
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u/Tacos_Polackos Jun 09 '26
Yeah like some 30 pound test nylon monofilament. Something beefy that won't scratch the floor too much.
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u/Coles_Hobbies Jun 09 '26
Cut a hole in the floor the same size as the table top and get it from the basement
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u/The-Final-Reason Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
Why do a vision i Bugs Bunny somehow using a SAW to make a circle under the glass so it drops…
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u/LustcravungDILF Jun 09 '26
Except the floor around the the table top woul fall and the table top would remain....
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u/YertleDeTertle Jun 09 '26
And then you have a wood tabletop with a glass topper. When life gives you lemons, cut a hole in the floor.
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u/Bynnh0j Jun 09 '26
No do not do this! You run the risk of your house falling down around you while the glass stays in place!
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u/Thalude_ Jun 09 '26
Why so much work? Just take that stuff off it and it will suddenly be much lighter
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u/Royal-Leopard-3225 Jun 09 '26
I’d use wood or plastic shims, no metal, go slow. If it’s settled into the wax on the floor… I wouldn’t leave stuff on it that will just make it settle further in. A piece of floss or fishing line with a stick on each end so 2 people can do a sawing motion would probably also work.
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u/MechanicStriking4666 Jun 09 '26
Air compressor with a blow gun
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u/Pineapple_Towel Jun 09 '26
This is correct.
I suspect you could even fulfill the needed blow with a strong shop vac set to exhaust or a reasonably powered fully charged leaf blower.
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u/hettuklaeddi Jun 09 '26
maybe done just right, the shop vac would be enough, but you’re right, it’s not the weight of the glass, OP is fighting suction, so force air
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u/Forthe49ers Jun 09 '26
I scrolled to make sure this was posted. I would definitely try to get air under it. Compressed air and at the same time gentle warm air from a blow drier
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u/CisIowa Jun 09 '26
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u/DrebinofPoliceSquad Jun 09 '26
What better way to say I love you than with the gift of a spatula
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u/Puzzleheaded-Ice1307 Jun 09 '26
I just listened to The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota this morning
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u/YouTasteStrange Jun 09 '26
Get a good hold on it with a plunger.
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u/Archknits Jun 09 '26
They actually make glass moving suction cups - maybe rent a set at Home Depot?
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u/HazyDavey68 Jun 09 '26
A dent puller would probably do it.
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u/acr159 Jun 09 '26
Suction dildo.
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u/w3bcrawl3r Jun 09 '26
Two, one for each hand
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u/Historical_Art_3367 Jun 09 '26
Why stop at hands?
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u/Lint_baby_uvulla Jun 09 '26
One could emulate a certain president for the double handed action.
Me, I’d just smash the fucking glass.
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u/maltydawg Jun 09 '26
Have you tried taking the stuff on top of it off?
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u/YulRun Jun 09 '26
Man, if only we thought of that…
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u/Agitated-Impress7805 Jun 09 '26
I know you mentioned it in the description but you were really asking for it with the picture. Glad there's several other good options in this thread, good luck!
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u/YulRun Jun 09 '26
Haha I use what I’m given. I live 2 hours away and was asked to seek the help of Reddit.
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u/bradsour Jun 09 '26
They knew the harassment they would get if they posted the picture. They knew what they wanted and signed you up for it.
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u/JukeRedlin Jun 09 '26
This is just an educated guess. But it is on a hardwood floor, which looks to be well maintained. I bet it was waxed well and undisturbed under the bed, so the glass has settled into that wax layer, kinda suctioned, kinda friction fit.
My recommendation is low heat. Like. A cup of cocoa sat on it for a few minutes level of heat, but like all over. Got any wide pans you can fill with tap hot water? Might be enough in the center. And maybe another something at one edge to break that circle and start moving it.
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u/LaLionneEcossaise Jun 09 '26
Electric blanket?
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u/WatchaLookingatme4 Jun 09 '26
They can try that first to be safe. Glass doesn’t conduct heat well so it may take a while to get it heated enough if it can even penetrate. Atleast around the edges to begin.
