Painting Concrete

Painting concrete is a quick and easy way to make an old dull space look new.  There are three places where concrete is typically found around the home where a coat of paint can come in handy.

A garage.

A basement.

An exterior patio.

While each of these locations may have some slight variations in how to paint and what paint should be applied the general rule of thumb is the same.  The key to a successful paint job on any concrete surface is to make sure the surface is completely clean and completely dry.  To clean a concrete surface often a stiff brush with some soap and water will work.  If possible in a garage or an exterior patio your concrete can be cleaned with a power washer.  If grease and oil are present a cleaner which would remove grease and oil is necessary.  Once the surface has been completely clean it must be allowed to thoroughly dry before moving on to the next step.

Concrete is porous, therefore water will travel through it and stay in it for a long time.  After the service has been thoroughly cleaned make sure to wait until all the moisture has dried before trying to apply paint.  Another thing to remember here is that moisture can travel up through concrete this is especially true in basements and exterior patio locations.  If there is a large amount of moisture traveling up through the concrete a paint finish will not adhere.  A simple way to check if there is moisture traveling up through the concrete take a plastic bag or piece of plastic wrap and tape it to the floor for 24 hours.  When you remove the plastic bag or plastic wrap if there is moisture or condensation on the bottom of the bag you will need to apply sealant before applying paint.  The same trick can be used if you intend to put tile on a concrete floor.  Tile will not stick to the surface if moisture is present.  If you have determined that moisture is coming through your concrete floor you must purchase a quality sealant or primer for the floor.

Once the floor is clean, dry and sealed if necessary you are ready to paint.  When painting on concrete, you will want to have a new brush and a new roller for the job.  The brush and roller you use on the concrete surface will pick up dust and dirt and will get run down more quickly.  You will not want to use these tools when painting your next wall.  You will also need to select a special paint for this job.  Most major paint manufacturers make special paint for concrete, paints that are more elastic and paints that are more breathable to allow moisture in and out.  You will also want to select a good primer to put down before you apply the paint.  Finally, you may want to consider a paint additive that will add some texture.  Many times the concrete surface can become wet and slippery, especially an outside patio, textured additives will give the surface a finished look and provide a certain level of safety.  These additives are inexpensive and can be found in most paint stores.

When you are finished either dispose of the brush and roller you used for this job or save it to only be used on concrete work.