[Kev Martin]

Roger

Well said!

Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics Ltd

[Kev Martin]

Anyone want to chip into how long the various methods stated above would clean off the floor shown - about 9m2 and every bit is as bad as the photo shows. I have tried diamond brushes and the issue on floors seems to be if you remove paint spots without softening them 1st with a chem is that they create a scratch pattern.
Tried xylene quite effective but stinks - slowly but surely seems to be harder to land the job as it costs more.

Graeme

It really depends on the paint to start!

Is it Gloss or Emulsion?  Do a test area!  Sometimes even a pH Neutral Cleaner, warm water and a microfibre pad will remove 90% and then see what your left with!  The issue with Xylene as Roger says is it can have it's place in some situations but PPE is very important.  The vapours can be inhaled as you have already found out, it can permeate into soft furnishings and worst of all it can be absorbed into the skin so would I use it?  The answer is maybe YES if I had tried absolutely everything in my arsenal first.  Have I ever used it on a job? NO because I have always found a friendlier more green way of doing it!

Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics Ltd

[Rob Hall]

Anyone want to chip into how long the various methods stated above would clean off the floor shown - about 9m2 and every bit is as bad as the photo shows. I have tried diamond brushes and the issue on floors seems to be if you remove paint spots without softening them 1st with a chem is that they create a scratch pattern.
Tried xylene quite effective but stinks - slowly but surely seems to be harder to land the job as it costs more.

Graeme, as it is only 9sqm, why not use diamond pads or Twister type pads and work up through the grades until the required finish is found?

[Graeme Smith]

its not the finish I'm bothered about with these its getting the paint off in the first place - heavily stuck on gloss paint does not come off with a coarse pad. It will take some but you always end up on your hands and knees

[Rob Hall]

its not the finish I'm bothered about with these its getting the paint off in the first place - heavily stuck on gloss paint does not come off with a coarse pad. It will take some but you always end up on your hands and knees

Where is the job?

[Graeme Smith]

Its a dead duck now priced it up to do 2 visits clean leave to dry and seal and she has gone quiet despite the fact she has tried for 5 hours to remove the paint herself with everything going and failed. Job Value had tipped over £500.00 so it was shot dead in the paddock.

[Griffus]

1: Sack the painter

2: If softer options have failed then two options from me: -
     
a) Paint Stripper, apply, dwell then wipe away. Wear proper PPE. This won't take as long as you may think, but will hardly be quick. Stripper quite pricey so allow for that.

b) Steam and a plastic scraper, then turps and a rag to finish.

This assumes this is Gloss.

If tiles are porous then the job will take a whole lot longer. Time thge paint has been down is also a factor.

Last thing, have you carried out a small test patch? If not do so.  We have this all the time, though no where near this covered via builders cleans. Longest I've spent was 4 hours and that was a large kitchen diner with paint all around the edges and liberally splattered throughout.

[Graeme Smith]

I know how to do it always looking for a faster option but there is not  particularly quick one with this some are slightly faster than others

[Griffus]

I know how to do it always looking for a faster option but there is not  particularly quick one with this some are slightly faster than others

 

[Graeme Smith]

Don't be confused just thought someone had a better method

AM SCR or wax off or xylene will all take the paint off I'm just on a mission to suffer less with these floors so was interested in any in put. Everyone has there own preferred method I would like one that involves standing behind a machine rather than on my knees (a lot) if possible.

Its also now a resurrected job as she asked me to do it today - thought the nearly £700.00 had put her off, so I'll be putting  a sealing and coating remover on it/ scraping and everything else in between as normal.

[SteveAllan]

Nice one Graeme, dont forget some after pics  Are you sealing it with Enrich & seal?

[Graeme Smith]

yup played around with other sealers and they are not as powerful - tried Stainstop plus which is ok but on sandstone its only starting to get the desired effect on coat 2. Enrich and sealed a sandstone floor in a kitchen and one coat did it which was a surprise as sandstone is porous as hell.