How to Remove Paint From Concrete Walls Without Chemicals
- 1). Use a rubbing stone purchased from a hardware store, if the paint is contained in a small area. Wearing a pair of gloves, move the stone in small circles over the paint, applying firm pressure until the paint begins to come up from the surface of the concrete.
- 2). Obtain a sandblaster from your local equipment rental shop to use if the area is too large for rubbing stones.
- 3). Protect the area by covering nearby items with tarps, taped into place. Since you're blasting a hard surface, make sure you cover an adequate work area, as reflected abrasives will travel. Protect your skin and eyes by wearing long-sleeved clothing, boots, a face mask, work gloves and goggles.
- 4). Remove the air compressor hose from the sandblaster. Close all the sandblaster valves before adding the sand. Fill the sandblaster with silica sand using a funnel, and then close the fill hole tightly. Reattach the air hose, open the air and nozzle valves, and then pressurize the sandblasting tank to manufacturer tolerance levels. Wait for the tank to become completely pressurized before blasting.
- 5). Point the nozzle of the sandblaster toward the concrete wall. Keep the nozzle at a distance of 8 to 10 inches from the wall. Open the sand valve and then spray the painted surface with the silica sand using short bursts. Work with a back and forth motion, directing the sand against the surface as the paint is blasted off.
- 6). Use rubbing stones to remove small patches of any paint remaining after sandblasting. Remove sand from the area, wash the wall clean of residue and allow it to dry.
