How To Remove Carpet
Glue From Concrete

These are my best methods for removing carpet glue from concrete

Removing carpet glue from concrete can be done several different ways. Some ways work better than others.

The best, and safest way to remove glue from concrete is with a soy based, biodegradable, adhesive or mastic remover.

A lot of other sites are going to tell you to use hot water and a scraper.

I'm telling you from experience. Don't waste your time. This rarely works. 

Take a look at the methods I use below. I've had to remove a lot of glue in preparation for staining concrete or if I'm doing an epoxy coating.

I usually start by just scraping but always have the soy based remover on hand. It's hit or miss as to what will be the best method.

The best soy base carpet glue remover

Blue Bear makes a very good carpet glue and vinyl mastic remover called 500 MR formally known as BEAN-E-DOO.

This glue remover doesn't have any solvents so it's safe to use. It has almost no odor and is made from american grown soybeans.

Spread it over the glue and let it dwell for 1 - 4 hours, then scrape it up. You can do a couple applications if needed.

Use their degreaser 700DG to clean the concrete afterwards then rinse with water.

Watch how it removes glue and mastic off a concrete floor in the video below.

Use a razor scraper

If your carpet glue is dry and brittle then you will be able to remove most of it by just using a razor scraper.

The 8" floor razor scraper works really good for this. Get plenty of extra razor blades, once they get dull put a new one in.

New and sharp blades remove the glue very quickly.

You will also want to get a smaller hand razor scraper for hard to get areas, corners, and stubborn patches of glue.

Watch how a razor scraper removes virtually all the carpet glue from this concrete floor.

Scraping and using a glue remover

HOW WE REMOVE STUBBORN GLUE:

After pulling up the carpet, the first step is to remove as much glue from the concrete as you can with a floor scraper.

Scrape the entire floor, then sweep or vacuum up the loose glue.

The more glue you remove from the concrete before using a glue remover, the better (and faster) it will work.

The next step is to wet the glue with the adhesive remover either with a mop or a scrub brush.

Let the adhesive remover soak and penetrate the glue for 30 - 60 minutes. Times will vary depending on what kind of glue you have and how old it is.

When it's ready, scrape or squeegee the bulk of the softened or liquified glue from the surface of the floor.

Depending on how thick the glue was, you may have to do this process twice to remove all the carpet glue from the concrete.

After removing all the glue from the concrete your best bet is to use a degreaser to remove any glue residue.

Then you can wash and rinse the floor with Dawn dish soap and water. It usually takes a couple times to make sure all the residue is gone.

If you have to, use a wet vac to remove the water from the floor.

Sand / Grind the glue off

Another very good method for removing stubborn glue on concrete is sanding or grinding the glue off using a Diamabrush tool.

You can rent one or buy one. Most Home Depots that have a rental store will have both the diamabrush tool and the floor buffer for rental.

I personally have one of these and can vouch for it working very good.

Some carpet glues come off easier than others with this. But most of the time it'll remove it fairly quickly.

Watch the video below to see how the Diamabrush removes glue and mastic from concrete.

When you need a stronger adhesive remover:

This stuff removes most anything from concrete. 

It'll remove carpet adhesive, caulking and silicone, roofing tar, oil based paint, grease, and oil.

It's 100% organic and biodegradable. It won't harm you skin and doesn't have any harmful vapors to breath.

It's a contractor grade adhesive remover and may be what you need.

It's citrus based and can be used around the house to clean most anything.

De-Solv-It Contractors Solvent is what it's called. It will turn the glue into a liquid. 

IF YOU HAVE SOME REALLY TOUGH SPOTS TRY THIS:

If you have a heat gun you can also try this. Pour some boiling water on the carpet glue, let it sit for 10 - 20 minutes, apply the heat gun for a couple of minutes and scrape the glue to remove it from the concrete.

Sometimes this will work and may save you from buying an adhesive remover.

Another method worth trying is to apply dry ice to the glue, let it sit for a few minutes and freeze the glue. The glue will become brittle and you can scrape the glue off the concrete.


Don't forget a tack strip remover

After you pull up the carpet, there's a good chance you'll have a tack strip around the perimeter.

The best way to remove it is with a tack strip remover tool.

It's the easiest way to remove those tiny nails from the concrete floor. 

Patching the tack strip holes, cracks, and chipped areas

If you're installing some type of flooring then you'll want to repair the tack strip holes, any cracks, and/or chipped areas in the floor.

This pre-mixed concrete patch is easy to use and will do the job. All you'll need is a putty knife to apply it.

Filling the tack strip holes if you're planning to stain the concrete

If you're thinking of staining your concrete floor then don't use the concrete patch to fill the tack strip holes or chipped areas.

Use a clear epoxy resin after you've stained the concrete. Yes, stain the concrete first, even in the tack holes, then fill them up with a clear epoxy.

They'll be less noticeable that way.

Then seal your floor with a concrete sealer or clear epoxy coating.

This clear epoxy resin will do the job.

How to clean concrete from some other things

How to remove black glue from concrete.

How to remove oil stains from concrete.

How to remove cat / dog urine from concrete.

How to remove rust stains from concrete.

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