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Spray paint can be undesirable to have on your concrete surfaces, whether it is a result of unwanted overspray from a different project or a remnant of a once desirable design. The good news is that spray paint is pretty easy to remove.
With a few minutes to spare and the right tools and products, you should be able to scrub off the spray paint fairly quickly. Here we list the key things you need for the job and explain what to do with step-by-step directions.
In this post:
Things You Will Need
- Paint thinner/spray paint remover
- Pressure washer
- Scrub brush
- Scraper
- Liquid dish soap
- Clean rags or towels
Step-by-step Guide
1. Clean the Concrete
Before you start scraping or scrubbing off the paint, the first step should be to give it a thorough cleanup. Here a pressure washer will be convenient, which is more so when dealing with concrete driveway.
Cleaning the surface not only removes dirt and dust, but the pressure washer can also help loosen the paint, which makes it easier to remove from the surface. Sometimes a good cleanup with a pressure washer might be all you need to deal with new spray paint.
2. Apply the Spray Paint Remover
Once the concrete surface is clean enough, you now need to spray a paint thinner or spray paint remover on the surface with the paint. These products get deep into the paint to soften it, making it easier to scrub off.
With most of these products, you have to leave the paint on the surface for at least 15 minutes to ensure maximum effectiveness. However, it would help if you did not leave them too long as they can ruin the concrete surface below the paint.
3. Scrub Off the Paint
When you are satisfied that the spray paint remover or thinner has seeped adequately into the paint, you can now scrub off.
You need a good scrub brush, and something with stiff bristles that will not bend or break easily is the best option. Also, you have to put in some elbow grease, and within a short time, the spray paint should start coming off. A wire brush can also be effective here.
4. Scrape the Paint Off
When dealing with old spray paint, a wire or scrub brush might not seem to do much. Hence, you might need to bring out something more rigid, like a metal paint scraper.
For this step, you should add more of the spray paint remover and allow it to sit for a while before you start scraping. Besides using more elbow grease, you also need to be careful when scraping to ensure you do not ruin the concrete surface.
5. Repeat if Necessary
If scraping of the paint still does not seem adequate, you should repeat the process one more time start with step 2 above. However, instead of spray paint remover, you can use other products like acetone or rubbing alcohol.
6. Rinse with Soapy Water
When satisfied with the outcome, the last step is to rinse the concrete surface with some hot soapy water.
Ensure you clean the surface thoroughly as you need to remove all the product you used to ensure it does not continue reacting with the concrete.
Conclusion
Concrete surfaces are highly absorbent, given the material is quite porous. Hence, it acts as a sponge that will take the spray paint deep into its pore, making it harder to remove.
However, it is still possible to remove spray paint from concrete, and you only need to use the right product and some extra elbow grease.
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