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Whether you work on or with concrete surfaces, it’s a good idea to know some tricks for removing glue from concrete. This guide will tell you how to get glue off concrete surfaces before and after it cures.
No matter how careful you are, adhesive can end up in unexpected places during DIY projects, such as if you are using a product like Loctite PL 500 Landscape Block Adhesive to bond concrete. In other cases, including floor refurbishment, you will need to know how to remove glue residue from concrete from old applications. You will need to use a different approach depending on whether or not the glue has cured.
Unless they have been sealed, concrete surfaces are porous; that means traces of adhesive will likely remain on every concrete surface even after you perform the steps below.
Whether you have been using a glue like Loctite PL 500 Landscape Block Adhesive or an epoxy like Loctite Epoxy Metal/Concrete, you should try to get the glue off the concrete before it sets. You can do so by cleaning epoxies immediately with acetone before they set, and you can use acetone or mineral spirits for many other adhesives. Follow these steps:
When you’re tackling a big area, try working on smaller patches one at a time if you use solvent/remover: the liquid and glue are less likely to dry before you remove them.
Depending on the adhesive used, you may only need to scrape or sand it away. Mastic, for instance, often comes off with some water and light scraping. However, if you need to remove many other kinds of adhesives, you will most likely need to use a solvent in addition to scraping or sanding:
