Do You Have to Remove Old Paint From a Cement Patio in Order to Lay Tiles?

Stripping the Paint

• Stripping the paint is not only necessary for installing tile but allows you to see any cracks or stains in the concrete that need to be addressed. When stripping the paint, you should work in small sections, about 3-by-3-foot squares. Brush the paint thinner onto the section, and let it sit for a few minutes; the actual wait times vary from product to product. Scrape the paint up with a putty knife and discard it. Repeat until all of the paint is removed.

Cleaning the Concrete

• No matter what you're doing with concrete, whether it's patching cracks, staining or laying down new flooring, you have to work with a clean surface. Apart from the residues leftover from the paint stripping process, there may be other stains and dirt on the concrete that could interfere with the adhesives used to lay tile. A solution of 1 cup trisodium phosphate and 4 gallons of water can be used to scrub the cement and lift grease and oil stains.

Filling the Cracks

• Now that your cement patio is clean and paint free, you can see if there are any cracks, chips or other imperfections. If you find any, you will need to patch them up before you can lay down your tile. Some caulks and fillers are designed specifically for use with Portland cement surfaces, each with its own set of directions, including application and drying instructions. Fill in any cracks or chips with a filler according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Leveling the Surface

• You can't lay tile on an uneven surface, so now is the time to get a level to see if there are any low spots in your cement patio. You may even see them without using the level. If there are any low spots or uneven areas on the patio, buy a leveling compound. Self-leveling types are available that can just be poured and smoothed over the surface and will fill in any low spots. Once this is dry, you can finally begin installing your tile.