You will need to remove construction adhesive for taking apart a floor and prepare concrete floors for new flooring.
So, how to get adhesive-free concrete floors? The ease of process depends on the method you have selected. Let’s find out the best ways to remove construction adhesive from sealed floors.
Just a Pro Tip: Remember to wear the right safety gear while removing construction adhesive. Old floorings have asbestos and fungus underneath them. You must wear hand gloves, safety goggles (if required), and dust masks rated at N100.
Flooring Chisel
A flooring chisel is a cheap and labor-intensive way to remove construction adhesive. However, it produces great results. You can pinpoint the thinnest adhesive left on the floor and remove it. Mechanical removal often leaves small patches of adhesive that chisels don’t.
Chisels come in various shapes and sizes; select the right one as per your project’s nature. Chisel also helps in removing previous flooring leftover. Make sure you follow all the safety protocols while using chisels.
Oscillating Tools
Oscillating tools are often used to speed up the construction adhesive removal process. When attached with a scrapping attachment, oscillating tools often speed up the process. They can remove thin layers and leftover construction adhesive.
Oscillating tools require some skill and experience before you can start working with them. Hence, it is suggested to read about them before you start working with them.
Flooring Adhesive Stripper
Commercial flooring adhesive strippers are frequently used to remove construction adhesive from sealed floors. The stripper is spread on the floor and let stand for a few hours so it can make the adhesive gooey, and then you can remove it with a chisel or an oscillating tool.
Most adhesive strippers have an awful odor, so you might want to empty the home before applying it. It is recommended to apply strippers at night for outdoor removal and keep the fan off and windows shut while for an inside application.
Make sure you follow all the instructions given on the packaging to avoid any inconvenience.
Stand Up Floor Scrapper
You can use a scrapping machine to remove construction adhesive from floors. It is best if you have large floors to work with or if you are a professional. A standup floor scrapper can be manual or mechanized.
Mechanized scrappers are best for professionals and large homes. Manual standup scrappers are good for small areas but aren’t 100% accurate. You’ll still need some hand chiseling.
One smart way would be to rent a scrapping machine for your floor renovation project.
Use of Chemicals for Construction Adhesive Removal from Concrete Floors
If you want to use chemicals to remove the construction adhesives, here are some tips for you:
Petrol: You can start with petrol. Petrol will help you loosen the adhesive attachment, and cleaning your concrete floor will be easier. However, it is a hazardous and we recommend you don’t try it.
Acetone and Xylene: Both these products are known for their adhesive and glue removing properties.
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