I spent all weekend with a pressure washer trying to remove old red paint off my concrete patio. The paint is bubbling up and cracking in different areas and we don't want to look at it any more. What is the best solution, I tried the pressure wash, that's not working, how about laying an inch of conrete (refininishing), or how about tile or slate? Do I need to remove the paint for the concrete or grout to stick?

I knew there were several new options to solve your problem, but may mean some monetary outlay, here is a website you may be interested in:

Concrete Info, Photos, and Concrete Contractors - The Concrete Network (http://www.concretenetwork.com)

Definitely do not put a new layer of concrete on top of that old paint. You can spray you patio with a concrete paint stripper and then use the pressure washer. You may need a powerful machine around 3000 psi, light weight 1800 psi barely wash a car.

Nothing is going to stick to old, loose paint. Try coating it with liquid cooking oil, let it set a day or 2 to soften, and hit it with the pressure washer. The cooking oil is cheap, effective, non toxic, and biodegradible.

Labman, Good answer with the cooking oil never would have thought of that. It just might work though.

Check out tool rental at Home Depot. They have a power tool specifically for paint removal on concrete.