Removing tile adhesive from concrete floors
by
Darene P
+1
I removed the 50's looking vinyl tile from our laundry room floor and there is a orangish looking adhesive left behind. Its tough as nails too. I'm trying to get this stuff off myself as my husband is not really into this kind of thing. The only solution that I've found is renting a grinder which is really large and I'm not sure I could handle it. I bought some 36 grit sandpaper and I'm going to try to use my belt sander on it. Does anyone have another suggestion? I'm open.
4 answers
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I think if you sand it, all your going to do is smear it in and make it level with the concrete or put divots in your floor where you sanded. You either need to scrape it up, with a tool you can get at home depot. it has a handle just like a shovel with a flat blade on the front. That will allow you to get some good leverage. Next step if that didnt work would be chemicals.
Burco Surface & Decor LLC.
on Apr 05, 2012
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Anytime you're removing old tile, you should always assume that the adhesive or tile itself contains asbestos but you won't know for sure unless you have it tested. The last thing you want to do is grind or sand that stuff and get it in the air. Just one thing to consider before you disturb the peace.
Jeff C
on Apr 06, 2012
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Thanks guys. I think you've both convinced me that chemicals are going to be my only choice and I'm not even sure about that one. As for the asbestos, I thought about that one plenty when I was removing the tile. The tile looked 50's (operation room green). However, the house was built in 1971 I think. I know they warn anything before 1970 could have asbestos. Who know how long this stuff was out there before it was bought. So I'll take precaution with that one. Oh and I went and bought one of those tools from Home Depot to get the tile up. They're $36 and let me tell you they're worth their weight in GOLD! The tile had been falling apart in a million pieces while I scraped it up. There was actually two types of tile one in the hall was a fake slate in a long entrance hall. That enters the main house or my laundry room. It's probably about 10 x 15. That's were the operation room green was. Some of the green came up in big chunks - some not so much. That tool was busting that stuff up. I have tried it on the adhesive. Its not going to work without the chemicals. It looks like its going to be chemicals or a rented grinder. I want to add one other option. The adhesive is STUCK to the floor. I'm considering painting it, then destressing it. I was going to stencil over the paint anyway. I can work those swirls in I guess. Is that just a horrible idea?
Darene P
on Apr 06, 2012
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If it is concrete I would get as much up as possible and then tile the floor. little ridges here and there could be easily covered with some thin set. Tile in a laundry room just makes sense.
KMS Woodworks
on Apr 09, 2012
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