Best Paint Remover for Concrete – Review of Top 5 and Buying Guide
It isn’t easy to find the best paint remover for concrete. There are different types of paints, and people have different needs. When you look for the stripper to use, there are factors to consider in finding the most suitable one. But to help you, I’ve included in this review a list of 5 top-rated paint removers that work on concrete.
Top 5 paint remover for concrete
Dumond Chemicals, Inc. 3332 Advanced Paint Remover – The Best Product
Dumond 3332 Advanced Paint Remover is at the top of the list for its numerous excellent features, especially the biodegradable formula. It is made without methylene chloride, so it is not carcinogenic. It means it is relatively safer to use whether indoors or outdoors.
This paint stripper is considerably safer for the user, the concrete, and the environment as well. I liked that it can remove multiple layers, especially since I meant to use it to strip paint from concrete. As it is odor-free and water-based, it certainly is easy to use without any discomfort.
According to Dumond, it can remove up to 15 coats of paint coating. I haven’t tried that myself, but I sure hope it truly does. I also liked that you can use it without neutralizing the surface. This means Dumond 3332 Advanced Paint Remover is undoubtedly easy to use.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Eco-friendly
- Safe to user, substrate, and environment
- Non-carcinogenic
- Odor-less
- Truly works well
Cons
- Need more than a couple of application
Sunnyside 6581A ADVANCED Paint & Varnish Remover – The Second Best Product
Another safe to use paint stripper in this list is Sunnyside 658G1A Advanced Paint & Varnish Remover. This gallon of paint stripper is a ready-strip remover formulated without NMP or methylene chloride. Thus, it is relatively safe to use indoors or outdoors, both for oil-based and water-based paints, stains, and varnishes.
According to Sunnyside, it can remove 7 layers of coating per application, although I am not sure if it does. However, it does work well on removing paints, but you’ll need several coatings. You can safely use it on concrete, as well as wood, plaster, stone, brick, metal, veneers, masonry, and marble – an all-in-one remover.
It is low-odor, so it is excellent to use if you are sensitive to smell. With a gallon of the paint remover, you can cover about 50 square feet. The stripper will take at least an hour to work, so that might be a bit of a disadvantage. Still, the remover’s thick, no-drip formula and easy water clean-up are huge pros.
Pros
- Safe for users and environment
- Works on oil- and water-based paints
- Works on various surfaces besides concrete
- Low-odor
- Water clean-up
Cons
- 60-min activation time
MAX Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper – The Budget Pick
MAX Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper is another non-toxic paint stripper you can safely use at home. It claims not to use chemicals such as NMP and methylene chloride, meaning it serves well as a safe alternative for removing paint and varnish.
It is also gentle on most substrates, so you don’t have to worry that it damages your concrete. Another thing that is likable about this paint stripper is it doesn’t have harsh fumes. It actually has a pleasant smell, so you may not even need special ventilation. It is still best to be sure, so make sure always to wear your gear.
This particular paint stripper has a skin-safe formula. Therefore, it is easy and safe to use for both home and professional applications. It works wonders on oil-based paints, so it is a good choice for stripping paint from concrete.
Pros
- Work wells on oil-based paints
- It doesn’t have toxic chemicals
- It has a nice fragrance
- Skin-safe
Cons
- Said to work on stains, but not so much on paints
Orange Sol 10151/52 Contractor Solvent – The Upgrade Pick
Orange Sol 10151/52 is a solvent that can remove almost anything on concrete. It is aptly chosen as the upgrade pick paint remover as it can dissolve even adhesive. I imagine this is expected given that this is a contractor solvent, a truly heavy-duty remover.
If allowed to sit for a little while, it can remove almost anything. That includes paint, adhesive, varnish, grease on laundry, etc. It is said to be safe to use on hands, but it is still better to be careful because it is solvent. I’ve also noticed that it doesn’t smell bad at all.
Since it is a solvent type of paint stripper, you might get a bit reluctant to use it. However, it does seem to be good enough and safe enough to use after trying it myself. If you choose it, do make sure to use complete safety gear.
Pros
- Can remove almost anything
- Quick-acting
- It doesn’t burn hands
- Smells great
Cons
- It doesn’t work on everything
- Not so easy to remove
Paint Stripper Super Remover – The Best Paint Tripper for All Types of Paints
This is one of the most potent paint strippers on this list that doesn’t use toxic chemicals like methylene chloride. This remover from D SUPER REMOVER uses a patent-pending formula similar to strippers with methylene chloride. But even though it uses different ingredients, it promises to work just as well.
According to the manufacturer, it works well on concrete, metal, and wood, capable of leaving a natural finish to the latter. It said to be even gentle on antiques, so that’s a great plus if you want to use it there too. When it comes to cleaning, you can do so with water. Perhaps its best feature is it works within just 15 minutes.
The manufacturer behind this paint stripper has been making high-quality paint removing products for at least 4 decades. That gives you an idea about their expertise, which I think is excellent.
