How to Remove the Adhesive From a Concrete Floor [4+ Best Step]

Concrete floors are no longer an eye-catcher. There are many methods of decorating them that may make you want to pull up an old rug and tile in no time. However, if you do, chances are that a little bit of the adhesive will lag behind in the process. The remains and residues left are not pleasant to look at and make it impossible to add new decorations or finish the concrete. Getting rid of the old sticker is a tedious and difficult task, but with the right step, it can be accomplished by any DIY.

Step 1: scrape

Depending on the adhesive, a scraping is sufficient to remove it. Try a hand scraper first, with protective gloves to avoid blisters, but if the job proves too difficult, you can instead try an electric scraper or a scraper accessory on an alternative saw. Collect dust or chipped pieces that become free and dispose of everything in the trash.

Step 2: soften the adhesive

In the event that the scraping is not successful, take another step forward and make the adhesive softer. Put on a pair of rubber gloves, boil the water and pour it on the surface of the adhesive point. Leave for a few minutes to make the glue more flexible.

For this purpose, it is also possible to use products for the removal of chemical adhesives, preferring citrus based types. If you use a chemical, you should let it sit for about 30 minutes before continuing. We recommend testing any chemicals on a small patch of the adhesive so you have an idea of ​​how it will work and if you need something stronger. You should also consider working on smaller patches one at a time instead of covering the entire area with a remover. It will help you avoid wasting solvent as you will not use it excessively and the solution will not have a chance to dry before it can finish.

Step 3: use the scraper on the softened adhesive

This time bring your scraper onto the softened glue and it should come off fairly easily. There are also tile and glue removal tools available on the market. This will have an eight-inch long blade that scrapes the surface by moving back and forth. However, be careful not to scratch with a sharp tool that can scratch or drip the floor.

Step 4: wash the floor

After the adhesive has been successfully removed, it's time to wash the concrete. Use a mild soap and water solution with a long-handled brush to thoroughly clean the entire floor. Finally, dry any adhesive fragments with an absorbent cloth.

Additional tips for specific stickers

If you are getting rid of tiles, you may be dealing with a putty. Fortunately, this is one of the easiest types to remove, as it will come away with just water and a light scraping.

Some types of floor stick with vinyl adhesive. Unlike glue, this often leaves no globes behind you that you can scrape off. Instead, this variety will need to be removed with solvent.