Any Carpenters or Chemists?

[Cal]

Trying to do some quick fix ups to a house built in the '50s. The last tenant just moved out and another couple want to move in asap.

The new steel roofing went on really well. Took about a day to do.

The problem is; would like to refinish the wood floors that have been hidden under the butt ugly carpets since the '70s. The carpets in the bedrooms pulled right up, and the floors underneath looked real good. The living room and kitchen carpets had rubber backing and were glued down. Ammonia seems to loosen most of it, so it can be scraped up, but does anyone know of something that would work better. Neither WD40 or Clorox worked very well. :? Tempted to spray them down with drano. :x Just trying to get most of it up so it doesn't gum up the floor sander when we rent one, hopefully soon. Thanks for any suggestions......and why would anyone cover up a nice wood floor with glue and carpeting? :???:

 

[Soapweed]

Trying to do some quick fix ups to a house built in the '50s. The last tenant just moved out and another couple want to move in asap.

The new steel roofing went on really well. Took about a day to do.

The problem is; would like to refinish the wood floors that have been hidden under the butt ugly carpets since the '70s. The carpets in the bedrooms pulled right up, and the floors underneath looked real good. The living room and kitchen carpets had rubber backing and were glued down. Ammonia seems to loosen most of it, so it can be scraped up, but does anyone know of something that would work better. Neither WD40 or Clorox worked very well. :? Tempted to spray them down with drano. :x Just trying to get most of it up so it doesn't gum up the floor sander when we rent one, hopefully soon. Thanks for any suggestions......and why would anyone cover up a nice wood floor with glue and carpeting? :???:

Maybe it's warmer when their feet hit the floor on a cold winter morning. :wink:

 

[Ben H]

Isn't drano Sodium Hydroxide (lye)?

If you don't get an answer, call this radio show, sometimes I listen for a little while on the weekend, he'll get you answer.

http://www.masterhandyman.com/

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

Check out this link and scroll down a bit
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http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/floors-and-carpet/floors/how-to-remove-carpet-glue-from-flooring/

 

[burnt]

Katrina here's your chance.

 

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

I don't know if it'll work or not. But Goo Gone gets lots of other gooey sticky messes off stuff. Ya might try that. But I"m thinkin it'll be expensive to do the whole floor. I just bought a spray bottle gell type today. Never have tried this kind before, always used the regular lil bottle of liquid.

Also you might try a heat gun. Warm the glue up, then scrape it off. ???

 

[burnt]

Bump for katrina . . . . :wink:

 

[High Plains]

We removed glue from wood floors with paint stripper, available at most hardware stores. It works really well. Just spread it down on the surface, let sit for several minutes and then scrape up the gooey mess with a putty knife. You can sort of recycle the stripper by scraping it up on your putty knife and then spreading it down in an un-treated area and continue until the gooey mess has collected too much glue and other stuff that it won't spread anymore. Makes the job a little cheaper, as the stripper is not a cheap product. Then take mineral spirits and paper towels and wipe up the residual mess to get back down to a very clean and dry floor that's ready for sanding. You're in for some work, Cal. Hope it's not a huge room!

HP

 

[cowwrangler]

i just got done doing a floor almost like yours,the carpet mat wasnt glued down but it was stapled,i spent 2 hours getting them all out ,then 1 section of the floor had linoleum glued down where the seams were,was black tar stuff,it wasnt goo anymore,was hard so i used a putty knife to carefully scrap it off,was alot of work but the floor looks really nice now,last coat of polyurethane went on last nite

 

[High Plains]

i just got done doing a floor almost like yours,the carpet mat wasnt glued down but it was stapled,i spent 2 hours getting them all out ,then 1 section of the floor had linoleum glued down where the seams were,was black tar stuff,it wasnt goo anymore,was hard so i used a putty knife to carefully scrap it off,was alot of work but the floor looks really nice now,last coat of polyurethane went on last nite

That final brush stroke of polyurethane leaves a feeling of euphoria and a smile on the face! A whole lot of steps and patience finally pay off :!: Good for you, cowwrangler :!: Now just don't scratch it :!: :roll:

 

[oldblood]

Cal, been in const. for 25 years had the same thing in my own house worst and hardest job I ever had to do depens on the wood but you may not get the black out on my maple it sanded off ezer than on the other woods in the softer woods sanded of1/8 to 1/4" and never got it all out and we tried the best stripper you could buy and did not do much. GOOD LUCK YOU'LL NEED IT, ALSO A BIG COMMICAL DRUM SANDER WORKED THE BEST when you get it done you'll think you rented it out to cheap HAVE FUN JD PM me if you want more info

 

[hypocritexposer]

try not to use flammable materials, that will create fumes. Make sure pilot lights are out.

Had a neighbor try to remove carpet material in the 90's, ending up being killed in resulting fire. (he used gasoline)

stay safe.

