how to remove foam carpet underpad stuck on a concrete floor?

I'm trying to remove carpeting that was laid down in a basement, probably sometime around 1987. Or maybe even earlier.

The carpet ripped up nicely, leaving a layer of the foam underpad stuck to the concrete floor. And this stuff is really, really stuck. It might have even been glued on.

Any tips on removing this stuff from the concrete floor that doesn't involve use of explosive, mind-bending solvents?

I'm using a shovel to scrape it off the floor. Thought there might be an easier solution. :confused:

 

By the sounds of it, your carpet was glued on. Sorry to answer your question with a question but what are your now flooring plans for the basement? Depending on what you want to do your work involved or lack of could vary a lot

 

It was most likely glued down. I believe your shovel method is the best. I remember using one of those wide blade ice scrapers used on drive ways. Looks like a hoe but the blade is flat rather than bent. Basically the same as the shovel only takes longer. Cussing helps!
Or dynamite used sparingly.

I forgot to ask Tedy's question. But still the foam needs to be all removed no matter what you do later.

 

Tedy, Cat, I'm going to leave the floor bare concrete. For now. Maybe put in DRIcore sub flooring in the far, far, future. Covering the DRIcore with laminate, maybe. But that's too far off to think about right now!

 

Kerosene and matches.

Unfortunately, the shovel is probably your most effective solution.

 

When I was in high school my uncle painted 12" B & W checkerboard squares on his basement floor. On grandpa's he painted it battleship grey. Both were some kind of high gloss epoxy.
The only house I ever had with a basement was natural cement except for the tiled shower floor.
Last year when we went back to Illinois Grandpa's basement had a hot tub and a bar. Don't remember what was on the floor. Sure looked different than the model RR I had there. Of course grandma and grandpa hadn't lived there in many years.

 

Kerosene smells. Coleman white gas would be better for inside.
PS Check to make sure your homeowners is up to date and I didn't write this!:banghead3:

 

Yes, considering you now want to leave the floor bare concrete. How ever I would still suggest a coat of sealer paint once you are done, a nice thick/thicker coating

 

I've had to do something similar to this before.

Get yourself a wide drywall knife. If you can find one that has a long handle on it (meant for mudding tall walls), use that.

You won't be able to get off all the foam. Follow up with some kind of 'Goo Gone' or other similar substance.

 

Get a floor scraper like Denny is talking about. Pretty much a putty knife like Krash is talking about except it has a handle like a shovel but it is a little heavier than scraping with a shovel...13 years of being a brick layer got me very familiar with one. It is not going to be easy but a lot easier to control than a shovel.

 

Agree 100% on the drywall spreader, much more flexible and with a thinner edge compared to a shovel for the "dig in" factor.

Not sold on the Goo Gone or any other cleaners/chenicals though based on what furture plans are for the floor. The amount of extra work for clean up let alone the cost of what ever you choose to use would be insane and labor intense. True, you can't just scrape and leave because you still would have tiny bits of the foam/glue sticking to your shoes to then track it through the rest of the house. I still suggest keeping it simple and once scraped seal whats left with concrete floor paint. dump it on, roller it around, let cure, and your done

 

Thanks guys. I have several drywall spreaders gathering dust here in my basement. I'll give one of 'em a try, then maybe go to my local Home Depot to see if they have one with a long handle later this afternoon.

 

So Jim is off to Home Depot or Lowes with holes worn in the knees of his jeans, sore back, and bruises on both knees. His toes have an almost permanent bend from being on hands and knees for days. His sinuses plugged and head hurting from breathing old foam particals and 30 year old glue.
But he shall return with a long handled scrapper to finish the job. Hope he got some concrete sealer while he's down there in the basment slaving away.
All time that he could be in the garage playing with station wagons.
The life of a family man is not an easy one!

 

Fooled ya! I worked on building a door for the workshop instead of scraping the basement floor. Saving the basement floor for a rainy day.

But I found this while buying lumber at the Home Depot:



A 48" floor scraper made by A. Richard:

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/48-concrete-paint-scraper/968556

Tried it out for a bit, works great. Better than the shovel!

 

And if the blade is strong enough it will work good on icey sidewalks.
In Illinois the way our drive slanted toward the garage and a drain came off the house I had to constantly scrape ice from the walk to the back door.
The available scrapers looked just like a garden hoe shaped but like your scraper.
Don't know what I did with it when we moved to Florida. Hope I don't need it down here.