Change
The paint on a concrete porch may peel off if the adhesion fails. This may occur over time as the old concrete itself crumbles. It may also happen because the painter did not perform enough preparation work before painting, leading to the paint not sticking properly to the concrete. The loose paint may come off easily if you scrape the surface. You can remove the rest of the paint using chemicals.
Step 1
Sand the surface if it is a vertical surface that is covered with a glossy material, such as glossy paint. You should also sand it if it has grease on it -- for example, if the area you are working on is located near an outdoor barbecue grill. Use medium-grit to sufficiently scuff the paint. This allows the paint stripper to work efficiently.
Step 2
Open a can of paint stripper and use a paint stick to stir the contents to get an even consistency. Transfer some paint stripper into a paint tray or a bucket.
Step 3
Apply a layer of paint stripper to the concrete porch evenly with a paintbrush or a paint sprayer. Apply the paint stripper at a rate of 60 to 75 square feet per gallon. Get the paint stripper to completely cover the paint. The paint will separate from the concrete and wrinkle in one to six hours, depending on the environment conditions.
Step 4
Remove the loose paint from the concrete using a scraper. If your concrete porch is large, use a power washer instead to save time and effort.
Step 5
Wet the concrete porch with hot water and a degreaser, which is a chemical cleaning product for removing traces of grease. Scrub the porch with a stiff-bristled brush to work the degreaser into the building material. This method eliminates the grease that the scraper and power washer couldn't remove.
Step 6
Rinse the concrete porch with water to remove paint stripper and degreaser residues.
Tips & Warnings
- Wear eye protection, acid-resistant gloves and a respirator to protect yourself when working with chemicals.
- Apply the chemicals to a small, hidden patch of concrete before you cover the entire porch, to test for any damage before you proceed.
- Reapply the paint stripper if the applied stripper dries before the paint wrinkles.
- Moisten the plants around the concrete porch and cover them with a sheet of plastic to prevent any chemicals from damaging them.
Things You'll Need:
- Sander
- Paint stripper
- Paint tray or bucket
- Paintbrush or spray gun
- Scraper or power washer
- Hot water and degreaser
- Stiff-bristle brush
Photo Credits
- Medioimages/Photodisc/Valueline/Getty Images
