Cleaning Up Aged Tile Glue along with Blue Bear 600GL
When you're staring with a concrete piece covered in dark, sticky gunk after pulling up older tile, blue bear 600gl may just be the particular best thing that's happened to your renovation project. Coping with mastic—especially that old black stuff that seems in order to have been fused to the flooring by some ancient magic—is usually the nightmare. You're usually faced with two choices: rent a giant floor mill and turn your entire house into a dust bowl, or use a few incredibly toxic chemicals that require a gas mask plus probably take the few years out of your life. Luckily, this particular soy-based remover provides a third path that doesn't involve heavy fumes or clouds of gray dirt.
What Specifically Is These things?
For those who haven't spent hrs scrolling through flooring forums, blue bear 600gl will be a mastic removal made primarily from soybeans. It used to be known as Bean-e-doo, which honestly was obviously a pretty appealing name, but the particular rebranding hasn't changed the formula that will people have depended on for years. It's designed to sit on best of old adhesives, soak in, plus break down the bond between the glue and the cement.
The good point about it is that it's virtually odorless. If you've actually used traditional color strippers or adhesive removers, you know that "chemical smell" that lingers in your nose for three days. With this particular product, you don't get that. It's safe to use indoors without needing to seal off every in-take in the home or worry regarding the kids and pets breathing in something nasty. It stays wet with regard to a long time, too, which is definitely a huge advantage over solvent-based cleaners that evaporate just before they even begin working.
Why Soy-Based Beats the Old School Chemicals
Several years ago, if you wanted to eliminate asbestos-containing black mastic or heavy-duty rug glue, you achieved for the most powerful solvent you can find. Those solvents were effective, certain, but they were also incredibly flammable and toxic. blue bear 600gl requires a different method. Because it's bio-based, it's not heading to catch fire, and it isn't off-gassing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in to your living room.
From an useful standpoint, the soy-based nature of the product means it has a very reduced evaporation rate. This is a game-changer for big tasks. You can spread it out over the large area, and it will maintain doing work for hours. Solvent-based products often need to be reapplied constantly because these people dry out so quick. Using this stuff, you put it down, let it do the heavy lifting, and come back whenever the glue provides turned into the liquid slurry.
How to Use It Without Producing a Massive Clutter
I'll become honest with you: also though this things is safer and simpler to breathe about, it really is still the messy process. You're turning solid, dried-out glue into a liquid soup. When you aren't prepared for that, issues could get out of hand quickly.
First, you want to clear the region and make sure you have enough blue bear 600gl for the work. Usually, an one gallon covers about hundred to 200 rectangular feet, but that will depends heavily upon how thick the particular glue is. In the event that you've got the thick layer of "black butter" mastic, you're want to become generous with the app.
You apply it simply by pouring it onto the floor and spreading it about using a squeegee or even a long-handled clean. You want the consistent, thin layer—think regarding the thickness associated with a dime. Once it's down, the most important action begins: you wait around. This isn't a "spray and wipe" situation. You usually need to let it sit for a minimum of 45 minutes, yet for the difficult stuff, two or three hours is better. Some people even let this sit overnight when the mastic will be particularly stubborn.
The Scraping plus Cleanup Phase
Once the blue bear 600gl has had time in order to work its miracle, the mastic may look like it's melting. You can test a little spot with a putty knife; in case the glue comes up easily like comfortable chocolate frosting, you're ready to go.
This is where the particular squeegee becomes your best friend. You want to force everything liquefied crud into a pile and work with a dustpan or even a flat spade to scoop it into a heavy duty trash bag or perhaps a bucket. Don't try to use a store vac for this unless you want to spend the next four hours washing the vacuum's courage. It's thick, it's oily, and it's messy.
Right after you've scooped up the bulk of the particular waste, you'll become left using a slim, oily residue on the concrete. This is actually the part where many people get frustrated, yet it's actually easy to fix. You just need an excellent degreaser or a dedicated surface cleaner. Many people use Blue Bear's own 700DG cleaner, but a strong mixture of water and a powerful meal soap or TEASPOON substitute may also work. You want in order to scrub the flooring until the "slick" feeling is long gone. If you're planning on staining the particular concrete or placing down a new glue later, getting this particular residue off is absolutely vital.
A Few Issues to Keep in Mind
While I'm a big fan associated with blue bear 600gl , it's not the magic wand. Right now there are a few "gotchas" that a person should know before you begin.
To start with, it's oily. Because it's made through soybeans, it acts like an oil. When you have porous concrete and you don't clean upward the residue properly, it can sink into the pores. This usually isn't an issue if you're putting down the floating floor (like LVP) or brand-new carpet, but in case you're planning on painting or epoxy-coating the particular floor, you have to be incredibly thorough with your degreasing.
Secondly, it works best in moderate temperatures. In the event that your subfloor is definitely freezing cold (like a garage in the middle associated with winter), the chemical substance reaction slows down significantly. It'll nevertheless work, but you'll be waiting the lot longer for this glue to soften up.
Could it be Worth the Cost?
You may notice that blue bear 600gl costs a little bit more compared to generic gallon of "goop remover" in the big-box hardware store. Yet you have in order to glance at the value associated with your time and your health. When a person use this stuff, you aren't fighting the particular clock against evaporation, and you aren't giving yourself the headache from smells.
Also, the coverage is usually surprisingly good. Because you don't have to keep re-wetting the floor, the single gallon goes further than you'd expect. When a person element in the reality that it can make the scraping procedure significantly less back-breaking, the particular price tag usually feels justified by the time you're halfway through the room.
The Environmental Side of Issues
It's great to use a product that doesn't seem like it's killing the planet. Being environmentally friendly and non-toxic means that you don't possess to worry very as much regarding disposal. Of program, you still need to follow local rules because the mastic you're eliminating might contain business lead or asbestos, but the remover alone isn't increasing the dangerous waste to the blend.
In case you're doing work in the basement or perhaps an area with poor air flow, the safety factor of blue bear 600gl cannot be overstated. In the past, people would pass out from fumes in small bathrooms or crawlspaces while trying in order to strip floors. Along with this soy-based tech, that's just not the concern anymore.
Final Thoughts intended for the Weekend Soldier
If you've got the floor task coming up, don't let the potential customer of old stuff ruin your inspiration. Using blue bear 600gl is probably the most "civilized" way in order to handle a major job. It requires a bit associated with patience during the soaking phase, and the cleanup requires some elbow fat with a degreaser, however the end result is a clean, bare concrete ground without the dangerous drama.
Keep in mind: spread it even, let it sit lengthy enough, plus don't unintentionally avoid the particular final wash. If you follow those actions, you'll be prepared for your flooring in no period, as well as your lungs will definitely thanks to choosing the soy path over the chemical one. It's one of those rare DIY products that actually does just what it says on the bottle, which usually is a breathing of fresh air—literally.