Posted on 08/05/2005 3:48:47 PM PDT by day10
I am doing some heavy duty waterproofing work in my basement as I prepare to possibly sell my home. I need to pull up some thin indoor/outdoor type carpet from the concrete floor that it is glued to. What is the best way to do this - preferably without destroying the carpet? Is there something I can put on it to loosen the glue? Any experts out there?
If you get that notion out of your mind, there's many products that will remove the residual adhesive that will undoubtedly be left on the concrete.
I've used a regular ole garden spade successfully.
Theoretically, you could take a heat gun and loosen one corner, and just work your way from there - but DAMN man.. you're selling a house. Don't you have enough stress without bothering to save some shytty carpet?
I thought I might give a shot to saving it, but doubted there would be a way. Your point here is hard to deny - just tear it out and don't worry it.
Glued carpet, my experience.
If it has a foam back, you are in for a mess. Work up a corner, grab it with a pair of pliers and start pulling. The back will separate, part staying with the carpet and part with the floor.
Then get yourself an industrial 90 degree electric hand held grinder, a big one, then take off the grinding wheel and put on a cup type wire brush.
Put on a face mask and respirator, cover everything you don't want foam dust getting into and start wire brushing it.
That's about all I know to do.
Virtually any petroleum based solvent will break the glue down, but I would only use it for getting residue off the floor after removing the rug. At the top end is some stuff called "Old Adhesive Remover", which goes for about $18/gallon. At the bottom end, a good bath in paint thinner usually works. But whatever you decide to use, keep the area well-ventilated and NO SMOKING!
There is no foam backing here - just the very thin carpet glued down. Sounds like I should just rip it out and forget it and replace it after the job is done.
I find myself in a similar situation...my solution?
Have a pro scrape off the old and put down new outdoor carpet.
As someone else said, I have enough headache doing the things I know I can do without messing around with something I'm not sure of.
Consider the carpet a loss and consider how you will clean the glue off the concrete underneath.
Peel the carpet back and check the glue. If its light use a scraper, if it's thick rent a floor sander from the big box places. Hope that helps.
Home Repair Goddess Pingvs.
Fixing up my deceased mother's house for my daughter. I just did this. Forget saving the carpet. I pulled it up, fairly easily as the glue had sort of expired over the years. Then I used a scrapper to get the most of the stuck foam up and then I went for the chemicals to dissolve the glue and gunk residue.
The most recent addition to the scrapper market is one that is powered by a an air compressor. Scrapping the floor is probably just a good workout for a big guy, but for me its been quite an experience. I have a hallway and one large room left - I'm going to try the air compressor powered scrapper.
My daughter and I have spent a lot of time looking at tools. Tools are such a gift for the undermuscled and clueless.
Unless the problem with the old carpet is other then cosmetic (like mildew, odor, etc.) just lay new capet over it.
Turpentine and a match is my advice.
What? Oh, you want the carpet usuable.
Like others have said, try scraping the sucker up, maybe it will come up easier than you think.
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