Repainting a concrete surface? First, you may want to strip the previously applied paint
In this ProPaintCorner.com guide, you will learn:
- The best paint strippers for concrete surfaces
- The correct process for complete paint removal from concrete
- Other helpful paint tips for your paint removal process
And much more!
Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to learn more about how to choose and use the best paint stripper for concrete.
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Our Top Pick
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Our Top Pick
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Klean-Strip Quart Easy Liquid Sander And Deglosser
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Best Budget
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Best Budget
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3M Heavy Duty Stripping Pads
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Best High End
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Best High End
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Paint Stripper Super Remover New Generation
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Dumond SmartStrip Advanced Paint Remover
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Sunnyside 2-Minute Advanced Paint Remover
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3M Paint And Rust Stripper
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Bates Paint Scraper 5-in-1 Tool
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DUROPEAK 10 Pack Of Quick Change Easy Strip Discs
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Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated On March 24, 2023
Our favorite is the Dewalt Diamond Cup Grinding Wheel because it makes short work of removing paint from concrete.
One thing is certain--removing paint from concrete isn't an easy job.
You want the right tool for the job, and that tool is a diamond cup grinding wheel because it has 350x the life of other conventional abrasives for aggressive material removal.
Top 6 Concrete Paint Strippers
In a hurry? Check out our top 6 paint strippers! Keep reading to discover more about our top picks.
What Are Paint Strippers For Concrete?
Paint strippers vary from machines like pressure washers and drill attachments to chemical solutions like Smart Strip and Sunnyside.
What Are The Different Types of Paint Stripper For Concrete?
Pressure washer/power washer
Pressure washers like this one are a great solution for prepping concrete for paint because they will strip off all the paint necessary to recoat the surface without worrying about flaking and peeling afterward.
Paint thinner
Paint thinner is a good option when removing oil paints. Try products like Odorless Turpenoid when removing oil paint.
Caustic strippers/chemical paint stripper
Caustic strippers use extremely toxic chemicals like acetone to dissolve paint compounds, and they are the last resort if you must remove the paint entirely from the desired surface.
Varnish stripping gel is another example of a less-toxic product that will assist in removing paint from concrete surfaces.
Wire brush
Using a wire brush alongside a chemical solvent will help scrape the paint faster and more effectively.
That's why we recommended this Katzco Wire Wheels Brush that easily connects to any drill, and will be super effective at removing paint from concrete so long as you have the right chemical to help break down the compound.
Scraper/putty knife
Sometimes all you need is a scraper to get the majority of the paint off. And even if a scraper doesn't work, it's still a good idea to keep one around for multi-purpose use.
Grinder with cup diamond attachment
Check out this Youtube video where a gentleman uses a grinder with a cup diamond attachment to quickly remove paint from concrete steps. This might grinder attachment might even be the most effective when removing paint from concrete floors and stairs.
Read More >> How Do You Use Paint Stripper Properly?
Our Tip: Use electricity/gas power
Sure, with a little bit of man(or woman) power and the right chemicals, you will be able to free the paint from a concrete surface.
But if you have the assistance of a machine like a wire brush drill attachment plus the appropriate cleaning chemical, then you will able to successfully remove the paint without putting too much elbow grease into it.
How Does Paint Stripper For Concrete Work?
So, you are repainting a concrete surface, or maybe you are cleaning ugly graffiti off of a concrete wall.
Repainting
When repainting, it's not particularly necessary to remove all the paint. You might just want to hit it with a pressure washer and let it dry.
Complete removal
Complete removal may start with pressure washing, and then switching to a 3M stripper pad and a caustic stripper - you may end up switching off between the pressure washer and a scrubber pad, drill attachment, or even grinder with a diamond cup bit.
Let's be honest, complete removal isn't fun. It's going to take some time to get all that paint off, no matter what you end up using.
Removing paint from masonry? Check out the linked article for some good ideas.
Read More >> What Are The Best Paint Strippers For Metal?
What To Look For In The Best Paint Stripper For Concrete?
Variety
One important factor to consider is that there are multiple solutions to stripping paint off the concrete.
Price
The ideal situation is not spending money if you don't have to. For this reason, you should try cheaper solutions like
Good idea: When working on a specific project, do some research on Google and Youtube concerning the paint removal. You will without a doubt find some great tips that will help you advance faster and more intelligently on your project.
