We just had the linoleum removed from our kitchen floor to refinish the perfect 100 year old oak floors underneath. The floor guys said they couldn't sand off the glue (Never heard of that!). It was that yellow carpet glue. So our guys used, 747 adhesive remover all over the floor. 2 problems, A) I think they saturated it and B) they didn't use a degreaser after as the manufacturer recommends. The manufacturer, Sentinel, said to use Simple Green and/or 409. I've tried several applications but the grease still keeps seeping up between the boards making a grease stain. It's been 3 days. Someone suggested TSP. I'm ready to cry! I'm so mad at myself for not making the floor guys try to sand it off. It's always worked in the past and didn't look that bad to me. Deep breath. Damage done.
Have the original floors been ruined? Should I just keep applying degreaser? Wait it out (with no stove or kitchen!) It TSP safe and worth a try? Any advice would be extremely appreciated!

The only reason I can think of that the glue could not be sanded off is that some glues contain asbestos. I have been refinishing wood floors covered with glue for over 40 years and have never chemically stripped one.





I have had to clean up some messes people have made using chemicals. One group I remember used cat litter to clean up the glop. It usually comes down to letting it settle down and sanding the floor down below the bulk of the problem and then sealing it.

We also have never chemically stripped a floor, I think it would be best to let the floor and stripper to dry as long as possible and resand.

I agree with Mickey. The more chemicals you put on this the longer it will take to dry out so it can be sanded. Fortunately, chemicals do not remove any wood so you have wood to work with.

My guess is they didn't WANT to sand up the glue. I don't blame them; I hate doing it too.

As far as sanding glue, I wont do it with my machines. If a homeowner insists on sanding glue, the only way I opt to do it is with rental sanders. That being said, I can't see any reason to try using chemical strippers. that makes no sense to me.

USE A WALLPAPER STEAMER. This is probably too late for you, but maybe not for someone else. My kitchen floors were covered with old tar paper linoleum. We took them up carefully, leaving that ugly black tar on them. They looked just like the pictures on here of the hallway and stair area. I used a wallpaper steamer and a scraper. You will need to wear a mask to avoid breathing in all the melted tar. Leavie the steamer on for aout 3-4 minutes on each spot, then move it to steam another spot on the opposite side while you work on the spot you just steamed. The steamer simply melts the tar and glue and I was able to scrape it off easily. It needed a couple of treatments to melt the glue and residual tar. I was able to wipe it off with paper towels. Afterwards, I moped the whole floor several times with Murphy's Oil Soap before I sanded, stained, and refinished it. I must say, t cleaned up beautifully and was a lot less work that scraping, and healthier than using chemicals.

I'm with Paul n this..no jobs are worth $6000 machines and hundred s of dollars in repair/replacement parts.

unless it is very dry and thin coat,I may give a whirl..I've made that mistake too many times in the past trying to appease a customer..

The jobs that usually require this are small and not big enough money to warrant the headache..

I run Hummels and the pride and quality of their cut...not going to sacrifice it for someones old kitchen.
either it gets chemically removed...by us for additional fees or by the owner themselves to a sandable state.


as for "making the floor guys sand it off"...that's is some pretty serious comment..

you couldn't make me do anything AND you obviously couldn't make them..

You used the wrong strippers..all you need was adhesive remover gels and a putty knife..then neutralize with mineral spirits..
or you could've had your guys use a grinders and belt sanders to get it skimmed off and ready for sanding.

as for the resolution..

vacuum and do a rough sand and let sit..til dry..then attempt sanding if it pulls again..You got problems.