Thread: Removing Latex Paint from Sidewalk

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Hey guys-
Yup, I'm an idiot. I got latex paint on the sidewalk- black, of all things. It's pretty bad. I need to remove it before the HOA gets on me about it. I sprayed water on it- but it was too soaked in. I won't be able to get to it today, so it's going to have another full day baking in the sun. What's the best way? I assume some kind of solvent and a wire brush?

Try using a pressure washer.

goof-off works but pressure washer will be faster

I'll be interested to see what you come up with. We painted the garage floor for our swamp room, and I didn't know if I could get it off, or if I would just have to let it wear off.

ahhh! Pressure Washer! Sweet! I actually have one that I never used- this is a perfect time for it! Do I need to soak it with any solvents first? I don't think it's a high end really good pressure washer- so not sure how well it will work.

nope just blast it. in fact the dryer the paint the easier it comes off. mine is harbor freight $50 POS works fine

I suggest mixing up a sidewalk gray paint to camouflage it if you couldn't get it off there with the pressure washing...

if it does not come off tell the hoa to go haunt off I hate hoa's

When that happened to me I let it dry and it peeled right off.

Pressure wash sidewalk. Let dry. Saturate a small paint roller with a non toxic/enzymatic paint stripper (so the runoff won't kill any surrounding vegetation.) Let sit for 30 minutes. Pressure Wash. Let dry. Repeat as necessary. Also, alternate paint stripper with baking soda and vinegar. As of now, you're trying to get the pigment out of the porous concrete sub-surface. Think "exfoliate".
Also, you can take Frankie's Girl' advice and just look into blending the stain out with a quart or two of masonry exterior paint.