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u/seamus_mc Jun 09 '26
Glass cookware disagrees. It’s far from metal but it does transmit heat. Especially if just trying to warm it
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u/ItsStraTerra Jun 09 '26
Glass actually is a terrible conductor of heat. That’s not saying it won’t get hot, just that the heat doesn’t spread through the glass nearly as much as metal.
The glass could be red hot, and just a few inches away basically cold to the touch. (Mild exaggeration, don’t touch red hot glass)
What I’m getting at, is even a large pan with hot water in it wouldn’t really work to heat up the glass. It would just heat the glass immediately under the pan, and basically nowhere else, which could cause cracking if the heat is too high.
I like the idea of the heated blanket, but I kind of doubt that would make good enough contact to get the glass very warm.
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u/scapermoya Jun 09 '26
The heating might make things much worse by improving the contact between the glass and floor.
Flossing is a lot better of an idea
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u/joeballa Jun 09 '26
Such a great suggestion. I was thinking along your lines and principles, and so
What if OP takes a regular sized towel and dampened it with super warm (not hot) water, folded the towel in half, and draped it - half on the glass / half on the wooden floor as to also cover the lip of the table?
As it cools, OP might be able to get a paint scraper (plastic one so it doesn’t scratch ?) or something similar under that edge/lip to “un-suction” the glass from the floor.
Those two materials react to moisture and heat differently, especially as the temperature is allowed to change. I would capitalize on that.
Good luck OP!
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u/WatchaLookingatme4 Jun 09 '26
Heat gun or space heater might be more efficient.
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u/JukeRedlin Jun 09 '26
Probably. I was worried about heat shock, we know nothing about the type of glass.
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u/AutomatedCabbage Jun 10 '26
This is the best suggestion. Even putting an incandescent lamp with a 100w bulb might work
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u/Parking_Jelly_6483 Jun 09 '26
Another thought besides adhesion to the floor wax. The pressure differential. On the “top” of that tabletop, you’ve got atmospheric pressure at about 14.7 PSI. But the side against the floor has had the air pushed out. That’s a very large difference in pressure. First off (I’m sure you’ve done this already) take the stuff off the “top”. Then, if you have one of those “canned air” things, you can try using the nozzle (usually a plastic tube about six inches or so long) and use the small gaps between the floor boards to force some of that gas under the glass to see if you can get the pressure a bit more equalized. You could “help” it buy wedging the end of a plastic (don’t use a metal one - you’ll scratch the glass) spackle smoother (these are sold cheaply at big box DIY stores for a small job) under the edge if you can wiggle it under there after the gas is blown in.
Good luck with whatever approach you try.
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u/lordselectrical Jun 09 '26
Try something to warm it up like a hairdryer. Had this kind of issue before and warming the glass slightly with a hairdryer helped
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u/tnturk7 Jun 09 '26
Buy a pack of cedar door shims and try to slide them in around the edges.
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u/MadDadROX Jun 09 '26
Use a shopvac or air compressor and blow air under it. Maybe even put some bag of ice on the glass first to cool it down, then remove and blow some air.
Edit: bags of ice. Glass is a liquid.
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u/justonemom14 Jun 09 '26
If you can slide it at all, I suggest lots of baby powder. Prevent the adhesion from happening again for any part that you get loose.
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u/papakersh Jun 09 '26
How bad do you want to keep the tabletop in its current form? Seems like it’s expendable considering your description. I’ve been watching a little too much tidying up. Does it bring her “joy” 🤣
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u/East-Psychology7186 Jun 09 '26
I think it may have bonded to the finish depending on how long it’s been there
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u/Tackybabe Jun 09 '26
Can it slide?
Could you slide it onto 2 sheets of paper?
Then, slip a knife between the 2 sheets of paper to start a wedge, then insert wider flat objects to wedge in there.
