Foam insulation removal

[ole farmerbuck]

I had our 40x80 and 31x70 house insulated with foam but the guy got overspray all over the shop floor. Any idea how to get it off of the concrete. I've tried paint thinner,muratic acid, and carb cleaner. I dont think the stains will ever come out and just scraping the spots is a nightmare. What a mess. Hopefully someone here will have the answer.

 

[jdonovan]

I had our 40x80 and 31x70 house insulated with foam but the guy got overspray all over the shop floor. Any idea how to get it off of the concrete. I've tried paint thinner,muratic acid, and carb cleaner. I dont think the stains will ever come out and just scraping the spots is a nightmare. What a mess. Hopefully someone here will have the answer.

I assume you've gotten the foam off, but now find the concrete itself is stained?

 

[cuoffroad]

I don't know of any chemicals and don't know how big the "spots" are but how about a hand held orbital sander (would beat scraping). Just go real easy when you get close to the floor. Maybe off the wall thinking but sometimes that's just how my mind works. :laughing:

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I assume you've gotten the foam off, but now find the concrete itself is stained?

I cant get the foam off without scraping with razor blades which is a lot of work and takes a lot of blades. I need something to disolve the foam.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I did hand sand a spot yesterday and it helped but isnt getting it all.

 

[jdonovan]

from one manufactures web site:

Can I dissolve this foam once it has fully cured?

No. This foam is designed to be completely solvent resistant once cured. Gasoline and acetone will not cause any destruction of this foam. Please prepare ahead of time by covering any objects/areas that you do not want to come in contact with this highly adhesive product. If you do happen to spill some foam and it cures you will have to either sand or scrape the product away.


Which is what I recalled about it.... Once it cures, you've got to use abrasion (sanding/grinding/pressure washing) to get rid of it.

 

[deepNdirt]

I did hand sand a spot yesterday and it helped but isnt getting it all.

So have you let it sit and cure? if anything it should have harden and scrap right up, of course the area in which it was on will have soaked in and left a discolored spot,
How long has the cement been cured?
about the only way to get a stain out from something like this foam would be to as mentioned sand it out, you can rent a motorized cement sander/buffer with abrasive stones, or if it is small area's perhaps sand blasting them....

 

[grsthegreat]

How can I remove foam from clothing, carpet or other surfaces?
If the foam has not cured (it is still moist), it may be removed by wiping with a clean, dry cloth or by using acetone (or nail polish remover containing acetone). Do not use soap and water as moisture helps to cure foam. No solvent will remove cured (dry) foam. If the foam has already cured (itç—´ firm and dry), it cannot be removed from clothing, upholstery or carpets. Cured foam may be trimmed, scraped or sanded from rigid surfaces; however, this may result in a need to repaint or re-stain the surface.
Note: Always test a hidden area before applying acetone to any surface, as damage may result.

 

[2manyrocks]

If it is cured, my guess is it will clog sandpaper. It would be a mess, but I suppose you could remove it with a wire brush on an angle grinder (wearing eye and breathing protection).

Another possible thought might be one of those flat edge floor scrapers designed for removing vinyl floors from wood or maybe a combination of the scraper and the grinder.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I got a bunch of razor sctapers today. The problem is that I was wanting to seal the concrete and or paint some of it. The sealer wont go through this stuff. The cement is 2 months old. I might try a brass brush on an angle grinder. What a mess. Had I known this was going to happen, I would have made the guy tarp the floor.
The guy that did the cement said not to take a pressure washer to it cause it might take the top smooth surface off the cement.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

So have you let it sit and cure? if anything it should have harden and scrap right up, of course the area in which it was on will have soaked in and left a discolored spot,
How long has the cement been cured?
about the only way to get a stain out from something like this foam would be to as mentioned sand it out, you can rent a motorized cement sander/buffer with abrasive stones, or if it is small area's perhaps sand blasting them....

The foam is a little over a month old. it grips to the cement pretty darn good. It doesnt scrape easily at all. Will sanding hurt the cement in any way? I have sanders (used to do body work).

