Hi

I want to pour some floor leveler on my basement floor where the stage will go. It's pretty warped.

Right now, the cement floor is covered with ancient black glue that used to hold down square tiles. I want the floor leveler to stick to the cement without chipping off.

I've had a few suggestions, but anyone find an easy way to strip off the old glue? Heat gun, not-so-nasty chemicals, sanding, etc.?

Thanks.

Tom.

You have to determine what kind of adhesive was used before you choose a solvent.

Just a few words from past experience. I had some indoor outdoor carpet glued to a cement patio and it was the most miserable experience to remove the "yellow glue". I also took up some linoleum on a concrete slab floor.
In both cases I tried all kind of solvents and while it partially loosened up the glue it was too slow, I had to resort to pure physical labor and used both a long handled scraper and a angle grinder. Also the solvents were very potent and you need a lot of protection. Indoors....forget about it.

Had I known that they rent floor scraping machines that would have been my first choice. Check with your local tool rental stores.

http://www.floor-equipment.com/products/464-self-propelled-floor-stripper-26.html

Had I known that they rent floor scraping machines that would have been my first choice. Check with your local tool rental stores

I woudl definitely recommend going this route. There a several different adhesive chemistries that could ahve been used, but most of them involve some type of crosslinking reation, and one the material has crosslinked, solvent wont work to remove it. It might swell the material and sofen it to where you can get it off, but probably not. Hot sodium hydroxide would probably work, but it wouldn't do wonders for the floor.

there is a different style of scraping machine...basically just putting a different disk on a floor scrubber. it had carbon steel blades and just spins and cuts off anything soft. http://www.parish-supply.com/images/1131017-01.jpg

Removed the carpet from my basement HT. I have yellow glue on my basement floor. I need to avoid fumes and dust due to family members with asthma, etc. so I'm going to try a high pressure washer first in a small area to see how it works. Should be about a week before I'm ready for the test.

Tom Kay

Before you do anything, especially sanding/scraping - get a sample of the substance tested for asbestos!

Healthwise, mesothelioma is nothing to fool around with, and you may be liable if you dump the substance in an unapproved landfill.

Good Luck

Hi Badcrazy;

Well, with a safety suggestion like that, you ain't so bad or crazy. Thanks for raising the concern.

So I called a local environmental testing company, and asked them about it. I said what are the odds that a residential basement had either asbestos-laden floor tiles or glue installed 46 (or less) years ago. They said possible but not terribly likely. Then I asked what can I do about it?

Their answer was multi-leveled. I can get the glue tested. I can call a hazmat team if it's bad news. Or, more like my style, I can assume the worst, wear a good hepa respirator, disposable jumpsuit, close off all ventilation to the room, go and heat gun it, scrape it, throw away whatever comes off the floor.

I only want to level under my stage, so the whole thing rests nicely on the floor. Also, they said, once I install a rubber underpad, then carpet, it's not a worry at all. Even in its current state, it's not considered bad (assuming it is asbestos-laden glue) because it's not in an airborne state. They said DON'T start sanding it or blasting at it with a scraper. OOPS, did a bit, years ago to level some heaved cracks.

So, like many other things in my house (the lead paint scare of 4 years ago, that proved to be negative) this has been a public announcement from your school of unexpected knocks. Home ownership can kill you !

What's next? Jock straps made from depleted uranium, contact lens eye drops made from benzyne, and dear God, Canadian processed cheese? Monsanto McNuggets, glowing red Hiroshima cherries, ...

Thanks though Badcrazy. Tom.

my black glue sits dormant under my Drycore subfloor system, no need to deal with it IMO.

Just use latex instead of water when you mix your leveler and go right over the top of that cutback adhesive.
That is what we do when we install a perimeter floor so the new glue will adhere.
You should be able to buy the latex (milk) at HD, if not go to a floor installer supply house or ceramic store.

Just use latex instead of water when you mix your leveler and go right over the top of that cutback adhesive.
That is what we do when we install a perimeter floor so the new glue will adhere.
You should be able to buy the latex (milk) at HD, if not go to a floor installer supply house or ceramic store.

interesting idea...so it sticks better with the latex?

I always use latex for an additive, even when prepping luan seams for vinyl.
You can probably find a latex fortified portland cement to use for leveler.
It sticks better and doesn't crack because of the latex.

I tried my 3000 psi pressure washer this past weekend and it failed miserably. Didn't make a dent in getting the adhesive off. :mad:

So I've masked off all openings, opened the basement windows for ventilation, and rented an industrial surface finisher with carbide blades and vacuum to remove this stuff.

I pulled up our glued down carpet last year to start my theater project. Once the carpet was left I had all that same yellow glue on the floor. I got a product from Home Depot from Jasco. It worked like a charm.

Jasco products (http://www.jasco-help.com/products/prod_ar.htm#0221-4)