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The Healthiest Way to Remove Paint From Concrete Cinder Blocks for Waterproofing

Sometimes the safer choice can actually be the better one, and that's the case with paint strippers using Selective Adhesion Release Agent technology. This family of paint removers is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and so safe that you can handle it without resorting to rubber gloves, respirators and other protective wear required for working with conventional strippers. SARA strippers work slowly but will save you hours of labor, particularly when you're working on concrete cinder blocks, because there will be no need for heavy-duty scraping when the chemical has finished its job.

Things You'll Need

  • SARA stripper
  • Disposable paint brush
  • Putty knife
  • Paint scraper
  • Wire brush
  • Sponge
  • Garden hose
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Instructions

    • 1

      Apply a thin coating of a SARA-based paint remover to the cinder blocks using a disposable paint brush. Fill all the pores thoroughly and cover the mortar completely. Follow up immediately with a generous coating of the SARA stripper, building up to at least one-eighth inch if only a single layer of paint must be removed, or as much as a quarter inch of stripper if multiple coats need to be removed.

    • 2

      Allow the SARA stripper to work overnight. Unlike conventional paint removers, the stripper will not make the coating soft. Instead, the SARA technology will make the paint push itself away from the wall because its adhesion has been disrupted. That means that you can slip a scraper or putty knife under the paint and peel it off in chunks or strips.

    • 3

      If there are multiple coats of paint, the SARA stripper may require a second application to finish the job. This can occur if the old paint layers are a mix of latex and alkyd coatings. The SARA technology is formulated to push the paint film away from the surface, and when it encounters multiple layers it may simply push the newer paint layers away from the older ones.

    • 4

      Clean off the cinder blocks using a stiff wire brush immediately after scraping. This will enable you to remove any residual paint particles that might be embedded into the pores of the concrete. Follow up by washing down the wall with a wet sponge. If you are working on an outdoor wall, spraying the concrete with a garden hose at full pressure is a better choice.