Removing glue from old scotia on fireplace hearth

Ekim · 11 Mar 2019 at 15:34

I am replacing the flooring in my lounge. We had some horrible old laminate flooring down and around the fireplace hearth scotia was glued to hide the gap between the flooring and the hearth.

I've removed the scotia, but am left with stuff on the hearth. Keen to get this sorted before I lay the carpet, does anyone have any suggestions, I don't want to damage the hearth though. Are there any products we can use to get rid of this stuff?

You can see some photos here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6Tno55S35XMNQwah8

SimonR · 11 Mar 2019 at 16:04

You will want some kind of solvent to dissolve it or soften it. Brake Cleaner is pretty good, but make sure that you open the windows id you use it.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 11 Mar 2019 at 16:31

Looks like mastic/silicon, is it soft to touch?

If so easiest way to get most off is a razor blade. Gently get it behind and run it along, it will lift 99% off very easily. Depending on the surface you can then sometimes rub off the remainder, using a pencil eraser

If its hard then thats a bit tricker, but still try to remove as much as possible physically before using chemicals, as they need to soften / dissolve whats there reducing the amount dramatically should always be the first step.
You can get silicon eater for example, but physical removal is using way faster and way better. Just requires a little effort and time.

NoobCannon · 12 Mar 2019 at 07:24

Surely if your fitting carpet up to a fireplace the resulting house fire will remove the problem for you.

Or is this a gas effort/non wood fire

a1ex2001 · 12 Mar 2019 at 08:45

NoobCannon said:
Surely if your fitting carpet up to a fireplace the resulting house fire will remove the problem for you.

Or is this a gas effort/non wood fire

I've had carpet up to a fireplace for a decade and my parents have had it for at least 40 years and still no house fires you just need a sacrificial rug for the inevitable spots and a fire guard for when you are out of the room!

Ekim · 12 Mar 2019 at 09:12

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
Looks like mastic/silicon, is it soft to touch?

If so easiest way to get most off is a razor blade. Gently get it behind and run it along, it will lift 99% off very easily. Depending on the surface you can then sometimes rub off the remainder, using a pencil eraser

If its hard then thats a bit tricker, but still try to remove as much as possible physically before using chemicals, as they need to soften / dissolve whats there reducing the amount dramatically should always be the first step.
You can get silicon eater for example, but physical removal is using way faster and way better. Just requires a little effort and time.

Most of it is hard, all the soft stuff I pretty much pulled off already. Tried getting in behind it with a blade last night but didn't have much luck.

NoobCannon said:
Surely if your fitting carpet up to a fireplace the resulting house fire will remove the problem for you.

Or is this a gas effort/non wood fire

It's an old gas fire which has been decommissioned as we never used it. Just a decorative feature now.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 12 Mar 2019 at 09:15

Ekim said:
Most of it is hard, all the soft stuff I pretty much pulled off already. Tried getting in behind it with a blade last night but didn't have much luck.

It's an old gas fire which has been decommissioned as we never used it. Just a decorative feature now.

Ok whats the heath made of? If its a hard material, then you probably need to chip it off. I would use something like a plastic scraper and small or rubber hammer. Just go slow and work it down.
The good thing about hard things is they will chip off its just finding the right method and being slow and careful. You want to get the angle as low as possible, but be concious of the hearth, hence a rubber mallet is best

Ekim · 12 Mar 2019 at 14:04

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
Ok whats the heath made of? If its a hard material, then you probably need to chip it off. I would use something like a plastic scraper and small or rubber hammer. Just go slow and work it down.
The good thing about hard things is they will chip off its just finding the right method and being slow and careful. You want to get the angle as low as possible, but be concious of the hearth, hence a rubber mallet is best

Yeah its a hard material, couldn't tell you what though.

I'll pop down B&Q this weekend and pick up some bits to see what I can chip away from this.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 12 Mar 2019 at 14:12

Ekim said:
Yeah its a hard material, couldn't tell you what though.

I'll pop down B&Q this weekend and pick up some bits to see what I can chip away from this.

If it was me I would start with a plastic scraper, if this is good enough the risk of damage is minimal (ie like a car window scraper)
Assuming the above doesnt work, something like this with a rubber mallet
https://www.toolstation.com/axus-retractable-window-scraper/p54199
If that doesnt work (possibly blade will damage too easily) then a normal wood chisel, very slowly and gently
something like https://www.toolstation.com/wood-chisel/p40558, go as wide as possible to spread the load. You may even be able to do its slowly by pushing, or just tapping with your hand
I cant repeat often enough this is definately one of them take it really slowly and cautiously jobs

If you get the majority off you should be able to finish off quite easily with one of the scrapers I linked above

DXP55 · 15 Mar 2019 at 16:32

If that really is glue have you tried glue remover - Or tar and glue remover that you use on cars.