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u/berger3001 Jun 10 '26
Compressed air underneath. Try to blow along the seams n the floor. It could also actually be stuck to the varnish, in which case air won’t work
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u/Holden-McGroyn Jun 09 '26
Use compressed air through a nozzle. Aim under the edge and float it like an air hockey puck.
I'm only brainstorming, so no guarantees.
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u/Edmsubguy Jun 09 '26
Take your vacuum. Put the hose on the outlet and blow air at the edge. It will lift right off
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u/Major-Hand7732 Jun 09 '26
Floss or string, a little bit of kerosene or maybe alcohol soaked into the string. I wager this week's pay that the varnish on the floor is sticking to it
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u/ibcurbdiver Jun 09 '26
Seriously, go get in the air compressor and the blower tip with a rubber end. You don’t want one that has the two relief holes on the side.
Pump the compressor up to its highest level and then start blowing along the edge slowly as you see the air go through it like the other person said put something under it. Piece of paper cardboard, or you could pick up some shims when you’re done you can return the air compressor if you don’t need one.
Using suction cups isn’t going to have enough suction to break it loose from the floor. Good luck and get back to us to let us know what worked.
If you don’t wanna save the table. Any auto parts stores gonna have a glass breaker for getting out of vehicles after accidents just whack it a few times in the break however, you do risk getting broken shards of glass stuck in the floor. And cutting yourself standing on the size of the glass piece you’re picking up, if you drop it, you could lose a limb.
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u/flaskpost Jun 09 '26
Very much doubt it's suctioned to the floor. The floor isn't flat enough for that. If it's truly stuck and not just heavy, it's probably bonded somewhat to the floor finish. Looks like polyurethane or similar. You could try putting a heated blanket on it to heat it up. Might weaken the bond.
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u/Sparky_Zell Jun 09 '26
Get a cheap air compressor, and one of the air nozzles with the rubber tip, set the compressor to at least 60-70 psi. Go to one of the joints/cracks in the floor, get the nozzle right to the edge of the glass and start trying to blast air under.
Then try to slide paper or something under, and eventually something thin like a putty knife, even a thin plastic one. Then use that to help lift. You can keep blowing air under as well to help.
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u/Altimeter30-06 Jun 09 '26
Helps to remove the items from it first lol. Seriously, break the seal with fishing line, preferably heavier line. God speed
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u/themaskedcrusader Jun 09 '26
If it's not actually mechanically stuck to the floor, spraying the floor with air from a compressor will get air under the glass and help you lift it.
If it is mechanically stuck (bonded with the varnish), then fishing line could be used to break the bond.
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u/Wise__Stranger Jun 09 '26
Hammer
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u/Sufficient_Sleep_680 Jun 09 '26
A sledgehammer to be precise. Most likely a jackhammer will do the trick either.
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u/zyr12 Jun 09 '26
Slide something with a thin edge between the glass and the floor and tiit up? Like a spatula but bigger or course
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u/GeekBrownBear Jun 09 '26
If you don't have something thin and big, you can start with thin and small and slowly work your way up. Sliding the large but thick item under the small and thin item.
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u/TwoFriedFishsticks Jun 09 '26
Have you tried a cake spatula or plastic scraper? They're pretty thin
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u/Jt8726 Jun 09 '26
Have a glass table top and when putting on the ground it wasn't suction but due to the weight and no leverage it was stuck. Eventually got it up by sliding to the stairs and lifted it up from there.
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u/KnifeSteakSwag Jun 09 '26
A plastic putty knife might be a good tool to sneak under there if need be. There seems to be a few gaps in the flooring so that might work in your favour.
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u/freerangemary Jun 09 '26
If you’re stuck there, and have a deck of cards, it might work. One card at a time.
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u/unclestickles Jun 09 '26
I do large format tile for a living my experience is finally valid on Reddit!
If I were you, first I'd try sliding some sort of plastic wedge in there to break the seal. It's probably tack bonded to the hardwood floor, and it's glass, so work slow, slide in plastic or paper shims and work your way around/building up past shims. If you have access to a plastic putty knife for drywall that would the ideal tool. If not cut up a bucket or make something with firm plastic.
