Soybean-Based Mastic Remover Is Safe and Effective

Bean-e-doo, a soy-based mastic remover for concrete, is as safe to use as regular cooking oil and has virtually no odor.

Many of the mastic removers on the market for concrete use harsh petroleum-based solvents to dissolve all the gunk. They may work well on mastics, but they aren’t so great for the person applying them. If the proper precautions aren’t taken, they can pose serious health hazards, not to mention the strong odors they produce, especially when used indoors.

For contractors looking for a solvent-free remover that can be used safely on concrete indoors or out, Bean-e-doo (so named because it is made primarily of soybean oil) is a hazard-free and cost-effective alternative. “Bean-e-doo has virtually no odor, is nonflammable, and will not burn the skin if it gets on the user,” says Jason Davenport of Franmar Chemical, Bloomington, Ill., the manufacturer of the product. “In the process of making Bean-e-doo, it goes through a few different processes, and one of those is it becomes a food-grade cooking oil. So using it for removing mastic carries no more hazards than using cooking oil.”

Since it's an oil, Bean-e-doo also has a very low evaporation rate so it remains on the surface longer. “What is nice about this is if a contractor is up against a very difficult mastic to remove, Bean-e-doo stays in place and keeps working for upwards of 48 hours if needed. Petroleum-based mastic removers evaporate quickly, leaving the contractor having to reapply more product, thus spending more money.”

Simply pour Bean-e-doo right from the container onto the floor. After the remover goes to work dissolving the mastic, you can easily scrape away the residue for disposal.

All type of mastics can be removed with Bean-e-doo, including stubborn asbestos black mastic.

Franmar claims that Bean-e-doo will remove mastics of all types, including asbestos black mastic, vinyl carpet mastic and ceramic tile mastic. The remover can also save time and money by eliminating the hassle and mess of grinding. One gallon of Bean-e-doo will generally cover 100 to 200 square feet at a cost as low as 11 cents per square foot.

After all the mastic has been removed, finish by mopping the floor clean.

How to applyBean-e-doo is easily applied by pouring it, undiluted, directly onto the floor. Then you simply use a broom to move it over the surface. In most cases, Bean-e-doo takes from an hour to overnight to work, depending on the mastic type and thickness. After the mastic has softened, it can be removed with a long-handled scraper or squeegee. Any remaining mastic residue in cracks or crevices can be soaked up with a commercial absorbent. Because Bean-e-doo is completely biodegradable, the residue is safe for disposal in landfills.

Bean-e-doo will not etch the concrete, but it can darken it slightly, especially if the concrete is very porous. However, when used on impermeable concrete, Bean-e-doo should not darken it at all, according to Davenport.

For more information:To view Bean-e-doo product videos and download tech data and tip sheets, visit www.franmar.com.

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