Guys,
Any chance there is an “easy” fix to getting paint off a concrete front (uncovered) porch. I’m looking to either put down some type of epoxy on top w/ a nice finish or tile it or something else, but I can’t do anything until I get the paint off the porch. Thanks.
Dan
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Replies
I think sandblasting is easy, cuz I have one..you may not.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
You gonna play that thing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Ln-SpJsy0
Sandblast, shotblast, take your choice. Using an angle grinder will leave a rather polished surface that your 'poxy may not take a liking to.
Grinder with a wire wheel, you mean?Previous owner painted the entire exposed foundation wall on my house. Real smart.I don't have a sand-blaster and have never tried using one.
Edited 7/31/2008 6:06 pm ET by Biff_Loman
Actually, I was referring to an angle grinder with a diamond cup.
Dunno about a wire wheel, never tried it.
Wirewheels work rather well, but only for small areas.
Very very small areas. Where eye protection!
Say wha?
http://www.premiumblade.com/Grinding-Cups-for-Concrete.asp
Torch it off.
When I was about 14 I was painting the front steps and my dog got her chain wrapped around the gallon can of BLACK paint, from Trailmobile, the 18 wheeler maker..really GOOD paint.
dumped it. I tried acetone, mek, wire wheels, blow torch, nothing worked..Mom said Ok we'll just live with it.
Next winter, the salt we spread for ice..took it all off. Go figgure.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
You gonna play that thing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Ln-SpJsy0
Funny how that is sometimes. Last thing you would think of does the trick.
MarkH
Carefull of that idea concrete can spall off like a shot from too much heat applied plus the potential of staring a fire someplace unintended..
I too would sand blast using a aluminum oxide grit.. You want something that will quickly remove the paint but not leave tracks or damage the concrete.. Some grit would be too abrasive and damaging..
I have a 5 HP compressor with a 85 gallon tank, I back feed my second 1/2 horspower compressor into the tank and that little puupy can add a signficant length of blasting time before I need to the the compressors catch up..
I'd be nice for tasks like these that require more air than a home compressor will provide to have a 185 CFM compressor like you see on construction sites.. most rental houses have them they also have the sandblaster should you want to go that way.. Worst comes to worst they even have the blast media.
I will tell you from practical experiance don't buy sand in bags! That isn't screened well and small pebbles will quickly clog up the equipment.
Park your car on it. Every time I paint a garage floor it comes right off when DW parks on it...<G>
Wet it down and sprinkle it with TSP powder. May take a few applications but it will take the paint right off.
Paint stripper? Or is this a trick question?
Sorry, I should have explained more. We got quotes to sandblast the area and it was quite expensive and people have said there are different "solutions" that are cheap to the problem. So I decided to ask you guys since I figured you guys would have some good ideas. I'm covering the area anyways, so if it doens't look that grea, that's ok. For instance, someone mentioned to my to use some type of acid, but that sounded pretty instense. The TSP seems like a good solution though.
The TSP seems like a good solution though.
If you try it, be sure to report back here about how well the TSP worked. I've cleaned a lot of surfaces with TSP and I've never noticed any ability to remove paint.
I first tried TSP after an open box overturned in my truck and spilled over on the painted bumper. Heavy dew the next morning finished the job. It stripped off all the baked on enamel on the bumper and on the bottom edge of the door. Works great on metal or concrete.
Have you had a chance to try the TSP? I'd love to hear how it worked out.
Not yet. Long story, but I have to build a shed first, then a fence, then I'll try and get to it. I'll let everyone know how it works out.
Power washer with a rotary nozzle. It took me about 6 hours to get the paint off of a 10 by 20 patio though and about $10 of gas. But it worked.
Handyman, painter, wood floor refinisher, property maintenance in Tulsa, OK
If the paint is well stuck on why not paint it a better color? Then tile.
I'm worried about the mud for the tile adhering to the paint as opposed to the concrete itself. I would rather try and take the paint off, then have to rip out the tiles a year from now b/c I didn't take the paint off. Unless there's a way to make the tiles "stick" without taking the paint off???
SoyGel paint stripper, from FranMar. Spread it on, use a large scraper, then hose off well. A power washer will help.
Heat won't work well on concrete because the concrete is a heat sink. You shouldn't (generally speaking) sand blast masonry either, though maybe the new soda blasting is ok.