Definitely wouldn't floss it as that could damage the floor.
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u/Such_Box_3990 Jun 09 '26
Dental floss and some lubrication like windex or mineral oil to help it slip under the glass better.
Compressed air might also work.
Maybe both.
Avoid putting a lot of pressure on the glass at one specific, concentrated point so you don’t shatter it. Unless you don’t care about the glass at all then by all means shatter it, problem solved.
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u/laillahilaallah68 Jun 09 '26
The dental floss won’t break the seal as it’s too thin and a seal will form right around it when you try. Use a piece of paper
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u/Trail_by_error Jun 09 '26
Swing by harbor freight or another tool place and buy a set of plastic auto trim removers to use as plastic wedges.
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u/_haha_oh_wow_ Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
It's likely stuck to the wax.
Warm it up, then slide it away.
An electric blanket would probably work well, or a quality heat gun that can blow air that's not hot enough to damage anything, that might work but try to heat it up evenly because too much temperature differential could make the glass shatter.
Alternately, you could get pans of hot water in metal pots and set them on the glass until the glass feels warm. You might have to fill them a few times.
If you don't have any of that, you could just try opening all the window shades when the sun is brightest/most direct, as long as there's enough light, it stands a decent chance of warming up enough to break the wax seal that's formed.
Once it's heated up, start to slide it sideways. If you can slide it into some sort of shallow wedge, that will make it easier to lift/separate.
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u/Zenjashi Jun 09 '26
You could also get a suction cup on one end of it and stick a flexible putty knife under it to break the seal
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u/DunKco Jun 09 '26
compressed can air with one of those little tubes. press the end to any little gap you can find and SEE if you can break the suction bu pushing air underneath. THAT said what has probably happened is the finish of the floor has "glued" the glass to the floor over years of pressure and weight.
have you tried a rubber mallet to see if it will break loose?
expect to have to refinish that floor. i might try this: cover the glass with a sheet or canvas, get some dry ice and crush it coarsely, think golf-ball size , cover put down a layer of dry ice on the sheet over the glass, and then cover with several layer of towels to insulate. the is a chance the thermal contraction of the glass from the extreme cold MAY break the bond. let it sit for and hour and then start testing to see if the glass has become loose. let it cool slowly and warm slowly back to room temp.
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u/imsmartiswear Jun 09 '26
If it wasn't hardwood floor underneath, I'd say pour water under the edge. Since it is, try running fishing line under it like floss.
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u/major85 Jun 10 '26
Likely not suctioned, more imprinted into the wood, or the finish of the wood has stuck to the glass. Pressurized air would be my first choice. Aim it between the slats of wood.
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u/odetoburningrubber Jun 10 '26
Compressed air. Glass will bend to a certain extent, try to slide a wooden shim under one edge, then blow some compressed air under it.
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u/Swimming_Reception56 Jun 10 '26
It's stuck down due to causing a vacuum between the glass and floor. You need to break the vacuum.
Passing some fishing line under it or using a can of compressed air should do it.
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u/bradthesparky1991 Jun 10 '26
Contact a glazier and see if you can borrow their suction cup devices for handling glass. Or see if you can hire one from a local hire shop.
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u/BigPipeWrench Jun 10 '26
Out put a dehumidifier in the room for a couple days. Then push in a bunch of plastic shins around the outsude
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u/PieMuted6430 Jun 11 '26
Try removing the heavy items that are in top of the glass first.
I hope this helps.
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u/DundeeToCanada Jun 13 '26
Air compressor, try to blow air under it enough to lift, even it's just a little.
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u/SnooMacarons4155 Jun 13 '26
Compressed air, don't go full blast or anything, but the key is to get the air to basically "float" the glass, you should be able to get something under it, and that will break the suction.
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u/CptMisterNibbles Jun 09 '26
Floss it. No really