How To Remove Tile Glue From Concrete Floor

how to remove glue from concrete

Carpet mucilage tin be tough to remove from concrete. SKatzenberger / Shutterstock.

Are y'all dreaming of ripping upwardly your ugly carpeting, ceramic tile, or canvass vinyl and making the switch to decorative physical floors? That dream can quickly plow into a nightmare if you encounter a concrete surface covered with stubborn tile or carpet glue after taking upwardly the floor covering. Removing that dried-on gunk tin be a big undertaking, especially if the gum has been there for years. But if you plan to color the concrete with a stain or dye, it'due south a necessary step to ensure uniform and complete color penetration (run across Preparing Floors for Physical Staining).

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The skillful news is that removing gum from a concrete floor is possible if y'all apply the right tools and methods to get the job done. There are a number of strategies y'all can endeavor, depending on the size of your flooring and the blazon and amount of glue you come across. For small-scale residential concrete flooring surfaces, glue removal is often a projection you lot can tackle yourself with some hard work and perseverance.

ane. Grab a scraper

If there's non a lot of residual mucilage remaining on the concrete subfloor, it'due south oft possible to scrape it off using a long-handled floor scraper and and so sweep information technology upwards for disposal. This method requires a lot of grunt work, and you take to be conscientious not to gouge or scratch the flooring surface with the scraper blade. But even if you tin can't remove every bit of glue from the concrete surface with this step alone, it will exist easier to get rid of the rest by 1 of the other methods.

ii. Boil some water

If the mucilage is water-based, you may exist able to just boil a pot of h2o and employ it to the dry gum to soften it. This method costs nothing and is chemical-free, so it's worth a try every bit long as you're careful not to splash the hot h2o onto yourself when pouring it onto the floor surface. Let the water to soften the mucilage for a few minutes, and then scrub the glue off earlier it cools with a rotary floor scrubber or become back at it with the scraper.

Although some people claim to have success removing rug glue from physical using hot h2o mixed with vinegar or citrus-based cleaners, these solutions should be avoided because they can react with the concrete and etch the surface.

3. Utilise a glue and mastic remover

If scraping and hot water don't do the trick, there are a number of eco-friendly mastic removers you can use formulated specifically for removing old adhesive from concrete floors, such every bit GlueRemove from Surecrete and Blue Bear Mastic & Agglutinative remover from Franmar (a soy-based solution). These low-odour, low-VOC products contain no harsh chemicals, and then they are safe to use indoors. Plus, they will soften and emulsify near types of carpet glues and tile mastics, including solvent-based products. You lot typically apply these products to the floor with a pump-upward sprayer, brush, or mop and permit them to sit until the mastic softens and tin be scrapped away, anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours depending on the thickness of the glue or mastic buildup. Once most of the glue has been stripped, remove the remaining residue using a concrete cleaner or degreaser and a scrub brush, mop, or rotary floor scrubber.

Tip: Before buying an agglutinative remover, be sure to read the label on the container to discover out what substances the product will work on. Strippers formulated for removing paint from concrete aren't intended to remove glues and mastics. It's as well a skilful idea to test the adhesive remover you lot plan to use on a small area of the flooring to make sure it's effective and won't darken the concrete or inhibit stain penetration.

removing tile glue from concrete

A machine like the Titan XT is a powerful solution for removing glue from concrete. WerkMaster in Burnaby, BC Canada.

4. Use mechanical methods

If chemical strippers are ineffective at removing glues and mastics – even after repeated applications – you may have to resort to mechanical removal methods, such every bit using a flooring sander or buffer fitted with a sanding disk for the chief part of the floor and a handheld grinder along the walls and in the corners. This is the fastest and most efficient method for removing glue residue from large floor surfaces. The problem is that sanding or grinding too aggressively tin can leave swirl marks in the concrete and expose some of the aggregate. It can also remove a layer of the cement paste from the surface, which will cause the stain to react differently.

Video: Spotter how WerkMaster'due south Titan XT removes multiple layers of rug glue from a concrete flooring.

If y'all programme to smooth your concrete flooring rather than stain information technology, grinding the mastic or adhesive off versus using a chemic stripper is a great selection. But exist sure to use grinding accessories specifically intended for this purpose. You tin can't use the same type of diamond abrasives you employ for polishing because they volition crusade the mastic to heat up, become gummy, and stick to the diamonds. Because of the aggressive nature of some physical grinding machines, this is a job best done past a professional who has experience operating the equipment and knows the proper abrasive attachments to use to go the desired results.

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Resurface the floor with an overlay or coating

If you have tried both chemical and mechanical methods to remove stubborn carpeting glue and mastics but your efforts were unsuccessful, y'all can all the same make the switch to a decorative physical floor by installing an overlay or epoxy coating over the existing physical surface. Physical overlays volition hide defects, cover upward exposed amass, and provide a brand new surface ideal for staining, polishing, and other decorative treatments.

Another reason to embrace your flooring with an overlay is if y'all have old linoleum or vinyl flooring that has been glued down with a black-colored adhesive. This black mastic, also called "cutback adhesive," was most commonly used in homes built before the 1980s and could comprise asbestos. Cutback adhesive is condom if left alone or encapsulated past new flooring, but it can be dangerous if you try to grind or scrape it off manually.

Phone call a professional person

Removing carpet gum and tile mastics from concrete floors can be messy, time consuming, and labor intensive. Simply you shouldn't permit it stop you from making the switch to decorative concrete. Try out different approaches and accept the appropriate precautions. If you lot are unable to remove the glue or you're dealing with a large residential or commercial floor, contact a professional to practise the job.

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