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According to a statistical report, it has been proved that over 70% population globally live in and use structures made from nothing but concrete. Be it the high-rise buildings or the highway roads in the US, most structures are made from this building material due to their longevity and strength.
Even though concrete surfaces are covered with primers before paint application, sometimes, paints are applied directly on the surface. For example, if you see the highway roads, the side lanes are painted with white streaks of line. Similarly, in many architectural buildings, spray paints are applied directly to the concrete.
Concrete has a high affinity for water-based paints. This is why these paints don’t wear off easily, unless and until an external force is applied. When the paints are oil-based, scraping and other techniques can be used to remove the paint.
But the same can’t be said about the water-based colors. One needs to use a special technique/tool to remove paint. And the tool is nothing but a pressure washer.
But how to remove paint from concrete with just a pressure washer?
The topic is debatable. That’s why in the below sections, we have discussed everything you should know about removing paint from concrete using the washer.
Can you use a pressure washer to remove paint from concrete?
Many people wonder, will a pressure washer remove paint from concrete or not?
The answer to the question is yes! Over the years, pressure washers have proven to be effective in removing the paints from concrete surfaces perfectly. In fact, the tool removes the paint in a more effective way as compared to other tools or techniques.
However, before we move to our main discussion about will a pressure washer remove spray paint from concrete, let us introduce you to concrete material first.
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We all have heard the word “Concrete” being used frequently in the construction industry. So, what exactly is the material and why is it used widely?
Well, concrete is a mix of two main elements:
- An aggregate which is the solid part of the material. It can be colorful stones, ash, grinded coal, stone chips, and others.
- A binding material which is basically cement.
Due to the combination of these two particles, concrete has high durability, strength, surface robustness, and longevity. Now, when paint is applied, it can be done in two ways.
- Spray paints are mainly used to draw figures and structures on the concrete walls. These are mainly done as a part of graphitti or any other form of art. The spray paints once applied can get dried up quickly as they get easily absorbed by the concrete surfaces.
- The other type of paint which is usually used on the concrete structures directly without a primer or coating is water-based colors. Here, water is used to mix the dyes for obtaining the required color. One uses a brush to apply the paint for drawing lines and patterns on the concrete surfaces. Since it’s water-based, multiple layers need to be applied till the color darkens and becomes prominent against the concrete background.
Now, coming to our main topic of discussion about how to remove paint from cement floor!
Pressure washer is a kind of cleaning tool where a motor is present inside which pumps the water out of the tank supply. Once the water stream crosses the pump valve, it enters a narrow tube which increases the pressure. Hence, water coming out of the jet’s nozzle has quite a high pressure which can remove anything from concrete, cement, tile, or any other flooring surface.
Since the water is ejected with high pressure, it has the ability to remove the paint from the surface. The force which is incident on the surfaces forces the paint molecules to get mixed with the water such that they can drain off easily. So, if you are concerned about how to remove paint from concrete without chemicals, do not worry any further.
Get the best pressure washer from the market and you will be able to remove the paint coatings from the surfaces easily.
How to remove paint off concrete surfaces?
Before we describe the steps for removing the coatings, you should know how much psi to remove paint from the concrete surfaces. According to surveys, using a pressure washer within a PSI range of 2000 to 4000 will be ideal for removing the paint from the concrete/cemented surfaces.
Next you have to get the right pressure washer. You must check the configuration to ensure that the nozzle’s pressure is enough to strip the paint off the concrete surface.
Since we have already discussed the initial pre-works that need to be done, we can now focus on can pressure washer remove paint from concrete. Below, we have explained the entire process in steps which will clarify all your doubts at once.
- Preparing the concrete surface
The first work which needs to be done is cleaning the concrete surface from where the paint needs to be removed. Concrete surfaces are usually exposed to dust, debris, and other types of impurities and SPMs. You need to clean these off first.
Do not use water to clean off the dirt or dust as it will create problems later on. Use a broom, a scraper, or a wiping cloth to wipe off the dirt from the surface. In case the paint is oil-based, you need to use a craping tool to remove the loose paint as much as possible.
This is because oil paints are a bit hard to remove from the concrete surfaces using the pressure washer.
- Cleaning the surrounding areas
As the water coming out of the nozzle will have a high pressure, it can easily damage the surrounding elements. For example, if potted plants are present, the water stream can easily knock them off. Similarly, if wood is present in the vicinity, the water jet will destroy the wooden material also. So, before you start with the actual removal work, move everything out of the way from the surroundings.
- Use a paint stripper for softening the applied paint
A paint stripper is a glued strip which you can attach to the painted portion on the concrete surfaces. If you are concerned about how to remove paint drips from concrete, do not worry any further. The strips will help in loosening the paint molecules by softening the coats.
Hence, once you spray the water jet over the surface, the colors can get washed away easily. This step is usually preferred for those surfaces with paint drips, small painted areas, or sprinkles.
- Connect the pressure washer to the water supply
The next step is to connect the pressure washer with the water supply. Usually, these tools come with a water tank. But if you have a water source nearby, you can connect the inlet nozzle with the supply.
Using a large water supply is preferred in cases where the surface covered with paint is large in area. This will help in constantly spraying the water over the paint without stop.
- Direct the nozzle and spray the water
When you are all ready, direct the outlet nozzle on the painted surface in a way where the water jet will directly fall on the surface. If you have used strips, remove them beforehand.
Move the nozzle slowly as you see the paint coming off from the surface. The paint won’t get cleared in one wash. You need to repeat the process at least 2 to 3 times to ensure that every speck of paint has come off the surface.
Final thoughts
Many people ask what is the best way to remove paint from concrete. In reality, several tools and techniques are used. But the pressure washer has become the most effective. Not only can it remove the water-based paints but also works perfectly on spray paints and oil paints.