To get rid of epoxy from concrete, soak a clean fabric or towel in a paint thinner or nail polish remover. Hard-press it on the tough epoxy on the concrete surface for some minutes till it dissolves, then wipe it off. If it refuses to wipe, use a plastic scraper and scrape the surface gently. Then, soak another clean towel in acetone to clean off any residue from the concrete floor.
In this article, you will see how you can remove epoxy from concrete before and after it cures, how you can remove hardened epoxy resin, and also the easiest way to remove epoxy.
How To Remove Epoxy From Concrete Before and After It Cures
Epoxy is a tough and robust material that you must know how to clean without damaging the surface if it spills on concrete. The appropriate removal of epoxy from concrete depends on whether it has cured or not. The task will be easier if you get to it before it cures. But if it’s hardened already, you can still scrape it and get your surface to appear clean and unblemished again.
If epoxy is yet to cure, act quickly to scrape it off. Completely erase the epoxy with a dry towel dampened with acetone/nail polish solvent before it dries off on the surface.
If the epoxy has cured and you want to remove it, follow these steps:
Test
Test the solvent on a small portion of the concrete surface before spreading it.
Choose a solvent
You can use solvents like adhesive remover, paint thinner, or denatured alcohol to remove the cured epoxy, or you use a sharp blade. You can also combine all the methods.
If you are using a paint thinner, soak a clean rag in the solvent and press it on the cured epoxy on concrete until it softens, then wipe. After removing the cured epoxy, soak a clean towel in acetone or nail polish remover to clean off any residue. Doing this will return the surface to its initial shiny state if it’s a polished concrete floor.
Take precautionary measures when scrapping epoxy off a concrete surface. If you must work with a knife, wear gloves to prevent hand injuries. Do not stay in an airtight area to avoid offensive gas from solvents entering your lungs or coming in contact with your skin.
Is There An Easy Method of Removing Cured Epoxy From Concrete?
The easiest way to remove cured epoxy from a concrete surface is to use a heat gun. Wear a mask, long sleeve, inflammable gloves, and face goggles for safety, then light a heat gun and set it on the hardened epoxy around 90°C. After it dissolves, use a scraper to gently remove it from the concrete, then wipe off to clean the remaining residue.
Tip: After removing the hardened epoxy from the concrete floor, get a strong-waterproof dispenser resistant to frost and heat and use it to repair the surface. Then dry, sand, or drill the surface.
What Can Dissolve Epoxy Easily?
Isopropanol, also known as isopropyl alcohol, can be used to remove epoxy resin that is yet to cure off a surface. Since liquid epoxy is not solid, removing it won’t be hard. Acetone can also help and will remove any remaining solvent.
In Summary
Use solvents like paint thinner, nail polish remover, or acetone to remove epoxy resin from concrete floors. Soak a clean fabric in any of these solvents and press it on the surface till the epoxy dissolves, then clean. For hard epoxies, use a heat gun or a sharp knife to scrape it off gently.