Pros
- Fast-acting
- Works on various surfaces
- Safe formula
- Advance stripping ability
Cons
- Strong fumes
Buyer’s Guide – How to Find the Best Paint Remover for Concrete
There are a few things you need to understand when looking for the best paint remover for concrete. In this section, I will discuss the different types of paints and how they work. This way, you can pick the specific paint remover that is up to your project.
Types of Paint Strippers for Concrete
Concrete is porous, meaning it absorbs paint quickly. This particular characteristic makes it removing paint from concrete particularly hard. For this reason, it is a bit of a challenge to find the best paint stripper suitable for concrete. On that note, below are the types of paint strippers that may work well for that.
Liquid Paint Strippers
The primary type of paint removers is liquid paint strippers, which have three categories – solvent, biochemical and caustic.
Solvent
This is the most versatile paint remover, relying on chemicals to break down the bonds between the paint and the surface. It can do well in stripping water-based and oil-based paint from masonry, wood, and metal surfaces. It can do so without any discoloration too.
But it is a high volatile organic compound (VOC), so it is more of a health hazard than other paint removers. They also have the strongest fumes. The advantage is they are corrosive, perfect to use for heavy-duty paint stripping. You can also use them in a cold environment without any problem at all.
Biochemical
This type of paint remover is more eco-friendly compared to solvent and caustic paint strippers. It also hardly emits odor because it uses natural ingredients mostly. But even though it has lower fumes and VOCs, it can still irritate the skin. It might still affect your respiratory and reproductive systems, so full safety gear is essential.
Biochemical paint strippers can remove oil-based and water-based paint from concrete and other surfaces. But it is not perfect. It cannot easily and quickly remove paint. It often takes time to remove the entire paint, although it is great that it works without damage.
Read more: How to Clean a Concrete Patio Without Pressure Washer
Caustic
Caustic paint removers are those with lye or sodium hydroxide as the active ingredient. It does well in converting dried paint into soap, thus loosening it from the surface. They are best used in masonry surfaces such as concrete floors and walls but ineffective on acrylic, polyurethane, and epoxy.
You can use them to remove oil and water-based paints but may blacken or erode others. Caustic paint strippers are the best latex paint remover because it works well on oil-based and enamel paints. Another disadvantage is it attracts moisture, meaning you could damage the wood if you use it.
Zero-VOC
The type of paint you want to use if you are concerned about those mentioned above is the VOC-free paint stripper. This type of remover does not have NMP, lye, or methylene chloride. It is also virtually odorless as it uses naturally-occurring solvents to break down and loosen oil-based and water-based paints.
It works on masonry, metal, and also wood (to some extent). However, it does not work well at removing polyurethane and epoxy. Zero-VOC paint strippers are the safest paint removers, but direct exposure to them can still irritate your skin and lugs. Moreover, it is rather expensive.
When looking for the best paint remover for concrete, knowing the type of paint you want to remove is crucial. This way, you can choose the type of paint stripper that will actually work on it. It is good that liquid paint strippers – caustic, solvent, biochemical, or zero-VOC – can get the job done.
FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the best paint remover for concrete:
1. Does vinegar remove paint from concrete?
Vinegar is excellent for cleaning, but it will not properly remove paint from concrete. It is best to use a dedicated paint remover for concrete. You can use vinegar instead to clean the surface for repainting.
2. Can paint thinner remove paint from concrete?
Paint thinners do remove paint from concrete. It also works like paint strippers, breaking down or “thinning” paint. Paint thinners are solvent, which dissolves substances such as paints, just like turpentine, acetone, denatured alcohol, and more.
3. Can you power wash paint off concrete?
Power washing can be enough to damage a house, so washing paint off concrete is definitely possible. You can use a pressure washer, setting at 3000 psi, then start spraying on the paint on the concrete. This pressure level is enough to peel off paint entirely.
Read more Why and How to Seal Concrete Driveway After Pressure Washing?
4. Does acetone remove paint from concrete?
A solvent like acetone can remove paint from concrete. It works well in removing oil-based paints, acrylic paint, and enamels. Even if it is dried or fresh paint, acetone works well enough.
5. Will baking soda remove paint from concrete?
Baking soda or industrial sodium bicarbonate works well enough in cleaning off stubborn, dried-off paints left on the concrete. You can create a soda blaster, blasting the solution on the affected area to remove the paint stains left there.
Related: How To Remove Spray Paint From The Garage Floor
6. Will acrylic paint come off concrete?
Yes. Acrylic paint is water-based, which is much easier to remove than other paints. You can remove it from almost any surface, including concrete, with a bit of effort. It is excellent that concrete can handle many cleaning ways, so cleaning acrylic paint will be easy.
Conclusion
If it is the best paint remover for concrete, this list recommends none other than Dumond Chemicals, Inc. 3332 Advanced Paint Remover. It has all the qualities that ensure cleaning any type of paint from concrete is easy. Not only this, Dumond Advanced Remover’s biodegradable formula is a significant advantage.
All the other paint strippers in this list are just as great. They remove paint well, and most are eco-friendly too. Most of the paint strippers have a low-odor too, so they are great for indoor use and those with respiratory issues. Your choice of paint stripper now depends on the price, the type of paint, and your other needs.
