Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - removing glued flooring

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View Full Version : removing glued flooring


jojojojo
05-31-02, 10:39 PM
I have carpet that has been glued directly onto the cement slab. I would especially like to remove the carpet because 1) it is ugly, 2) it is in the kitchen, 3) it really stinks since lots of water spilled on it from the dishwasher hose (not enough to flood the house, but about a gallon or so), and 4) I've been wanting new flooring for a while now (since I bought the house, almost 2 years ago).

The problem is I don't know how to remove the carpet due to the black glue that is adhering it to the cement slab. Someone once told me to just leave it because there might be asbestos present due to the house being built in the mid-70's (the carpet seems to be that old, too).

Is there some chemical that can safely dissolve the glue, or are there any other alternatives. I have thought about scraping the glue, but I hesitate due to the possibility of asbestos....


Carpets Done Wright
06-01-02, 03:18 PM
If you want to glue something down in the future, then stay away from chemical removers. The leave residues that must be washed and rinsed throughly several times. Then you still don't know if you got it all up and out of the pores of the concrete. It will inhibit the new adhesive from bonding.

To get the old up, use a utility knife with a new blade and cut all the way down the carpet in 1' intervals. And one cut the opposite way down the middle of the room. Use a flat screwdriver to pry a corner of the carpet where the cuts were made. Work from the middle back to the walls. Get a hold of the pried carpet corner with some pliers, and pull the 1' strips. 2 people works good! One pulling as the other is scraping with a razor scraper. Once all of it is up, go back with the scraper and a new blade and get ALL the old glue residue left. Put duct tape on the bottom of your shoes to keep them from getting sticky stuff actually on your shoes and tracking it everywhere.

Ken fisher
06-18-02, 03:07 AM
Perry:

Cool pic surfer dude! Well....jet ski dude;)