Astroturfing 101: How to Remove Astro Turf Glue

Astroturfing is the process of installing Astroturf to your patio or deck, and especially to concrete. The main reason for astroturfing is to make a fake lawn, that will remain green for years. Unlike a real lawn, Astroturf is very low maintenance, and brings with it not nearly as many problems. Astroturfing does have its flaws, because it can become worn out, stained and torn. After you have pulled off your old Astroturf, you wind up with a lot of excess glue that is stuck to the surface of your floor. It is possible to remove that excess adhesive, but it will take a little work and elbow grease to do so. This article will show you how to remove this adhesive that served your old astroturfing project so well.

Step 1 – Remove Stuck Pieces of Astroturf

No matter how well you removed the Astroturf, you will always be left with tufts of turf still stuck to the floor. Since most astroturfing projects are completed using whole rolls of Astroturf, the installation is easy but, as mentioned, the removal is sloppy. After you have cut through the Astroturf and pulled off the pieces, remove the extra tufts left on the floor. To avoid any hazards with other removal techniques, the simplest technique is often the best. Boil water on a stove and then transfer it to a bucket, or use the pot you boiled the water in. With the water still hot, pour it around the tufts of Astroturf. Using the putty knife, work the remnants off the floor.

Step 2 – Remove the Adhesive

With the extra pieces of Astroturf removed from the floor, you will be left with the adhesive. This will be raised off of the floor, which makes placing new flooring difficult. It will also make having a bare floor unattractive. To remove the other bits of adhesive, you need to reconstitute the glue. This is done by heating the glue until it is soft. Using the heat gun, wave it over the adhesive steadily, at a distance of a few inches. Work in small sections, as you do not want the adhesive to harden. Once the adhesive has softened, use the trowel to scrape it off of the surface. Continue until the adhesive has been removed. Allow the surface to set before continuing to the next step.

Step 3 – Finishing Up

Even though you have removed the majority of the adhesive, you will still have a thin layer of adhesive on the surface. You can remove this by using a high-grade adhesive remover, found in any hardware or craft store. Pour the adhesive remover over the areas that need to be cleaned up and allow the remover to sit on the area for several minutes. Use the clean rags to scrub and then wipe away the adhesive.