Removing Rubber Crumb Deck Coating - i.e. Rubaroc

[1990C4S]

I have a pretty large pool deck covered with 'Rubaroc'. Rubaroc is trade name for rubber crumb with a resin binder. It is applied anywhere from 1/16" to 1" thick over cement.

My surface was poorly applied, there are thin spots in high the high traffic areas, and it has faded. I've top coated it with resin, I've fought with the installer, my colors are no longer available, and I'm tired of seeing little rubber bits at the bottom of my pool.

I'm going to bite the bullet and pay for flagstone.

Now I need to remove 1,200 sq ft of this rubber coating. I think the best way is a propane roofing torch and a 6" wide scraper. When the rubber is mostly gone, I will grind the cement to get rid of the rubber residue. I think a week of work should do it.

Any other ideas? 3,500 psi pressure washer does nothing to it, wire wheel does very little.







?

[Chocaholic]

Perhaps a naive response from a lazy guy but…If you’re installing flagstone, why not simply go over the rubber stuff?

That sounds like a horrific job, especially in the dog days of summer!

[911 Rod]

If we had a thread on worse jobs someone ever had to do this would be no. 1.
I'd rather be working on my roof.
I can't see how all this goo has not crept into the concreate. Heat will push it in further?
Maybe grinding will be needed?
Be nice to find a product that you can just put on top?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by chocaholic

perhaps a naive response from a lazy (and smart) guy but…if you’re installing flagstone, why not simply go over the rubber stuff?

That sounds like a horrific job, especially in the dog days of summer!

fify

[1990C4S]

I could do a dry lay (with sand) of the pavers, but that method is inferior to a wet lay (mortar) in terms of longevity and appearance. It would also cause a height issue and my pool edge.

I expect to grind the surface after....yea, it won't be a fun week.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Be nice to find a product that you can just put on top?

Sure, but I'm married. So....

[rfuerst911sc]

That looks like a very nasty job . The company that put it down how do they suggest it be removed ?

[Tidybuoy]

I have no experience with this but I think you are on the right track with the roofing torch method. After that, I would rent from Home Depot a floor buffer with the diamond grinder blade (that is what I used for my concrete floor in my garage). I would get as much removed before the grinding/sanding to keep as much out of your pool as possible.

[OK-944]

Could you freeze it with dry ice then lift/scrape/chip it off? Maybe heat it with the torch first then "shock" it with dry ice? Or maybe just dry ice on a hot sunny day might do it? Hmmm...

[herr_oberst]

Hah, when I saw the pic in the OP I said to myself, well, just get one of those 3' scrapers and a roofing torch and peel it off in nice even curls like that guy is doing!

Took me a minute to see that it's a bit of an optical illusion.

Good luck with this project. It looks nasty and I don't envy you. Hopefully it will be less tedious than you imagine.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

That looks like a very nasty job . The company that put it down how do they suggest it be removed ?

Their 'service' is the reason I'm removing the RUBAROC, they did a terrible installation, refused to do and warranty repairs, and asked for $10k to fix their shoddy work.

They also refuse to sell material to me to fix it.

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

I have no experience with this but I think you are on the right track with the roofing torch method. After that, I would rent from Home Depot a floor buffer with the diamond grinder blade (that is what I used for my concrete floor in my garage). I would get as much removed before the grinding/sanding to keep as much out of your pool as possible.

That is exactly the plan. 'Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face'.

[rfuerst911sc]

Just thought of a possibility . Not sure the technical name but it's a motorized floor scraper . Has a large flat blade used for tearing up linoleum floors as an example .

[2.7RS]

For the sake of time and simplicity.....

Why don't jackhammer the whole thing and haul it out in a dumpster.

Your are planning some kind of stone anyway.

To me the idea of trying to remove this from what's below sounds not just extremely time consuming but just horrific

[KFC911]

If I were closer I'd offer to help...

But I'd be lying

[gregpark]

I use a 6" razor Scraper for stuff just like that. It has a handle that twists and extends so you're always standing. I buy big packs of razor blades and change out often. I don't try to remove a full swath just a couple inches at a time. That way you can get a good stroke on it and get into a rhythm. It can make removal surprisingly fast. Then grind off the residue

[Evans, Marv]

I'm wondering if the residue would quickly clog a grinding disk - sand or diamond. I'm goind to go with what "2.7RS" proposed. I'm guessing the total expense and time difference would be not that much, and the end product would be superior. I'd at least get some estimates on it.

[908/930]

Have you contacted Rubarock direct to find how to remove it? I do not think torch will work, I think that Rubarock is a thermoset urethane not a bitumen like torch on roofing.

Renting a concrete scarifier would be a way to shred that material off.

[A930Rocket]

Maybe start at an inconspicuous area with the torch and scraper. As mentioned, I’m thinking the leftover residue is going to clog up any sand/diamond wheels. Maybe two weeks…

Also, what about contacting Rubaroc, and complain about the installer. Obviously the installer doesn’t work for them, but maybe a little heat applied to Rubaroc, might get the installer back?

Good luck!

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Maybe start at an inconspicuous area with the torch and scraper. As mentioned, I’m thinking the leftover residue is going to clog up any sand/diamond wheels. Maybe two weeks…

Also, what about contacting Rubaroc, and complain about the installer. Obviously the installer doesn’t work for them, but maybe a little heat applied to Rubaroc, might get the installer back?

Good luck!

Originally Posted by 908/930

Have you contacted Rubarock direct to find how to remove it? I do not think torch will work, I think that Rubarock is a thermoset urethane not a bitumen like torch on roofing.

Renting a concrete scarifier would be a way to shred that material off.

I have tried a torch and scraper, it worked. The torch softened the rubber and made it roll up better.

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Not sure the technical name but it's a motorized floor scraper . Has a large flat blade used for tearing up linoleum floors as an example .

It is possible that a power chisel/floor scraper will work, I intend to try that. I think the manual scraper will be too much effort over too big an area, but it's easy to try.

The scarifier is a last option, it will make too much of a rubber mess. If it works it will throw rubber everywhere.

Originally Posted by 2.7RS

Why don't jackhammer the whole thing and haul it out in a dumpster.

Removing all the cement is not an option, I had to cut two holes for a deck, and that was hours of hell. The entire pad would require a backhoe.

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I'm wondering if the residue would quickly clog a grinding disk - sand or diamond.

I do intend to grind and add a liquid concrete adhesive before the mortar bed gets laid.

[gregpark]

This is similar to the diamond bit concrete grinding pads we use but 16" that fits on a buffer. It won't load up, it tears it up