 

[Sandhusker]

Maybe you ought to have one of those old-time house dances. If you have some good bourbon, I can dance like I'm killing snakes - I'll wear a lot of that plumb off.

 

[Cal]

Great idea, Sandhusker! :lol:

Thanks everyone for the help!

Unfortunately, after I posted that our internet service went completely dead, until sometime this afternoon. :x

After finishing getting bulls pulled today, started back in sanding where I left off last night, the old glue is rock hard. A young man that's been working here this summer spent quite a few hours scraping the floor as well. Right now am wondering....what the hell was I thinking? This may be just as dumb as gluing rubber backed carpet to it in the first place :???: Lucked out and rented a drum sander, like Old Blood suggested. It's pretty aggressive. New renters want to move in tomorrow.....so am going to have to figure out how to finish this project at warp speed! :shock:

 

[burnt]

Great idea, Sandhusker! :lol:

Thanks everyone for the help!

Unfortunately, after I posted that our internet service went completely dead, until sometime this afternoon. :x

After finishing getting bulls pulled today, started back in sanding where I left off last night, the old glue is rock hard. A young man that's been working here this summer spent quite a few hours scraping the floor as well. Right now am wondering....what the hell was I thinking? This may be just as dumb as gluing rubber backed carpet to it in the first place :???: Lucked out and rented a drum sander, like Old Blood suggested. It's pretty aggressive. New renters want to move in tomorrow.....so am going to have to figure out how to finish this project at warp speed! :shock:

Warp Speed? Cal, Cal, Cal! You must call Katrina! I'm sure she would be happy to offer a few suggestions to return the WD40 favor . . . .


:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :nod:

 

[Soapweed]

Great idea, Sandhusker! :lol:

Thanks everyone for the help!

Unfortunately, after I posted that our internet service went completely dead, until sometime this afternoon. :x

After finishing getting bulls pulled today, started back in sanding where I left off last night, the old glue is rock hard. A young man that's been working here this summer spent quite a few hours scraping the floor as well. Right now am wondering....what the hell was I thinking? This may be just as dumb as gluing rubber backed carpet to it in the first place :???: Lucked out and rented a drum sander, like Old Blood suggested. It's pretty aggressive. New renters want to move in tomorrow.....so am going to have to figure out how to finish this project at warp speed! :shock:

Warp Speed? Cal, Cal, Cal! You must call Katrina! I'm sure she would be happy to offer a few suggestions to return the WD40 favor . . . .


:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :nod:

Katrina called this evening on the phone. She is having trouble logging on to Ranchers.Net, and in fact can't get logged on at all. She did request that I relay a message to Cal, saying that WD40 works very well for taking off old carpet. The best part is that it leaves a bright shine on the old wooden floor. So Cal, take heed. :wink:

 

[Cal]

Great idea, Sandhusker! :lol:

Thanks everyone for the help!

Unfortunately, after I posted that our internet service went completely dead, until sometime this afternoon. :x

After finishing getting bulls pulled today, started back in sanding where I left off last night, the old glue is rock hard. A young man that's been working here this summer spent quite a few hours scraping the floor as well. Right now am wondering....what the hell was I thinking? This may be just as dumb as gluing rubber backed carpet to it in the first place :???: Lucked out and rented a drum sander, like Old Blood suggested. It's pretty aggressive. New renters want to move in tomorrow.....so am going to have to figure out how to finish this project at warp speed! :shock:

Warp Speed? Cal, Cal, Cal! You must call Katrina! I'm sure she would be happy to offer a few suggestions to return the WD40 favor . . . .


:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :nod:

Katrina called this evening on the phone. She is having trouble logging on to Ranchers.Net, and in fact can't get logged on at all. She did request that I relay a message to Cal, saying that WD40 works very well for taking off old carpet. The best part is that it leaves a bright shine on the old wooden floor. So Cal, take heed. :wink:

Tell Katrina she needs to unplug all of the portals on her computor and dose them up with WD40 before plugging them back in.....that should help her log in better. :wink:

 

[katrina]

Warp Speed? Cal, Cal, Cal! You must call Katrina! I'm sure she would be happy to offer a few suggestions to return the WD40 favor . . . .


:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :nod:

Katrina called this evening on the phone. She is having trouble logging on to Ranchers.Net, and in fact can't get logged on at all. She did request that I relay a message to Cal, saying that WD40 works very well for taking off old carpet. The best part is that it leaves a bright shine on the old wooden floor. So Cal, take heed. :wink:

Tell Katrina she needs to unplug all of the portals on her computor and dose them up with WD40 before plugging them back in.....that should help her log in better. :wink:

Yeah right little buddy!!!!!!! I'm back with avengance!!!! Thanks Soap for relaying my message.
Macon helped me get back from the dark side.. Thanks Macon!!!