Removing floor glue

The secret to removing that glue is (unfortunately) elbow grease… but I do have some tips you can try that should make it an easier task.

First off, get yourself a decent scraper with a thin blade, and if it doesn’t have a sharp edge, add one. I’ve found that sharp and flexible works better than stiff and dull every time.

Secondly, you’ll want to soften the glue before trying your new scraper. Most often this can be accomplished with nothing but water and dish soap left to soak overnight.

Your last option is mechanical removal with a floor sander and coarse pads (available at rental stores), but only as a last resort….both the expense and the mess are things most could do without.

Now depending on the type of tile you are applying, you may not need to remove it at all. If you are using vinyl tiles, you want to prevent that old glue from touching the new tiles as oils in the adhesives can cause new tiles to develop yellow spots. In this case I’m afraid the old adhesive will all need to either come up, or be covered. (see below)

Ceramic tile applied with thinset mortar can be applied with the adhesive still on the floor, but you’ll still want to remove as much as possible to ensure a good bond. If you go this route, I would suggest using a polymer modified thinset mortar for high adherence to the concrete/old glue.

The last option you could consider is adding a layer of self-leveling concrete to the existing floor. Again, you’ll want to remove as much of the old adhesive as possible before pouring, but the end result will be a smooth, clean floor that is ready to accept whatever type of flooring you choose.

Good luck with the project. It’s not a fun job for sure, but the results will be well worth it.


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