The first, and in our opinion easiest, way to remove concrete sealer is a powerful pressure washer. If it's powerful enough, the pressure of the water will easily strip away any type of concrete sealer. If a pressure washer isn't an option, certain chemical strippers are also quite effective at removing sealer.
Water-based concrete sealers can be removed through chemical etching, aggressive pressure washing or mechanical scarification.
A solvent like xylene is effective at removing acrylic from concrete. It dissolves (“softens”) the acrylic and allows for removal. However, solvents such as xylene have a harsh smell, are flammable, dangerous for your skin, and shouldn't be used around children, pets and plants.
The removal of old concrete sealer can be done in one of two ways: mechanical or chemical. The mechanical way involves using some kind of tool to physically grind, sand, or blast away the sealer.
Due to the nature of penetrating sealers, since they chemically react to the concrete, they will last the longest out of all the sealers. They will generally wear as the substrate wears, usually 10 years or longer.
A strong enough power washer will blast most types of sealer off of concrete with ease. The trick is to make sure to pressure wash the entire surface area. For more sturdy sealers, it may take a few passes with the pressure washer to get it completely removed.
A penetrating sealer is designed to protect against moisture by forming a chemical barrier of waterproof material in the concrete.
When the sealer is applied too heavily, the air displaced through the surface can't escape, and it forms a bubble in the sealer surface. Bubbling of a sealer can also occur if application is done in hot weather, or if the concrete is in direct sun.
However, vinegar isn't strong enough to remove concrete sealant. Sealants can resist acid, and vinegar is a much weaker acid than chemical removal agents. And worse, vinegar can damage concrete by dulling it and causing pitting.
The easiest way to remove a concrete sealer is to begin by acid etching the surface of the concrete with muriatic acid. This process can be dangerous if you are unfamiliar with it; however, it is well within the ability of any ordinary homeowner, as long as the proper care is taken.
Sealers are low viscosity materials that can be water- or solvent-based. They are typically applied by low-pressure spray to concrete surfaces. The sealer provides protection by penetrating the pores of the concrete, leaving little measurable film on the surface. Because of this, a typical problem is light coverage.
Soda blasting, a less aggressive mechanical method, has become more widely used in recent years to remove sealers and coatings successfully. Soda blasting utilizes special high-pressure blasting equipment with commercial-grade baking soda granules as the blasting medium.
A simple floor stripper or paint and epoxy remover is something you can use to remove asphalt sealer. A caveat, though: you can only use paint and epoxy remover on concrete, metal, wood, and masonry. Do not use this on vehicles and walls as the product could strip the clear coat or paint off.
Reactive penetrating sealers are the longest lasting concrete sealers, wearing away only if the substrate surface itself wears away. These can last up to 25 years in some cases, but we recommend re-sealing concrete driveways every 5-10 years.
Penetrating sealers, as the name implies, work by infiltrating into the pores of the concrete to form a robust chemical barrier beneath the actual surface to prevent the penetration of water, moisture and grime.
The standard solvent bath process involves spraying store-bought xylene or acetone across the problem area. (As a side note, I do not recommend acetone, as it dries too quickly to be effective.) You wait a few minutes to allow the solvent to liquefy the sealer, then wipe or roll the area to eliminate the problem.
A quick answer is yes! White vinegar can clean concrete and remove stains. It may not be as powerful as concrete cleaners, but it can clean up concrete stains on a budget. Not to mention that vinegar can also remove germs and bacteria from concrete.
The acetone is great at removing sealers, super-strong adhesives. It may react with the tile, so you want to make sure that you try it first in an area and if you've got nail polish remover, in the house, with acetone give it a test.
Sealers, particularly solvent-based sealers, will darken concrete. If unevenly applied, it will create light areas where there is less sealer, and darker areas where there's more. If applied by sprayer, it may appear like “stripes”. Uneven roller application may leave darkened roller marks.
It is best to apply two or even three thin coats, allowing each coat to dry between applications. This will prevent puddling that can create uneven coverage. Overlap the areas as you apply the sealer to ensure full coverage.
The time frame applies to different types of sealers, whether we are talking about penetrating or topical sealers. The former takes about 24 hours to dry and the latter can take up to 48 hours, given that drying is a process that is dependent on the room's temperature, humidity and air quality.
There are some significant advantages to choosing a penetrating sealer for your concrete countertops. For example: Penetrating sealers last a long time and need reapplication less frequently than topical sealers. Penetrating sealers can be both water resistant and repellant and oil resistant and repellant.
Allow 30 minutes drying time between applications. Ready for surface traffic in 2 hours. Keep dry for 12 hours. Achieves a full cure in 24 hours.