Concrete Stain Remover
Stain removers are engineered to counter the chemical composition of various types of stains found on concrete. Here’s a rundown of what to look for when you want to attack stains from paint, rust, adhesives, hydraulic fluids or oil.
by John Strieder
is one of the necessary chores involved in prep work, but nobody’s idea of an adventure. Nevertheless, expect the unexpected.
“The first rule on cleaning paints, coatings, oil, stains, and so forth off concrete is ‘There are no rules,’” says Darryl Manuel, president of Vexcon Chemicals Inc.
Every situation is different, he says. The precise identities of coatings, stains and contaminants are usually unknown. Variables such as concrete porosity, depth of penetration, and strength of the surface layer all drastically change the parameters of the job.
Luckily for contractors, Vexcon and many other manufacturers produce stain removers that work as hard as they do. “Vexcon’s products are designed to be commercial-contractor viable, not reduced-efficiency products that are designed for mass marketing,” says Manuel.
Stain removal products for contractors are often specialized to work on a specific kind of stain, and sometimes, they are most effective only on certain chemicals that can cause that stain.
Take, for example, paint strippers. There are many different types of paint with varying chemical compositions, and a paint remover that works on one coating might not work on another, says Prosoco Inc. business communication specialist Gary Henry. “Be prepared to test more than one type of paint stripper,” he says.
Prosoco’s Enviro Klean Safety Peel is “a good place to start,” he says, especially if there might be more than one layer of paint to remove. Safety Peel comes in three versions chemically designed for different kinds of paint. Each includes a paste that is troweled onto the surface and covered with protective paper, then peeled off about a day later. Prosoco also sells gelled removers for tougher jobs.
Paint removers made by Surtec Inc. are solvent blends that conform to California and Northeast restrictions on VOC emissions. The company also produces a paint remover that is low in odor.
Franmar Chemical Inc. specializes in soybean-based environmentally friendly cleaners, and their Soy Gel Paint Remover is a good example. The gel will strip any coating from concrete — epoxies and urethanes as well as paint. A thick layer of the material will lift and dissolve one layer of paint after another. “The soy actually migrates through the coating,” says Franmar marketing director Jason Davenport. “It literally migrates through the coating and just buckles it away from the surface.”
|
