Need help - how do you remove paint from a sealed floor

[Zmw]

My wife runs a screen printing company for a non profit and she just moved into a new office space. The GC already sealed the concrete floor (it's actually way too smooth, very slippery) but here is her problem -

Volunteer painters spilled paint all over the floor. It's a good amount of paint, a bunch of small spots but also a couple big spots where a lot of paint spilled and they tried to clean it up, but they spread it around and made a mess. All of her screen prints and equipment are already inside so pressure washing is not an option. What can she do to remove the paint but not remove the sealant?

Thank you for any help! It is greatly appreciated.

 

[creativecars]

Is it water or oil based?
How big of an area?

 

[Zmw]

I believe water based, it's behr interior paint. There are several 1 ft by 1 ft stains where people smeared the paint, along with many smaller stains.

 

[jaye944]

hey there,
on my floor project I had something similar, this was spray paint and also exterior water based paint

I dumped a load of paint stripper on the areas, (the gel based) dont stir and dont continually paint, just blob it on an "stipple" it on gently with a brush

They use a stiff metal brush, (and after a while you'll see it buble up) comes off a treat

again see my links I should have pics for that as well

 

[jaye944]

AHHHHHHHHHHH

shizer, you have a sealant... hmmm I did this on concrete.

OK, mask of a small area and try it.

Paint stripper should ONLY react to the paint and not sealant

 

[jaye944]

dont try any kind of acid, that wont work

 

[Zmw]

Thanks for the input! Any issues with using goof off professional strength as a paint remover? That is what a guy at home depot recommend rather then other paint strippers.

Thanks

 

[jaye944]

I don't think goof off will work, it won't hurt to try and it WONT hurt the seal.

If you look at most sealers they have a load of specs to what they are impervious to, (at least the proff. ones do)

GO, I've used on my piano, my daughter put stickers all over it, and after peeling them off, I needed the GO to pull the glue off, so it didnt wreck 4 grands worth of piano; it wont wreck your floor.

I think that paint stripper will do the trick though, but test it first

Thanks for the input! Any issues with using goof off professional strength as a paint remover? That is what a guy at home depot recommend rather then other paint strippers.

Thanks

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Try this, get full strength "Simple Green" spray a good coating on it and lay some plastic sheeting over it to seal it so it cannot evaporate. Wait an hour or so and then mop it up with a rag. Repete as needed.
I spilled a whole gallon of white water based paint in my G/F's horse trailer and got it out this way after it had set over night.

 

[jaye944]

time is also relevant to cleanup,

most things can be cleaned up straight away

but after they have dried and soaked in, its a whole 'nother ball of wax

 

[creativecars]

Unless it is totally dry fabric softener will clean up water based/latex type paints and do a very good job. It is great to clean up brushes and rollers too. Put a cupful into a gallon of water and saturate a towel with it, then place the towel on the area and leave it there over night, check to see if it has softened the paint to wash it up.