 

[deepNdirt]

The foam is a little over a month old. it grips to the cement pretty darn good. It doesnt scrape easily at all. Will sanding hurt the cement in any way? I have sanders (used to do body work).

the reason I suggest to let the foam cure is as it cures it hardens and as it hardens it looses its tac, (sticky) and is easier to remove,
I finish basements and run across this all the time, although I'm sure the foam I deal with is much older I can simply scrape it off, how ever it does leave a dark stained spot, I have hired out the on some jobs to staing the cement floor and have had to use the abrasive sander to clean it up, actuall this is their tecneek anyway, ( having to sand the complete floor before staining) they only remove a couple /32 to 1/8 inch of the cement, this is to open back up the pour of the cement as well as getting all the imperfections left behind from the original construction of the house,

 

[dave1949]

How can I remove foam from clothing, carpet or other surfaces?
If the foam has not cured (it is still moist), it may be removed by wiping with a clean, dry cloth or by using acetone (or nail polish remover containing acetone). Do not use soap and water as moisture helps to cure foam. No solvent will remove cured (dry) foam. If the foam has already cured (it痴 firm and dry), it cannot be removed from clothing, upholstery or carpets. Cured foam may be trimmed, scraped or sanded from rigid surfaces; however, this may result in a need to repaint or re-stain the surface.
Note: Always test a hidden area before applying acetone to any surface, as damage may result.

This is true, and I have the sweatshirt to prove it. It doesn't wear off or wash off.
Dave.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

the reason I suggest to let the foam cure is as it cures it hardens and as it hardens it looses its tac, (sticky) and is easier to remove,
I finish basements and run across this all the time, although I'm sure the foam I deal with is much older I can simply scrape it off, how ever it does leave a dark stained spot, I have hired out the on some jobs to staing the cement floor and have had to use the abrasive sander to clean it up, actuall this is their tecneek anyway, ( having to sand the complete floor before staining) they only remove a couple /32 to 1/8 inch of the cement, this is to open back up the pour of the cement as well as getting all the imperfections left behind from the original construction of the house,

What kind of foam are you talking about.....closed or open cell? This is open cell. I got a pic today of some of it. I'll post it now.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

This is the stains. The floor against the walls is where the build up is the worst.

 

[AGGIE00]

We are SPF contractors and from lots of experience I can tell you that the best way to prep your floor for staining is to use a floor sander. Foam sticks to everything except galvalume extremely well as it should. Time will not change that. The only effective solvent is called CU6. It will dissolve both open and closed cell foam, but will not remove the residue that has penetrated the concrete. It is also extremely expensive. We spray our gun with it after every use and by the next morning the foam has fallen off.

 

[CurlyDave]

I had our 40x80 and 31x70 house insulated with foam but the guy got overspray all over the shop floor. Any idea how to get it off of the concrete. I've tried paint thinner,muratic acid, and carb cleaner. I dont think the stains will ever come out and just scraping the spots is a nightmare. What a mess. Hopefully someone here will have the answer.

The correct tool for removing the overspray is the telephone, which is used to call the installer and tell him to come out and clean up his mess.

The second tool is the pen, which is used to fill out the small claims court forms...

 

[ole farmerbuck]

We are SPF contractors and from lots of experience I can tell you that the best way to prep your floor for staining is to use a floor sander. Foam sticks to everything except galvalume extremely well as it should. Time will not change that. The only effective solvent is called CU6. It will dissolve both open and closed cell foam, but will not remove the residue that has penetrated the concrete. It is also extremely expensive. We spray our gun with it after every use and by the next morning the foam has fallen off.

But, wont it still look like bird poop spots everywhere even after sanding when I seal it?

 

[jdonovan]

But, wont it still look like bird poop spots everywhere even after sanding when I seal it?

If you sand to a point BELOW where the foam was absorbed into the concrete then you should not have any spotting.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I see. But that would be a lot of sanding! 40x80 with spots everywhere with a 6" orbital sander...... This is a small comunity and I doubt I can find a pro anywhere close to do it.