Floor covering with universal backing and methods of making and recycling

A method of manufacturing a universal floor covering which can be used as either a broadloom or modular floor covering, the method comprising the steps of:

• manufacturing either a broadloom or modular floor covering from a group of components including a tufted textile substrate having a primary backing substrate extending in a first direction and a plurality of yarns tufted through the primary backing substrate, the primary backing substrate having a face side and a back side opposite the face side, a portion of each yarn forming a stitch portion having an end that is located on the back side of the primary backing substrate, and spaces existing between the stitch portions;
• said group of components further including a composition pool having a mixture of adhesive and reinforcement fibers;
• moving the tufted textile substrate relative to a releasing applicator having an engagement surface portion, and providing space between the stitch portions of the yarns and the releasing applicator;
• applying a moving pressure on the mixture of reinforcement fibers and adhesive for moving fibers and adhesive against the engagement surface portion of the releasing applicator;
• forming a slip path layer on the engagement surface portion of the applicator for separating the moving fibers and adhesive from frictional engagement with the releasing applicator;
• applying controlled pressure on the releasing applicator in a second direction for aligning reinforcement fibers to lay predominantly in the first direction and forming a relatively rigid reinforcement layer of laminated fibers that is substantially parallel to the first direction, and the relatively rigid reinforcement layer of laminated fibers providing strength and stability to the universal floor covering;
• and
• forming a releasable adhesive cover system for providing releasable attachment of the floor covering to a supporting surface.