Carpet glue on tile and grout (probably ceramic)

[Condog]

How do you remove carpet glue off tile & grout?

I got a call from an apartment complex.
Their regular cleaners tore the carpet out, removed the tack strips, but left before taking off the glue residue.
The carpet had been installed over tile and grout, the tack strip nailed down in the grout lines.

This morning the cleaning outfit closed the doors and told the apartment manager they wouldn't be back.

Apartment maintenance man thinks its ceramic tile.

Glue is around the perimeter. I have a CRB, 175, Trinity w/tile brush.
I also have the Turboforce I won here on Mikeysboard a few weeks ago, too.
What machine do you recommend, and what chemicals, please explain method too.

I quit my full time driving job 5 weeks ago, so this 140 unit apartment would be a big deal for me.

 

[hogjowl]

I hate you quit your job for that

 

[Condog]

The driving outfit was sending us out in tractors that wouldn't pass an inspection.
Sorry, time to go.

 

[Cleanworks]

Probably have to scrape it off.

 

[BIG WOOD]

That stripper that comes in the metal gallon cans in the polyurethane dept. at lowes should do it. Get a few different scrapers, good air movement so you don't suffocate, and a special breathing mask for that stuff

 

[Desk Jockey]

If it were easy the maintenance man would have done it. It's going to be a real pain to get up. Not impossible but probably not profitable.

I think you have to decide how much do you trust that you will now be their carpet guy.

AND is that a good thing if you are? Did the last guys close up because they weren't charging enough? Did this complex contribute to their problems?

Sounds like it could be a great complex to have. Provided they don't abuse you. If they just give you the grunt work but nothing else, then this will be one better to have passed on.

 

[BIG WOOD]

I say go buy a gallon, test a small 2X2 foot section, see how long that takes, and justify your price on that.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Any kind of stripper will not budge it. It will need scrapping. Put a scraper disc on that 175 and be carful if it’s tile.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

However, they’re the ones who put glue on tile, so never mind about careful.

 

[BIG WOOD]

Any kind of stripper will not budge it. It will need scrapping. Put a scraper disc on that 175 and be carful if it’s tile.

That stripper that I'm talking about is a thicker, almost gel substance. It's not like the liquid stripper that we use for vct wax

 

[Dolly Llama]

The driving outfit was sending us out in tractors that wouldn't pass an inspection.
Sorry, time to go.

From what I hear, if you can pass a physical and the rest of the DOT regs, you could be driving tomorrow

so it ain't like you can't get back in the seat tomorrow somewhere

...............................

cured glue on ceramic tile.
what kind of shape is the tile that they threw carpet over it??


you have padding glue snakes to clean up?
Tack strip nailed and glued?


I don't know what rotary scaper Kenny is referring to, but the one's I'm familiar with scratch the chit out of ceramic tile, and possibly chip it at grout edges

hard brittle glue residue or rubbery?
be a big PITA either way .
Hands and knees scraping first, otherwise, brushes or pads will load up with goo

you need a solvent that dissolves cured glue.
Xylene, toluene and other wicked solvents you need to be extremely careful with


here's what I'd suggest, Tony, don't give them a price.
Tell them you want to do a small section no charge to be sure they'll be happy with results.


gives you opportunity to try several things, as well as knowing how much time and effort.
...so you know how much to quote them


..L.T.A.

 

[hogjowl]

^ Saiger?

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Oh they will scratch if you’re not careful. But it can be done without scratching. Tile will need repairing where tack strip were, so include scratches that might happen. Just saying. That’s what my rich customers would do.

 

[Dolly Llama]

That’s what my rich customers would do.

your rich custys laid carpet over ceramic tile?

..L.T.A.

 

[hogjowl]

It’s a relative term

 

[Cleanworks]

It’s a relative term

You have strange relatives.

 

[hogjowl]

That’s relative too
Yours aren’t funny

 

[Condog]

Tenants son put everything in moving truck and is paying for every day.

They agreed to $1,300 for 707 sft.
I don't know until after if -
I will be new guy.
If I bid correctly.
If I will be glad or learn a lesson or both.

 

[Condog]

They are in a hurry, so they didn't want to wait for me to caulk baseboards.
They signed off on a waiver for swelling baseboards.
Instead of using Turboforce, I'll be using Trinity on tile to avoid over-wetting the floor.

They say they want to talk about becoming their new cleaner.
Hopefully it works for all parties.

 

[Condog]

The textured tile makes a razor only one step.
I used Sentinel 707 among others, but it worked best w/o removing color seal off of grout.
I spray floor, let wait 10-15 minutes, because in Phoenix it dries up too quick to wait longer.
I cover with plastic drop cloth so it can sit.
Then I have a 50 lb. weighted plate for my 175 and a ring to stop splatter.
I'll use that with fiber pads underneath plate to scrub.
Vacuum up w/shop vac.
Scrub edges w/ doodlebug.

Follow w/Trinity tile brush and Simix to clean.
Neutralize w/StoneTech Stone & Tile Cleaner.
Follow w/fiber pad to shine, if needed.

Long day.

I'll post pictures this weekend.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

That probably would have come off with a hot stripper and a high pro pad. That don’t look like much. And yes, my rich customers would do something like that if they didn’t like the “sound”, one way or another. My rich Catholics will do anything

 

[Condog]

I sprayed Sentinel 707 or 747 (the one the Home Depot had) and covered with plastic so it wouldn't dry until I got to the section.
The plastic allowed me to take time I needed in one section before rushing to another.

 

[Condog]

The remover was to be removed with a good rinse.
I ended up using old soaked glad pads, followed by a dry one to absorb.

Then I was able to do the Simix, Stone Tech method to clean.

Turboforce would have been so much easier.

But the baseboards needing caulked and the damage from removing carpet tack strips took that option off the board.

 

[Condog]

6:30 am to 7:30 pm

 

[Cleanworks]

6:30 am to 7:30 pm

I hope they paid you enough?

 

[Condog]

$1,300

It's a 140 unit facility.
Owner has 14 other properties, and they're looking for a new cleaner.

 

[Condog]

Mike told me to get a 175 when I first started.

I'm grateful for that advice. I got a 50lb. drive plate to polish with.
Both made this job easier.

 

[BIG WOOD]

$1,300

It's a 140 unit facility.
Owner has 14 other properties, and they're looking for a new cleaner.

All I hope for your sake is that they pay you on time, preferably in 30days or less. These bigger unit facilities tend to have a big list of already prepared excuses when you call 35days after, then 45, then 60, then 90 with a threat. I know you need the customer, but don't put that need in front of needing an honest customer

 

[Condog]

All I hope for your sake is that they pay you on time, preferably in 30days or less. These bigger unit facilities tend to have a big list of already prepared excuses when you call 35days after, then 45, then 60, then 90 with a threat. I know you need the customer, but don't put that need in front of needing an honest customer

Thanks for the good advice.
Pat McCracken said the same thing.
They told me 7 to 15 days out.

 

[BIG WOOD]

Thanks for the good advice.
Pat McCracken said the same thing.
They told me 7 to 15 days out.

Hold them to that agreement. It's not surprising to me to see another company like this all of a sudden losing their cleaning company. Most of the time, they just got fired for being a crappy customer. Keep us informed, I hope they are good to you