Can concrete be painted? The short answer: yes, you can paint concrete, but you are going to need to do a little bit of preparation first. In this article, we’re going to be showing you exactly what you need to do to get your concrete ready, as well as covering some painting tips.
Why preparation is necessary
The reason painting concrete can be a little tricky is because it’s a porous material (liquid or air can pass through it). This means that, if you were to paint directly onto concrete without any prior treatment, the paint would soak into the concrete, leaving a very patchy finish.
How to paint your concrete
Step 1 – Clean the concrete: Before you do anything else, make sure that you clean your concrete properly. Given how porous concrete is, it’s very easy for dirt, grime and oil to get trapped under the surface which can make painting even trickier. You can use a pre-paint cleaner, or you can even use a pressure washer for larger surfaces with more stubborn stains.
Step 2 – Seal the concrete: As we mentioned earlier, painting concrete is tricky because the paint can soak into the surface. In order to get a smooth, patch-free finish, you’re going to need to seal the concrete first. This will also help to prevent moisture and mould growth.
Any decent masonry sealer will do. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when applying your sealer, too. For example, some products will require two coats, and the curing times are likely to vary a little.
Step 3 – Prime the concrete: Once you’ve sealed the concrete, you’re going to need to prime it. This stage is all about making sure that the pores are completely filled and the surface is smooth enough to be painted on. The type of primer you use will depend on whether the concrete surface you’re working with is internal or external, so bear this in mind when doing your research.
Step 4 – Paint the concrete: Once your primer is dry, you’re ready to paint the concrete. You can use either masonry paint or standard exterior house paint. Given that masonry paint contains a binding agent that will expand and contract with the concrete, this is a really good option – it also tends to be thicker and more hardwearing. You may find that traditional paint will peel or crack over time as the concrete fluctuates in mass.
You will probably need to apply multiple coats (at least two, maybe three). We would recommend waiting at least a day between coats, so don’t be too eager!
EasyMix Concrete is London’s leading concrete supplier. We create both ready mix and volumetric concrete, so no matter what you’re looking for you can be sure that we have something for you. We even have a handy concrete calculator on our website that you can use to get an idea of how much concrete you’ll need for your project and how much it might cost you.
For more information about our services, or to book us for your next project, all you have to do is give us a call.