Ruined oak floor

Question

We have pulled the carpeting up out of our house and have found an unpleasant surprise. 
A previous owner apparently put down some type of tile on top of the wood floor.  when we pulled up the carpet, we found the adhesive (mortar, mastic, whatever!).  Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to remove this material? I know there are chemicals that can be used, but I have pets and would be a little concerned about fumes.
Thanks for any help you folks can offer!

William · Answer

I would scrape off as much as I could. Then I would saturate the adhesive with Goo Gone and let it sit testing it to see if it softens. Then scrape and wipe into newspapers.  The floor may need sanding and finishing after the adhesive is removed.

Pam Lewandowski · Answer

^^^^  Yes, but please remember to scrap in the same direction of the grain!  Best of luck!!

Jackie Byrd · Answer

If you can't go the chemical route, then you'll have to sand it off. 
While it looks like a nightmare, remember it is only on the surface. Once you remove it, a sanding then refinish and your back to a gorgeous hardwood floor. (It could have been gouged, screwed, nailed, chopped up, etc.). Please let us know your solution and post a picture of the restored floor.

Linda Santo · Answer

I doubt it's ruined.  Those older oak floors are tougher than you'd think.  I'd try hot water first.  It may not be glue BUT just the backing 'stuck' to the finish of the floor.  Water won't hurt wood unless you leave it long enough to soak through.  Test on an edge spot and see if you can just scrape it off.  On second look since it's only in 1 spot, my guess it was some type of rubber door mat that 'melted' on the floor.  Worth a try.

William · Answer

Sanding  it would be costly and a waste. The friction caused by sanding would just gum up the sandpaper immediately and take forever.

SLS Construction & Building Solutions LLC · Answer

As mentioned above - scrape with the grain then sand once the bulk is gone with a real floor sander or an orbital sander
I am not sure I would try using any chemicals as it could prevent the stain from adhering. If you wish to try that route I would go to a woodworking supply house & see what they might recommend (and always test in an inconspicuous spot)

Sterling Topping · Answer

You might also try using a hair dryer to soften the adhesive and then try scraping it off.  If it works, do a little every day and eventually you will have gotten enough off that you can then sand off the rest and then repair as needed.

Jim L · Answer

Hmmm...so many good suggestions...I would use a putty knife, a heat gun and hammer.  Heat a small portion, use the hammer to help the putty knife.  They after about 15-20 minutes sit down, have a glass of wine and tell yourself that in the end it all will be worth all of this!  Good luck...

Elizabeth DeWolf · Answer

If you really can't get it up , why not cover it with a throw rug that's compatible with your decor ? Don't know what part of the country you hail from, but here in the Northeast it's a necessary addition to every door 
Step and entry / foyer ! With today's 
Products, there must be something safe to use ! Or you could try a solution of white vinegar and water,
which works on most adhesives I've 
Used it on ! Non-toxic and effective !

Joanne DiMaggio Nardo-MacDowell · Answer

In another home in the 1980's I decided to remove the tile from the dinette area floor and of course I found the black cement glue.  I used a scrapper only.  It took me weeks to do because I worked,  so I'd come home and do a little every day.  After the glue was gone I hired a floor sander to sand and stain the floor.  It looked beautiful and I was happy I did the work. I'm not sure it would be to your advantage to heat the glue as I think it will make it more difficult to remove.  Hopefully you can chip a lot of it away with a scraper.   Good luck.

Laurie · Answer

Grind it down with a rotary multi-tool (we used one to remove old residue from a tile removal project. Then sand and refinish the floor.  If it doesn't all come off, you'll need to replace that section of hardwood.

Johnchip · Answer

All good suggestions. You cannot just remove it all at first chemically as it is too much material. You will  need a fanny cushion/ towel or some knee pads a good sharp putty knife (4-6')/ chisel, (maybe), hammer, heat gun/hair dryer and some patience. You can get that done in about 1-2  hours total if you relax and have the patience. Then use a chemical remover and/or sand and refinish. If you use a chemical it won't hurt the pets if you put them in another room for  couple hours and keep the space ventilated the odors will be gone in a couple hours.

Karen · Answer

I had an expert advise me when I had this at my first home. If it is the color of like pale brown it is water soluble, soak it with wet sponge and just scrape off. Otherwise you can purchase a chemical solvent.  Then sand.

Steve · Answer

Be careful!!! The adhesive and the tile you removed may contain asbestos.  Have a qualified Asbestos inspector take samples.  I am a licensed Il. Home Inspector.

Eileen · Answer

There is a product called Beano that removes mastic. It is made with soy beans and is non toxic.  I used it to remove carpet adhesive, it is a little pricey but no smell an non toxic (I have 3 cats & a dog) I got it on line a few years ago, sorry I can't be more precise.

Robin · Answer

Soak little sections with hot water. Much elbow grease.

Flo · Answer

sometimes dry ice will cause the mastic to flake off.

Wowhavs · Answer

Look at Goof Off at Lowe's

Lana · Answer

I had the same situation like yours I used a scraper, lot of scraping in the right direction very carefully to protect flooring,vacuuming up the dust as you go along.

Celia Gonzales-Diaz · Answer

This happened to me, I broke up what I could then rented a sander and went to town.  Worked great just a little lighter than the rest of the floor, but with a carpet at the door no one notices.

AElfgiure Willowmoon · Answer

Try a heat gun before you scrape - that saved us when we were really getting frustrated with tile removal.

Crystal Meyer Griffith · Answer

Determining what kind of stuff this is will help you decide what route to take. Does it look like a rubbery compound or more like a cement compound? See if you can chip up a small piece; place in water. Dissolve, float or no reaction. Go from there and get advice from a flooring company as to best way to remove. We had mastic on our floor and it came right up with water!

Justin · Answer

Scrape, goof off, sand, stain  and apply top coat

Sally-Charles Evans · Answer

My hint for you (unless you're 7 years old) Put a nice stout screw on mop handle on your scraper!  It REALLY saves the knees! And the heat gun helps too!

Ohd2258886 · Answer

Watch 'Rehab Addict' on hgtv with nicole curtis. she has refinished floors like this on her show several times.  This looks like some of the different materials she has removed.

Deb · Answer

A heat gun and use a plastic scraper so that you don't gouge your floor.

Tess van Dijk · Answer

Try using a hammer lightly to loosen the mortar. Then a heavy duty plastic scraper. Then sand, stain (?) and seal the area. You may have to sand the entire floor to get it to match. Good luck.

Stephen Canas · Answer

There is a grout stripper that you have to use. Then sand smooth resurface, stain and finish.

Sophia,M.,McConnery · Answer

Hot water will do the trick.

Cindy · Answer

Rent a wallpaper steamer to soften mastic.  Then use plastic scraper and lots of patience.  Once it was almost  all off, I texted photo to my floor guy who confirmed they could sand off the rest.   Dry ice used with care might freeze the mastic enough  to have it chunk off but steaming was much more efficient.  Good luck.

Ruined oak floor

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Ruined oak floor

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