Function
There are three different ways you can strip paint from concrete.
- Power washer
- Drill/grinder attachment
- Chemical reaction
The method you use depends on the size and location of the product.
For example, you aren't going to want to use a power washer if the concrete is indoors.
And there's no reason to buy a small bottle of chemical paint remover if you are working on a brick wall or something with a large surface area.
Do your research on websites like Google and Youtube that are specific to your project for the best results.
Read More >> What Are The Best Paint Strippers For Latex Paint?
Our Reviews Of The Best Paint Stripper For Concrete
Pick #1: Dewalt Diamond Cup Grinding Wheel
Want to remove paint from a concrete surface quickly?
Use this Dewalt Diamond Cup Grinding Wheel attachment for a grinder. This diamond matrix provides 350x the life of any other abrasive removal, so you will be able to use this durable grinder attachment on many projects to come.
Pick one up off Amazon because it has excellent reviews and gets the job done quickly and efficiently.
Pros
Cons
Klean-Strip is a quality all-purpose paint remover that works to remove paint, varnish, lacquer, stains while helping the paint to adhere at the same time.
Klean-Strip has excellent reviews on Amazon and is priced affordably, so you can guarantee your satisfaction with this product that is conveniently sold in quart-sized quantities for efficient shipping.
Pros
Cons
Pick #3: Katzco Wire Wheels Brush
Looking for a place to start when stripping paint off of concrete?
Try this Katzco Wire Wheels Brush connected to your drill. This set contains two different wire wheel brushes, one with thicker bristles for tough spots and one with thinner bristles for the next step.
These wire brushes are a great accessory to have around for cleaning off paint, rust, and corrosion from your paint projects.
Pros
Cons
This is the strongest paint remover that doesn't have toxic chemicals like methylene-chloride or NMP.
This patent-pending new generation formula is designed to break down paint just as good as acetone or another harsh chemical without the damaging health and environmental effects.
Apply New Generation Stripper to the desired area, and within 15 minutes it will break down the chemical compounds in the paint enough to remove it from surfaces like concrete, metal, wood, and more.
And not only does this product help remove paint, but it also helps to remove varnish, lacquer, epoxies, shellacs, and polyurethanes, so it's versatile and useful to have around.
Pick up a quart or gallon-sized jug of Paint Stripper Super Remover New Generation from Amazon for all of your paint projects to come.
Pros
Cons
Pick #5: Smart Strip
Dumond Chemicals Smart Strip is an environmentally responsible assisting agent when removing paint from concrete.
This odor-free, water-based and completely biodegradable product is for green buyers who want to contribute to a clean world.
Use some of this Smart Strip gel with a scrubbing pad or wire brush, and you will have the paint job cleaned off in no time!
Pros
Cons
This 2-pack of multi-use paint scraper/putty knife tool is invaluable when scraping paint off of surfaces like concrete.
Even though this Bates scraper may not completely remove the paint from the concrete surface/exterior surface, it is still a good tool to keep around for scraping off loose paint before going to town with a grinder, drill, power washer, or scrubbing pad.
Scraper/putty knife tools are a must-have when painting, so pick up a great quality set off Amazon for cheap.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: Dewalt Diamond Cup Grinding Wheel
Our top pick is Dewalt Diamond Cup Grinding Wheel because it simply gets the job done fast.
Sure, chemical solvents and scrubbing pads will work, but if you want the job done quickly, you will purchase or borrow a grinder, and connect the Dewalt Diamond. Cup Grinding Wheel.
Tip: Use safety goggles, gloves, masks, and extreme caution when handling a grinder and the Dewalt Diamond Cup Grinding Wheel.
Final Thoughts On The Best Paint Stripper For Concrete
Safety Is First When Removing Paint
Because you are going to working with toxic chemicals, you should always wear protective clothing, gloves, safety glasses/goggles, and a respirator/mask to prevent health-damaging issues that can be caused by stripping paint.
We care about your safety, and you should too!
You can also try other products like Goof Off, baking soda, mineral spirits, Citristrip, and more!
Use a paint sprayer when painting concrete to eliminate time-consuming activities like brushing and rolling.
Ask us all of your painting questions to our Pro Paint Corner Blog! We'll get back to you with an answer in no time!
Meet Your Pro Paint Corner Author
Ryan Nichols
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