I have a concrete porch, 18 ft x 8 ft. It had several coats of paint, which is peeling. I want to refinish it, by stripping the paint and either using concrete stain or (less lkely because more expensive) putting some tile/brick/slate on it. (I was told that the existing paint won't let future tile adhere, so stripping will be useful either for staining or for tiling. I was told that you can put tile over stain (not paint) so I can always tile in the future)

I have begun to strip. I used Peel Away 1, but it only partially stripped the porch. I then used Citristrip, but the first (oldest) coat is very tenacious and still remains. At this point, it is probably too difficult to get to the bare concrete. Because I am planning to use BMoore latex solid concrete stain (not semi-transparent oil stain, which requires complete stripping), and because the product's description says it can be used over previously painted surfaces, I think I can get away if I leave some existing paint. Is this right?

So I am planning to neutralize the strippers (white vinegar or peel away neutralizer for peel away; odorless mineral spirits for citristrip), then clean and etch the concrete with muriatic acid, water rinse, let dry, let dry more, and the apply the BMoore solid concrete stain. Any comments about this strategy?

Alternatively, I can put tile/brick/slate right now instead of concrete stain. Would a partially (but not completely) stripped concrete surface accept tile? I got rid of any gloss paint coats; the paint that is left is very deep into the concrete and dull. So I think the concrete should accept tile. Or does it require an absolute stripped surface? Any kind of preparation?

Or I may decide to go for the concrete stain, and once my budget allows it to put tile/brick/slate in a few years. I have read "you cannot tile over concrete paint, but you can tile over concrete stain". Is that so? Or the fact that the stain is over some remaining old paint be a problem?

Thanks.

(I also posted this in the porchs forum)

 

is you have a porch here's what to do from that part on - depending on your geographic location AND your age, tile/brick/slate's not a good option for ext exposure,,, if you're an old guy like me, then its not so bad,,, if younger, you'll definitely live long enough to see it all come loose because of wtr infiltrating the mortar, freezing, & lifting the o'laid mtls - sooner'n you might think, too.

i don't like strippers of any sort [ my wife's watching me type ] so we use diamond cup wheels, 7/4" grinders, & knee pads,,, that way there's clean conc w/no residue from ykw.

stain's the least expensive but spend some $$$ on a GOOD sealer,,, isn't your stain actually ' latex paint/stain ' & NOT a conc acid-reactive stain,,, nothing against that brand but conc stains're hydrochloric acid w/various mineral salts added to produce various colors,,, if you're going to acid-stain, do NOT etch as you'll deplete the free lime nec for proper stain reactivity,,, w/your product, i dunno - but i do know its not acid-reactive stain.

that's probably enough comments about your strategy for now,,, can we still be friends ? ? ?

 

Thanks, so-elitecrete. After some thought, I decided to go for tile or brick. I'm posting a question about that soon. Thanks