How to Remove Epoxy Paint

Epoxy paint is used to coat the surface of the floor. It can be found in a variety of colors and textures. It is used in commercial and residential applications. There are three different types of epoxy paints that exist in the market place. They are as follows:

• Solvent based
• Water based
• 100% solid

You may have painted your basement floor or your garage floor and now wish to remove the epoxy paint to make way for a different surface color or coating. Below you will find step by step instructions on how to remove the epoxy paint from the surface.

Step 1 - Remove the Fresh Paint

If you have just painted the surface and you are just not happy with the way the epoxy paint looks on your garage floor or basement floor, then while it is wet, you can quickly remove the paint by taking a rag or a mop and mopping it up. You will need to fill a bucket with rubbing alcohol. Soak the rag or the mop in the alcohol and begin to wipe off the wet epoxy paint. If you have just painted a very large surface, you will need to dump your bucket several times. Head to the local home improvement center to purchase several gallons of rubbing alcohol if you have a large surface that needs to be cleaned up.

Step 2 - Remove the Cured Paint

Purchase the Supplies

If you are just not in time for the wet paint, then you will need to proceed to this step. Take a trip to the local home improvement store and purchase a few gallons of epoxy paint remover. Beware when you go to the store because not all products are alike. Check the label out before you purchase the product to make sure that it is effective for epoxy paint.

Get Prepared

Safety is always first. The paint remover is very caustic and you will need to protect your eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Put on the following safety equipment:

• Gloves
• Goggles
• Respirator or breathing mask

Test

Apply the paint remover to a small spot in the corner of your floor. You just want to test that it works and that it does not discolor the flooring underneath.

Apply the Remover

Use a new sponge to apply the paint remover. If the paint is not coming off well, then you will need to manually remove the paint by following the directions in the next step.

Step 3 - Manually Remove the Paint

This step could take you a while, depending on how large of a surface you are looking to repove the paint from. Take sandpaper or steel wool and begin in one corner. Work your way along a line and chip the paint off. You need to use a little extra force to scratch off the paint. During this process, your original floor surface may become scratched.