How to Resurface Painted Concrete

Painted concrete doesn't have to stay painted.

Painted concrete serves a purpose. It adds color to the otherwise gray and boring material. It is also a quick and easy solution for covering your concrete. You may think that once you have painted the concrete there is no way to remove the paint and start over. That isn't necessarily the case. If you have grown tired of your painted concrete and would like to resurface, the job will require a lot of work, but is fairly straightforward.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Dish washing soap
• Water
• Plastic sheeting
• Low tack painter's tape
• Drum sander
• Diamond polishing pads (variety of grits)
• Goggles
• Gloves
• Concrete sealant or stain
• Paint roller
• Paint pan

Instructions

1. Sweep the concrete surface to remove anything that might scratch the concrete.

2. Mix two tablespoons of dishwashing soap and water in a large bucket. Mop the floors with the solution to remove grease and dirt. Let the floors dry completely.

3. Open windows and doors for ventilation if the concrete is indoors. Cover air vents with plastic sheeting and low-tack painter's tape to prevent the dust from floating through the house.

4. Put on protective work gloves and goggles. Place a diamond sanding pad on the drum sander. A drum sander is a large floor polisher that you stand behind and push around the space to remove the top layer of concrete.

5. Turn on the polisher while it is raised from the floor. Lower the polisher to the floor and begin moving it around the space. The top layer of concrete will begin to come off as dust.

6. Grind the entire floor until you have removed all the paint. Switch to a less coarse grinding pad and sand the entire floor again, using the same technique. Continue to change the pads and polish the floors until you like the finish.

7. Apply stain or clear sealant to the floors with a long-handled paint roller. Apply the stain or sealant in a light, even coat. Apply two to three coats, letting each one dry before you apply the next.

Tips & Warnings

• Once the floors are free of paint, you can resurface the concrete in any way you like. In lieu of stain, tile, vinyl and hardwood will adhere to the floor once the paint is gone.

References

• Concrete Network: Polishing Concrete
• Concrete Network: Grinders