[Babo]

I recently purchased a home with a concrete driveway which has been painted. I would like to have the paint removed. Internet search shows a number of options, including chemical stripping, grinding, media blasting and power washing. Any suggestions for other options, or which is the best approach? Thanks in advance.

 

[mark sr]

I'd probably roll on a chemical stripper, let it set/work and the pressure wash. repeat as needed ..... but this is generic advice having not seen the concrete or knowing what coating is on it.

 

[SPS-1]

Power washing would be the easiest and least expensive, so I would try that first.

Some of that paint will be a little deeper into the pores of the concrete and might be more difficult to reach. My guess is any left-over paint will be insignificant, so just wait for mother nature to break it down, or possibly go to chemical stripper to try to get at anything left over, if you think its excessive.

 

[Old Thomas]

I would try a good pressure washer. If nothing works, soda blasting will do it.

 

[JackOATs]

Take a few 5 gallon buckets and add water a little over half way. Then, take muriatic acid and pour into buckets about 3-5 seconds of pouring each. lightly mix and start pouring the mix evenly on the driveway. Use a heavy push broom to scrub around and then power wash. If some areas still have paints spots take a bucket around with a heavier acid mix with water and brush those areas and then wash. Wear hand and eye protection. Hopefully that helps

 

[mark sr]

Muriatic acid has little effect on paint.

 

[JackOATs]

Typically we use muriatic acid to clean driveway surfaces before re-sealing. I'll admit, I've never had to clean up a painted driveway, but it does effectively remove the majority of gunk on the surface. Since you're a painter, I'll take your word for it.

 

[mark sr]

I found out about muriatic acid and paint yrs ago. I was painting a town house subdivision and one driveway had a large brown stain the approximate color of the trim. Of course I was accused of being a sloppy painter. My boss and the paint rep came out and verified it wasn't paint by cleaning it with muriatic acid - it was battery acid that made the concrete look rusty. I knew it wasn't me but never knew a battery could make that big of a stain!

 

[zoey_w]

We painted a concrete patch in the space behind our place and now I just want it off. This is useful information. I hadn't thought of removing it at all. I think such painting is useful for public spaces like airports.