Recommendations on how to remove acrylic, oil, water-based paint from concrete walls

In Soviet-built houses, the walls of bathrooms, kitchens and toilets are decorated with paints and varnishes. It can be difficult to remove them when renovating premises.

To remove paints concrete walls can be removed in a variety of ways.

The choice of a specific option for removing paint and varnish composition also depends on the type of paint that was used to treat the walls. We'll tell you how to remove paint from concrete walls in this article.

How to remove old coating?

At removing paint from walls in apartments Both mechanical and thermal and chemical methods can be used. In the first case, the paint is removed using a spatula, hatchet, chisel, or hammer.

A drill with attachments specifically designed for working with concrete can also be used to remove paintwork.

Use of hand and power tools

This method uses:

• hammers;
• hatchets;
• chisels;
• spatulas;
• electric drills.

Using the first four tools carries less risk of injury. Less noise is generated when working with hand tools.

An electric drill is a dangerous, but more effective tool.When working with it, a loud and unpleasant noise is created, which must be taken into account.

Hatchet and spatula

These tools are used according to the following scheme:

1. Take a small ax, the sharp part of which sits firmly on the handle.
2. The tool is positioned to the wall at a right angle with a slight turn.
3. Light but quick taps are made on the wall. Between blows there should be intervals of 3 to 5 mm.

The remaining fragments of paint and varnish material are scraped off with a spatula.

Chisel and hammer

With this method you need:

1. Lightly tap the wall with a hammer first. There should be not very deep dents on it. The paint itself should crack after tapping the surface.
2. Fill a bottle of water and put a spray bottle on its neck. Wet the walls with water. Wait for the water to soak into the wall.
3. Scrape off the paint softened by water with a chisel.

A hammer is more reliable than an axe. When you tap a wall with an ax, the blade becomes dull and wears out faster.

Drill with wire brush attachment

This method uses an electric drill with a special attachment called a brush. Necessary:

1. Purchase a metal stripping attachment (brush). Outwardly, it looks like a grinder circle.
2. Fix the brush on the drill.
3. Place the nozzle against the wall and run the drill at low speeds over its entire surface.

Drill with concrete bit or metal chain

An electric drill with a crown is used to remove paint from walls. It is a metal cylinder.The crown is specially designed for removing paint and varnish material from concrete surfaces.

Working with a drill is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. Use a hex wrench to secure the bit to the drill bit. It is important to move the crown on the drill forward so that it is inside the crown.
2. Place the electric drill with the bit firmly against the wall. At low speeds, start moving the bit along the concrete surface.
3. Go through the drill and bit again in those areas where paint remains.

When using this method of removing paint and varnish from a wall, you must wear a mask and goggles. During the paint removal process, harmful dust is released into the air.

A drill with three metal chains attached to the drill bit can also be used to remove paint and varnish material from concrete.

With this method you need:

1. Unscrew the drill bit.
2. Tighten the first nut on it. Then string three metal chains onto the drill. Three three-link chains are enough.
3. Screw the nut over the three chains strung on the drill. Be sure to tightly tighten another nut with a wrench so that the chains do not fly off the electric drill drill during operation.
4. Bring the drill and chain to the wall so that it is parallel to it.
5. Turn on the electric drill at low speed and walk it over the entire surface of the wall. When the chains hit the paint, they will knock it off in whole pieces.

How to quickly remove thermally?

This method uses a hair dryer.Its effect softens the paint on the wall, after which it can be easily removed with hand tools.

With the thermal method, the following steps are performed step by step:

• The room is cleared of all items that may be damaged by heating.
• The hair dryer is turned on so that a stream of hot air from it is directly directed to the wall. The surface is heated until the paint begins to bubble.
• Use a spatula to quickly remove paint that has softened from heating.

When using the thermal method of removing paint and varnish material from walls, it is necessary to use gloves, goggles and a respirator, since heated paint begins to release toxins into the air.

Removing old paint from a concrete wall using a hair dryer and spatula, video instructions:

Chemical method

This method uses solvents and removers.. When using a solvent or remover, the following sequence of actions must be followed:

1. Spread a sheet of paper in the room.
2. Take a container of solvent and pour it into a painting container.
3. Take a roller, dip it in solvent, and then squeeze it out using the perforated surface.
4. Roll the roller only once on the concrete wall with paint. Be careful not to let the solvent get on the floor.
5. Wait for some time, which is specified in the instructions for the solvent or remover.
6. Remove softened paint from the wall with a spatula.
7. Repeat the procedure if there are several layers of paint and varnish on the wall.
8. Wipe the treated wall with soapy water to completely remove any remaining solvent or remover.

When processing, you should wear gloves along with a respirator.. If you do not use them, burns of the skin and mucous membranes may occur.

Hardware and construction stores sell solvents and removers of the brands “COLORRIP”, “Prestige” and others.

Features of removal taking into account the type of paint coating

Before removing water-based paint from a wall It is recommended to moisten it thoroughly. In half an hour you can start working. Under the influence of liquid, the water-emulsion composition softens, and it is easier to scrape it off with a regular spatula.

If varnish was applied over water-based paint, then before removing it, you must first apply a solvent to the wall.

After removing the varnish, you can moisten the wall, and then remove the paint with a metal spatula.

Water-based paint should be removed from walls mechanically with extreme caution. With such work, there is a high probability of damage to the wall plaster. The thermal method for removing water-based paint is not always advisable, since a construction hairdryer takes longer to heat up the walls than usual.

Acrylic compounds are best washed off with solvents. The best option is white spirit. Acetone may be an alternative. If the acrylic coating was applied less than a day ago, it can be easily removed with a sponge soaked in water. If the paint on the wall is more than a day old, then it is better to use a degreasing compound to remove it. After applying it, you need to remove the acrylic with a metal brush.

A special remover dissolves the oil composition well, but only if the paint on the wall is no more than two years old. Also, this paint can be easily removed from walls that have been previously heated with a hair dryer.

Recommendations and prohibitions

When removing paint and varnish material from concrete surfaces The following points should be taken into account:

• when removing paint from a wall with an ax, it is recommended to periodically change the angle of its tip;
• Due to its durability, it is not recommended to remove paintwork that is more than 2 years old by chemical methods;
• when using drills with attachments, they must not work at full strength;
• To avoid scratches on the concrete from hand tools and drills, it is recommended to carry out work without excessive force and with fast movement.

Using the thermal method, it is prohibited to heat surfaces where there is electrical wiring.

Conclusion

The mechanical method of removing paint and varnish materials from concrete walls is universal. It is applicable for all types of paints. Chemical and thermal methods are effective for removing acrylic-based compounds. But both methods will be less effective at removing old oil paint.

The safest method of removing paints and varnishes from concrete using hand tools. The chemical method, like the thermal method, is hazardous to health and requires precautions.