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12x12 vct removal

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GGCLLC

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
We normally do not get involved with flooring buttttttt, within a basement finish bid I need to include removing about 400 sqft of what I call vct that is glued to a basement concrete floor.
Does anyone have a recommendation on a tool, hopefully a power tool, to remove this? How do the rental store floor stripper/scrapers work?
 
#4 · (Edited)
There is an electric power scraper that is about 12" wide at the rental places but they're sometimes not too effective. They're realy better for carpet.

However I read a previous thread somewhere that many people contributed to that dry ice works well. You build a frame of 2x4 for 1 or 2 blocks and slowly pull / rest the ice on the tile. Wet the floor first. Comes right up.

For me, I would definitely try it if I ran across a job you describe.

Look at this site, a few entries down.
http://www.houseblogs.net/community/comments.php?DiscussionID=157
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Thanks for the tips. We may try the dry ice but I suppose the habd scraping may not be too bad.
Any particalur brands or styles of scrapers. The long handled scrapers we use to clean jobsites seem to be too blunt on the end?
 
#7 ·
A young fellow from our area invented a gadget he called the "spyder scraper". It is approx3-4 inches wide and fits in a reciprocating saw. I have not used one, but these scrapers have gotten rave reviews from people that have used them. he recently sold the patent for many, many $$$$$$$.
I think they only cost around $10. Let me know the results if you use one

http://www.spyderscraper.com/
 
#8 ·
rent a machine, or buy a heat gun, a torch works well too. You may start the ripup and find the VCT is just going to fly off the floor. The heat gun or torch will reactivate the adhesive and make it easier to rip up, if it is really stuck. It will also let you tear it up in 'larger' pieces without chipping it. Don't mess with dry-ice, you will waste your time.

The million dollar question....Why do you have to rip up the VCT?
 
#9 ·
The first thing is to make sure it is VCT. It could have asbestos in it. If you get caught scraping up asbestos tile the fine will be more than you will make. The old black cutback adhesive also had asbestos in it.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Thanks for the tip on the Spyderscraper.

Also, there is NO asbestos in the tile or glue so we are good there. The customer wants a painted or acid stained floor. I can not promise them anything on staining until I see how the concrete looks after the tear out.

Because this is a small job and something we normally don't do I am thinking rent a machine, scrape it up and move forward.

Thanks for everything,
 
#13 ·
GGCLLC said:
We normally do not get involved with flooring buttttttt, within a basement finish bid I need to include removing about 400 sqft of what I call vct that is glued to a basement concrete floor.
Does anyone have a recommendation on a tool, hopefully a power tool, to remove this? How do the rental store floor stripper/scrapers work?
Click to expand...
If you have black tar like glue it's "cutback". Unfortunately no matter how much you try you will have a residue left behind unless you "scarf "the floor with a sander after removing as much as possible. If you have white or yellow glue use very hot water with liquid laundry soap let the slurry set on glue about 20 minutes and it will come off.
 
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NK Flooring
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