Removing underlay glued to concrete floor

[oxfordoz]

I've pulled up a seagrass carpet that was laid over a concrete floor. It had a heavy rubber underlay that was glued to the floor. When the underlay comes up, it leaves a rubber crumb glued firmly to the concrete.

Any advice on a good tool to get it off? It's a big room, so I'm looking for an approach that won't take all weekend. I've had a go with standard paint scrapers and a spade (!) with little effect. Then I had a go with white spirit, which did break down the glue, but I had to use so much that it would cost less to dig out the floor and pour a new one. And after ten minutes I was hallucinating from the fumes. Then in desperation I whacked the steamer-stripper on it, but the resulting mess was unspeakable.

It's like a scene form "Carry on Carpetting here". No, actually "Some mothers do ave em" is closer to the mark. Can anyone chuck any wise words my way?

 

[confidentincompetent]

Sorry can't help much, had the same problem once, just had to make sure spade egde was kept sharp with a file regularly. This post might do better in flooring/

 

[oxfordoz]

Elbow grease it is then! Thanks for the reply.

 

[serge33]

you can buy a floor scraper, has a massive very sharp blade on the end designed to lift tiles, that should do the job, or wickes do a little version for wall paper that will do a decent job. depends how big the room is, i think screw fix do the floor version.

 

[toneekc]

I've seen these scrapers, hers a picture of one.

http://www.amazon.com/Warner-591-5-...f=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1269039038&sr=1-34

Looks evil up close.

T