Removing Flooring Mastics and Adhesives
Flooring adhesives should be removed following removal of the flooring, as failing to remove adhesives can cause problems with the installation of new glued-down flooring as well as floating floors. Further, many new adhesives are not compatible with older adhesives and will not cure and adhere correctly to the subfloor or the new flooring. If the flooring was damaged due to a flood or sewer backup, the contaminated adhesives must be removed along with the flooring, as they could be havens for odor, mold, and mildew growth. In most cases, chemical removal is possible, and it may be required when asbestos, mold, mildew, or other hazards are present. Mechanical removal, which requires specialized power equipment or hand tools, may be chosen for extremely large jobs, but it may not remove the adhesive completely. Oil-based adhesives (or mastics) used under vinyl tile will require a solvent-based remover to fully remove the adhesive, while acrylic/latex-based adhesives found under glued-down carpet can be removed with a waterborne adhesive remover. In addition, there are urethane-specific removers designed for wood glues that are also solvent in nature. Cleaning professionals must consider flammability and odor when using solvent-based removers.