Right tool ?

[Ecocleansuk]

Hi

I have 100m2 of concrete flooring which needs thick layers of paint removing, its in a local college and they don't want to go down the chemical route any recommendations on which tools could be used ?

 

[Peter_C]

A concrete grinder would be how I would do it, using a grinder and diamond disk to edge it first. I'd recommend serious dust collection.

 

[oldie]

Hire everything?: floor concrete grinder / polisher + equipment to do edges / corners + appropriate dust extractor. 

Richard (UK)

 

[Sparktrician]

You might want to look into shot-blasting the floor to remove the old coating.

 

[Peter_C]

You might want to look into shot-blasting the floor to remove the old coating.

That is probably the best option. It won't level any deviations in the floor surface though. Not sure the machines can be rented and would require hiring a crew with the machine?

 

[oldie]

Over here, in the UK (well, England at any rate) you can hire just about anything fairly readily. 
Obviously depends on where you live as what is available locally; would you have to pay for stuff to be delivered, or, collect it yourself etc. 

Hire a crew - that's going into sub-contracting territory. 

Any good hire place would advice on what needed to do the job, and, any practical considerations also - for example, are you the sort who would be at ease, fairly quickly, of using the equipment competently (Health & Safety at work and all that - very important!).  Even things like access to the area would need to taken into account, cleaning up etc.  You get the idea...

Have decided I'm backing out of 'rabbiting-on' any more - because, this simple query is leading down a hole.  Do the school want the paint just 'sort-of' scraped off - or, do they want it properly prepared for another coating / boards whatever whatever... 

Regardless, hope the project goes well.

Richard (UK)

 

[RustE]

Water Jet

For example:https://hydroblast.co.uk/high-press.../water-jet-paint-removal/paint-shop-cleaning/

 

[Sparktrician]

You might want to look into shot-blasting the floor to remove the old coating.

That is probably the best option. It won't level any deviations in the floor surface though. Not sure the machines can be rented and would require hiring a crew with the machine?

Not sure if these machines can be rented.  Better to get a crew and just get it done.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I second RustE's water jet, we used to do that in the body shop about once a year on a quiet day. Since we always worked over the entire surface of the shop, overspray would accumulate on the floor and we removed it with an industrial strength pressure washer/water jet that ran on 380v.

 

[iekoch@comcast.net]

With all of the low toxic paint removers out there, I think I would be more worried about lead paint dust than the chemicals.  Just saying. 
If you really want the mechanical way and the paint is thick maybe a vinyl tile remover for the initial layers., then grinders.