How can I remove floor tile cement from floor? Is there a tool/chemical etc?

FrankFalcon

We are having a new kitchen at home and at the same time having the kitchen floor re-tiled. So, I just spent a large part of the weekend taking up the old floor tiles, but… as you can see from the photo, there’s a lot of patches of the old tile adhesive still stuck to the original black floor. It is very stubborn and difficult to remove and actually looks and feels like concrete. I’m hoping those of you who have been in a similar position previously, have some tips on getting this stuff up. Is there a specific method? A chemical, a tool?  As you can see from the photo the stuff is only a couple of millimetres thick and looking at it it appears that it would come off with a paint scraper but it won’t. It’s stuck VERY well to the Black floor. 

Now, I’m hoping this won’t sound like the craziest suggestion ever but I was thinking about buying a cheap hand held electric planer…the sort you would use to plane a door down with etc.  My thinking is that if I set the planer blade to 1mm or something it would remove the old cement, not damage the Black floor and (hopefully) not damage the blade too much  

Any tips guys? 

Thanks in advance. 

Eldi_Dos

If you have access to a blowtorch or a barbecue use one to heat a spade up and see if that will shave the adhesive off.
Make sure you have good ventilation while trying it.

stuart45

There are tools that can help. Armeg do one for an SDS. For large areas HSS hire out a floor tile remover. There are also concrete planers. Soaking it down and leaving it for an hour softens it up.
You might find a scutch hammer is OK for chipping away at those small areas. 

grumbler

                              

Jonboy_1984

Flat shovel and a bit of brute force to slide it along the ground.

If you can find a square month shovel style, the handle is normally angled to make it easy to run along the ground in this manner.

ThisIsWeird

Hi FF.
Do not try your proposed idea
Do you have someone lined up to do the tiling? If so, ask them to pop in and give advice.
They will have done this sort of thing numerous times, but should guide you if you want to DIY the prep bit (I suspect they'd thank you...)

FreeBear

FrankFalcon said: Now, I’m hoping this won’t sound like the craziest suggestion ever but I was thinking about buying a cheap hand held electric planer…the sort you would use to plane a door down with etc.  My thinking is that if I set the planer blade to 1mm or something it would remove the old cement, not damage the Black floor and (hopefully) not damage the blade too much

Do not use an electric planer - The blades are high speed steel and will last seconds as soon as you try using it on concrete.

A black adhesive suggests a resin of bitumastic compound. In which case, a hot air gun should soften it enough to remove the worst of it with a scraper. Just make sure the area is well ventilated. Don't use a blowtorch on it. Heating the concrete floor with a blowtorch could see small stones exploding in your face and going in to an eye or setting fire to the adhesive.

Eldi_Dos

If adhesive is bitumen based, brush in swarfega and leave for awhile, this will soften it up and make easier to remove.
Messy job though.

stuart45

It looks like it could be an asphalt floor with a cement based adhesive. It looks like you've got most of it off.

Ganga

What about a bolster chisel and a mash hammer but wear safety goggles.

greyteam1959

Use a spade.