Removing Carpet Adhesive W/ A Pressure Washer

dprimc

Have a client with a covered exposed aggregate front porch that someone glued a section of carpet to.

I was told by a flooring shop that my 3700 psi pressure washer might work to remove the adhesive and make less of a mess than the products that dissovle the adhesive. (It would also be cheaper.)

Questions: Anyone have any experience doing this or thoughts about practicallity of success? Seems to me it should work with a narrow bit close to the surface???

angus242

Do you (or they) plan on putting anything else back on top of it or just leaving the natural finish of the aggregate?

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Angus
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dprimc

Its going to get covered so I just need the glue off.

astor

We shouldn't be pulling words off your mouth, but covered with what?

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dprimc

They are considering options. Possibly tile, or possibly concrete resurfacing products. Client isn't concerned with look of the aggregate as long as the glue is gone and neither am I.

I'm just trying to help her out as she is a great referral base and I am already doing some other work on site. They'd like to get the glue off so it looks better until the final decision is made. Anyone off the street and I wouldn't bother.

Right now, my concern is removing the glue and if that is possible with high PSI water pressure. If no has any experience fine. I'll post mine after trying. Just though I would see.

Thanks,

Dave

angus242

I have no idea if the pressure washer will remove the glue but I'd be worried about it blowing out the concrete. Just be careful. If you see the concrete start giving way, I guess it's not going to work

Any chance on scarifying it clean?

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Angus
L+M+O+P=C
"Promise only what you can deliver. Then deliver more than you promise"

astor

As Angus said you can give it a try,if not you can always use a concrete grinder to take off the remaining, there will be dust though.I would not use chemicals,they may contaminate the soil around.

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TheFloorGuy

Concrete resurfacing products, whether an epoxy/aggregate mortar or slurry, or a cementitious self-leveling material, will not adhere well if there is any adhesive left on the substrate. Pressure washing is risky as a removal technique. If, in fact, it even works, it is hard to finesse and blowing off the top of the concrete is a real (and unnecessary) risk -- especially if the concrete isn't the greatest to begin with. Chemical removal with strippers can produce a sludge that, besides being a big mess that needs scooping up, requires special disposal techniques i.a.w. local EPA regs. (and is bad news for the ground water, as Astor said). Shot-blasting, if there's a lot of rubbery adhesive, can result in the shot actually just bouncing off the hardened glue and never penetrating the slab. So I agree with the person who suggested grinding (not sanding - that will just use up a lot of sandpaper and grind the hardened goop further into the pores of the concrete) as the way to go. Serious dust masks or respirators, and all other toxic dust precautions should be taken! You might want to acid etch the surface afterward, as well.

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dprimc

Wasn't planning on pressure washing as the only surface prep, and am definitely aware of the mess and downside of other methods mentioned.

The location makes grinding difficult as well as thje fact that it is exposed agg.

I think it is a non-issue now as the client is pursuing some other options.

Thanks for the input.

TheFloorGuy

Sure, anytime! What did they finally decide to go with?

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dprimc

After getting the whole story, some repiars were done on several units where water had gotten between the concrete and the wall framing.

(Not flashed at all, because there was a roof overhead and no one ever waters plants on their porch and it never rains without the rain falling straight down.)

Anyway, the back of the concrete porch is over floor joist that make up the ceiling of one of the back rooms in the lower condo units.

No way I was introducing any water to that scenario and the owner was told that by many others at the same time. As soon as we actually looked at it, we recommended putting some carpet tiles back or a much nicer glue down. I think she's going that route.