DIY: Remove Carpet Glue from a Concrete Floor

If you've decided to refinish your concrete floor or replace the carpet with another type of flooring, you should plan on removing any residual carpet glue left on the floor. Carpet glue can be difficult to remove: plan on spending some time to work on the floors before adding new flooring.

It is essential to purchase an adhesive remover to complete this project. Soy based adhesive removers will be the safest to use, and work as well as traditional, more noxious varieties. However, it is your choice which remover you wish to use.

If the scope of this project seems a little larger than you can handle, you can always replace the carpet with another carpet. This replacement does not require that the carpet glue be removed before installation.

Step 1: Sweep the bare concrete floor thoroughly, removing any dirt and loose carpet glue.

Step 2: Apply the adhesive remover with a paintbrush over the spots on the concrete floor that are covered with carpet glue. Be generous when applying the adhesive remover for best results. Wait 30 minutes before continuing.

TIP: No matter which adhesive remover you choose to use, wear gloves and eye protection. Also, consider wearing a respirator to block out the fumes. At the very least, make sure you have adequate ventilation when completing this project.

Step 3: Scrape the carpet glue off of the concrete floor using a putty knife with a metal edge. Place the carpet glue in a bucket for easy disposal.

TIP: Check with your local waste disposal company for any environmental restrictions in your area. In most cases, you won't be allowed to just throw away the carpet glue in the regular trash.

Step 4: Reapply adhesive remover to stubborn spots, wait 30 minutes, and then proceed to scrape the glue away. Continue until the carpet glue has been removed completely from the concrete.

Step 5: Mop the floor using warm water. When the water appears cloudy, change it for fresh water. Try to absorb as much of the remaining adhesive remover as possible.

Step 6: Allow the concrete to dry completely before attempting to refinish or install new flooring on the slab.