old floor tile adhesive

[merseygull]

Good evening, I'm new to the forum but would appreciate some advice... I'm taking up a tiled kitchen floor with a view to replacing with similar... having taken up a smaller tiled floor, the tiles came up (in bits) but there was TONS of adhesive that I was unable to remove easily.. (the underlying floor is wooden chipboard)

I ended up boarding over the whole floor but am naturally reluctant to have to do that again , especially over such a large area (14 ft. square)

is there an easy way to get the adhesive up?? (it's that *tile on wooden floors" fixative available from most DIY stores)

Thanks for reading, ATB,J.

[Crooksey]

Afraid no real easy option. Although a 4" hand scraper and a day on your knees should get the worst off.

People cutting corners tiling onto floorboard always creates problems such as theese. Hence why plying first is the best solution on wooden floors.

[DIY_Johnny]

I found an SDS with a tile chisel bit like here good but its easy to get the angle wrong and dig into the floor especially if SDS power too high. Never really gets it all off so end up using the scraper to finish. I guess Chipboard flooring is easier to make a mess of.

I got a much cheaper one that the one in my link above, just search ebay.

[merseygull]

Thanks for the replies, guys... looks like it's going to be hard work today!!!
ATB,J.

[royaloakcarpentry]

You posted that at 09:51hrs, so you already missed 2 hours work out of the day

[merseygull]

Actually, RAC, as you can see from my profile, I have another job... stuff had to be done

Anyway, have "knocked off" for the day... half the tiles up (with the aid of a power chisel)
absolutely humungous amount of adhesive under every tile.. have got one of those four inch blade thingys and have started working away... it's going to be a long slog...

There's the DIY equivalent of a nobel prize waiting for the person that invents a tile adhesive softener/dissolver...

Oh well... more tomorrow

ATB,J.

[merseygull]

Sorry, RAC = ROC

[royaloakcarpentry]

Ha ha....didn't know you were at work. Obviously surfing behind the boss's back lol.

You can get floor scrapers which have a mahoosive blade to them. Should be able to hire one. other option is to buy one from a flooring supplier.

[merseygull]

EUREKA!!

after a really tough day I've managed to clear HALF the glue... my hands are killing me...in sheer desperation I tried something 10 mins ago...

And the glue now strips away from the floorboards like butter!!!!!

The floor will be finished tomorrow!!

ATB,J.

[paulal]

Mersygull-pray tell please share the secret of your Eureka moment? we are all waiting in suspenders here................

[Crooksey]

Lets just hope this solution doesn't cause the chipboard to blow :)

[merseygull]

Well, job completed... at 2000 hrs!! have had a bath, chill out with KFC and a few well-earned beers.....

The solution?



















































































































































































Nitromors!!!!

(Now I can hear howls of derision!!!!)

Tried it on a small area last night and it works a treat!!

The cement was so thick.. almost 5mm in places... the power tool did little but scratch the surface and judging how much pressure to apply without gouging the underlying boards was impossible...

The cement was a continuous sheet in many places...

Painted the Nitromors over the cement (didn't bother to sweep up any small debris), leave for 5, yes 5mins only.. and then scrape away...the "other debris" soaks up any "excess" and the amount available to work into the underlying board is minimal and didn't cause ANY damage!!

JOB DONE!!!!

ATB,J.

[royaloakcarpentry]

That is what Mapei recommend for getting grout off travertine..................nitromores.

[merseygull]

I'm feeling well pleased with myself tonight!!

ATB,J.

[DIY_Johnny]

just a curious, if adhesive is stuck hard to a floor and not so thick, could one use a levelling compound to get a smooth finish and tile on that?

or does me = stupid