What is the best method for stripping a concrete floor that has heavy mortar where ceramic tile once was, and heavy mastic where carpet was glued down. I cannot use a chemical because they are putting the same material back down and I am afraid the chemical will retard the re-application.

You can rent a floor chipper, looks a bit like a lawnmower that will chip away your mortar. The mastic is another story. Even 25 year old mastic, my last month project, is too soft to chip. It still has elasticity and, in my case, nearly perfect adhesion. I had to resort to a 4 in. razor scraper and hand work. I had a scraper that holds the blade at a slight angle and was able to use a hard rubber mallet to bump through tough areas. Slow going and hard on the knees, about 5 minutes per square foot.

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Originally Posted by BCorbin5

What is the best method for stripping a concrete floor that has heavy mortar where ceramic tile once was, and heavy mastic where carpet was glued down. I cannot use a chemical because they are putting the same material back down and I am afraid the chemical will retard the re-application.

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God Bless You!! The best way... HIRE SOMEBODY TO DO IT!! I'm not kidding!

Yep, this was, is the worst job I have taken on in years. I'm working in the boonies and there aren't many contractors or day laborers available. We proably should ask what the HO is planning to put down as the new floor. It may determine just how smooth the surface needs to be for installation.

The razor scrapper is the way to go for the carpet adhesive.. We used to used them but they were long handled and had a 6 in blade so you could use them standing up.. check out a tool rental place. Stay away from solvents the wrong one could make it even sticker (Learned this the hard way. As for the cermatic tile adhesive.. if it is mastic use the razor scrapper.. thin set use a ice chopper first then the razor scrapper..

You can rent a buffer machine and diamond tip pad from the construction rental stores for the grout. Then a razor scroper for the finer smoothing out. I used a product from Lowe's to clean up the mastic it was similar to goo be gone did an excellent job but kind of messy. The floor looked great after I was done but my hands didn't, wear gloves. Not a chemical hazard, don't need to air room out. Has no odors or fumes, just can't remember the name of it.