How to Cover Up Spray Paint on Concrete

Brush off all dust and loose material from the concrete surface with a wire brush. Rake dust or debris out of any cracks or crevices.

Put on protective rubber gloves. Pour trisodium phosphate (TSP) cleaning solution into a bucket of hot water. Dilute the TSP cleaner to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The TSP cleaner will remove grease, dirt and some of the graffiti paint from the concrete surface.

Wash the area of wall that you intend to paint with a soft brush soaked in the cleaning solution. If cleaning a vertical surface, start at the top and work down. Wait until the surface is touch dry before applying the primer and paint.

Spread a specialty stain-blocking primer over the affected area of the wall with a paintbrush or a medium-nap paint roller. Ensure you cover all the spray paint. The stain blocker in the primer prevents the pigments in the spray paint from seeping into the new layers of paint. You should need to apply only one coat of primer, but follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Wait for the primer to dry. Drying times vary, so check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Paint the concrete surface with an eggshell or oil-based paint. These paint types adhere well to concrete and provide a smooth, glossy finish that makes cleaning off any future graffiti much easier compared with masonry paint. Use a paint brush or a standard paint roller to apply the paint. Wait for the first layer of paint to dry. For optimal results, apply a second coat of the paint in the same way.