What to Watch: Videos on Removing Carpet and Tile
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First, it's out with the old!
Before you can even think about cleaning and staining an existing concrete floor, you'll have to rip out any carpet or tile that's hiding it. Bob Harris of The Decorative Concrete Institute talks about some of the challenges, such as disposing of carpet and tile in a responsible manner and removing adhesives, tile mastics and grout. View these videos:
Removing carpet
Removing vinyl tile
Removing ceramic tile
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Questions to Ask When Selecting a Floor Cleaner
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Many commercial cleaning products are sold for concrete floors, but there is no one miracle formulation that will fit all situations. Be sure to read the label on the container to get answers to the following questions:What substances will it remove?Is it environmentally safe?Does it emit fumes ornoxious odors?Is it compatible with thechemical stain you will beapplying?Is it safe for indoor use? |
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Top Tips for Cleaning Concrete Floors Before Staining
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Hi ,
 Once homeowners see how beautiful and easy to maintain decorative
stained concrete floors can be, they often are eager to rip up their
grungy carpets and yellowed vinyl tiles to expose the concrete
underneath. But those newly naked floors
often need extreme cleaning before they can be adorned with chemical
stains. Carpet glue, tile mastics, caulk,
grease stains, paint drips, and rust spots are just a few of the
contaminants you may encounter. Read these tips from concrete staining pros for doing the job right.
Jim Peterson,
The Concrete Network
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Be thorough!
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 With chemically stained floors, the consequences of substandard
cleaning can be difficult to remedy. Unlike paints and coatings for
concrete, which are opaque and can disguise many evils, acid stains are
transparent. Any unwanted residue remaining on the floor is likely to
show through the newly applied stain. Chemical stains also need to penetrate into the concrete in order to react. Any materials that inhibit
stain penetration
will prevent the color from taking. |
Do a water test
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Throw a little water on the surface in several locations to see
if the concrete absorbs water. If it doesn't, curing membranes or sealers
may be blocking the entry of stains and must be removed.
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| Choose the right cleaning method |
There are several methods you can use to clean concrete floors. Scrubbing the concrete surface with a general-purpose cleaner or degreaser is often sufficient for removing light to moderate soiling. For stubborn con  taminants like carpet glue, tile mastics, rust or oil stains, and sealers, you'll need to resort to more aggressive measures, such as applying chemical stripping agents. For advice, see How to Use Chemical Strippers Properly. |
Don't acid etch
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One cleaning method you should never use if you plan on applying an acid-based stain is an acid wash, such as hydrochloric or muriatic acid. This method lightly etches the concrete surface to improve the bonding of paints or coatings. But it's not a good solution for acid stains because it will interfere with the chemical reaction of the stain and prevent full color development. See Is It OK to Use an Acid Wash Before Staining? |
Remove all cleaning residue
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After using degreasers, chemical strippers, or other cleaning compounds, be sure to clean the floor again to remove all residue. Thoroughly rinse the floor with clean water, then use an industrial wet vac to pick up all water and debris.
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When all else fails ...
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 Occasionally you may encounter deposits that refuse to surrender to your best cleaning efforts. If scrubbing or chemical stripping won't remove the gunk, you may need to resort to mechanical removal, such as using a floor scrapper or grinder. However, be aware that mechanical abrasion can also remove a layer of cement paste, which will cause the stain to react differently. Grinding can also leave swirl marks in the slab if you're too aggressive. | |
