Stripping an unknown sealer

[b7labelle]

Hi...hoping to get some product recommendations.

I have been trying to strip a sealer off my concrete sidewalk so I can apply an acrylic sealer I have selected. Concrete has some type of sealant which is aging and needs reapplication, but I have no idea what type it is. Figure it would be safer to strip the old and apply a new.

Can someone recommend a concrete stripper? I have probably 750 ft sq I need to prep. Don't really want to grind or use acid.

I have seen comments which imply that some strippers only work on acrylic vs. water based sealant....and I don't want to purchase a bunch of stripper that I can't use. Don't know if that's true or not, just throwing it out there.

I have also seen comments that say something to the tune that stripping may not be needed, just apply new sealant and see if that works.

 

[Shea]

Just FYI, acid does not remove sealers. Is the old sealer a film forming sealer?

 

[b7labelle]

Is the old sealer a film forming sealer?

I believe so....water does pool, but it slowly absorbed. It will not sit there for minutes on end, however.

 

[Shea]

The reason I ask is because film forming sealers can be stripped. The acrylic sealer you want to apply is an example of a film forming sealer. Penetrating sealers however cannot be stripped. They penetrate into the concrete forming a barrier at the sub surface of the concrete.

If you have a penetrating sealer then you can apply the acrylic sealer over it once the concrete has been prepped and cleaned according to the directions of your product. It sounds like you have a penetrating sealer that was applied.

Is there a coating on the surface that is peeling, blistering, or turning yellow? If so, then you do have a film forming sealer and will need to strip it. Just about any chemical stripper will do. Do not use a solvent however. It will break down the sealer, but it won't turn it to useless sludge like a chemical stripper will. The sealer will reactivate once the solvent evaporates.

 

[b7labelle]

Thank you for your input. There is definitely some sort of film on top of the concrete, I have some limited success in removing it with a pressure washer. It is not blistering, yellowing, or peeling. Just fading and blotchy in areas which doesn't look very great.

Can you recommend a chemical stripper?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Here you go: http://www.legacyindustrial.net/products/etch-cleaners-wax/hd357-acid-etch-clone.html

 

[b7labelle]

Do you have any product information you can share on that LegacyStrip?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

There is a tech-data sheet on the site.
This product is similar to most high strength strippers, apply it thick, keep it wet and let it do it's thing. It is very effective over acrylics and therefore it should not be too bad.

It stinks and is slimy but does a good job.

 

[b7labelle]

Ah, thanks. I swear that the Downloads tab was not showing up yesterday...

 

[b7labelle]

Hi Scotty,

Can you elaborate on what the meaning behind this tag is?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

That is a batch tag. That is how we know what batch your product came from.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[b7labelle]

I guess I was wondering what "Nock off" meant

 

[Garage Flooring]

That tag is part batch number and part original part number that the manufacturers put on there so they can track it back to the original actual product

 

[Armorpoxy]

We carry a product called Rock Miracle. It will remove even cured two part 100% solids epoxies. We have never seen anything it won't remove. Call us on Monday for info and to order. Thanks!