What can you use to take off a sealer off concrete?

Answer 1

Removing sealers can be one of the most daunting experiences for the contractor. Typically a removal will include a lot of elbow grease, solvent fumes, lots and lots of scrapping and much aggravation. We did a little research on the Decorative Concrete Forums and compiled a few suggestions from contractors that have been successful removing sealers. Using a cotton sheet and solvent: Instead of using paint removers and scraping the old sealer off by hand, you can simply use a flat white cotton sheet and a solvent. Place the sheet on the sealed surface, spray the active ingredient such as a Xylene, Toluene or other strong solvent onto the sheet and soak it real well. Wait until the solvent is fully dried and remove the sheet and the sealer will come right up with it. You may need to repeat several times but according to a few contractors it works like a charm. How does it work? Well, the solvent penetrates thought the sealer, re emulsifies it and then the sealer will soak the sheet, after it dries it is stuck to the sheet and not to the floor. It may need to be repeated because if the sheet is not completely flat you'll miss some areas. I suggest you go to a few garage sales and buy some old sheets so your wife won't be upset you are using your good sheets from home. Also use only white sheets as colored ones will discolor and may stain the floor. If you are going to use this system always make sure you have extinguished all pilot lights and flames, have enough ventilation and wear proper respiratory equipment. Always follow extreme precautions when dealing with flammable solvents. These commercially available strippers and sealer removers were highly recommended by contractors: Soy Gel from Franmar

Hydrostrip From ICI

Zep Citrus Strip

Napier's Removall

KS3

Citraclean. We suggest you do some testing before using any of these strippers before acid staining, we know that Bean-e-doo mastic remover will remove glues and mastic very effectively but it darkens the concrete and affects the stain. Test!, Test!, Test! For more information or questions please visit the Decorative Concrete Forums. Answer Depending on how old the sealer is and whether it is indoors or outdoors. Sealer can be removed with a Citrus Degreaser. Normally this type of product is found at construction supply stores for the professional. The bid home centers probably will not have the product you need. Most companies that make concrete sealers will also have a degreaser. To remove sealer from interior concrete, you must have some tools for the job: scrub brushes, a floor "swing machine" or polisher with a black scrub pad, a wet/dry shopvac, good quality string mop and bucket, plenty of masking material. First you must mask the area if there is finished trim or painted walls around the area. You only need to mask about 12" up from the floor. Apply degreaser with a water brush in a manageable area (about 4' square to start until you're comfortable) lightly brush into the concrete so it is evenly spread. Wait about 30 minutes, add some clean water with the string mop just letting the water fall on the area. Using the floor machine, scrub the area very well. Use scrub brushes in tight corners. Suck up the excess with the shopvac. Once you become comfortable with the size of area you can handle, you can increase the volume. The 30 minute waiting time CAN NOT be shortened!! Remember, the sealer is IN the concrete, not just on top of it. Once the process is complete for the entire floor, mop the area with lots of clean water. You will know if you are not removing all of the sealer if while scrubbing, it becomes very slick and you can't control the floor machine. If this happens, apply more degreaser and let it sit longer.

For outdoor concrete, basically the same method only you can apply the degreaser with a Chapin sprayer, add water after 30 minutes and scrub with the floor machine, then power wash the excess. The degreaser is citrus based so it will not harm the environment. For more information, you can contact me at lbzrogell@cox.net.