Hi, Any suggestions for removing old tarry black floor tile adhesive from a concrete floor please? ?

I'm removing old vinyl tiles that were laid about 20+ years ago and the black adhesive is very difficult to remove. It's a concrete floor so most suggestions I'm sure would hbe worth a try,


Thanks Hi, Any suggestions for removing old tarry black floor tile adhesive from a concrete floor please? ?
Seem to recal leaving to soak in parafin, then using cat litter to soak up the gungeHi, Any suggestions for removing old tarry black floor tile adhesive from a concrete floor please? ?
Ug.... that's one hell of a job, but it can be done, although its messy.





Boiling water would do it, but the water of course will run every where ~ go to a proper builders merchants and tell them the problem, if they don't have the stuff in stock ~ they will be able to tell you what and where to get it ~ a solvent is best because it tends to stay where you put it, unlike the water which will find its own course around the room.
Try WD40 it worked for me on some wooden block floors that had been laid with pitch......


Cheaper still is White Spirits, again worked a treat and much cheaper (and less smelly) than WD40


I'd imagine petrol would do the job - but make sure your house insurance is up to date first !
Go pick up a shingle remover - usually seen in roofing. That thing works wonders in scraping floors. Try the hot water / solvent ideas while using this thing - it will get you off your knees and allow you put your entire body weight behind the scraper.
There are solvents that will loosen it so you can scrape it up easier. I'm sorry I don't remember the name tho. Any home store should be able to tell you.





We pulled up tiles once to find more tiles underneath. What a pain that was! Good luck to you :)
DO NOT REMOVE IT!! Asbestos based! You can skim coat it with a floor leveling/skimming compound and then it will be encapsulated and no longer harmful.





Note: If the tiles that you removed were approximately 9';x9';, then they contained asbestos as well.
Using a heat gun (paint stripper) to melt the adhesive a little, makes scraping it off much easier. Just remember not to get it too melted, just soften it.
as both the other answerers have said, solvents and boiling water, however if you ask in a flooring shop there is a solvent especially for that.
I had the same problem, it took me ages to scrape it off; until I discovered that if you put boiling water over it it scrapes off very easily.
try methylatedspirits
If all else fails, might I suggest a flamethrower...that should burn it right off!