The Truth About How To Paint Concrete Patios

How To Paint A Concrete Patio

Before you start any painting project on outdoor concrete patios, you must check the moisture levels of the concrete using a moisture reader. If the moisture levels are above 10% it is too wet to paint, resulting in the paint eventually failing. If you cannot get a moisture reader, put some metal or plastic down on the concrete overnight. In the morning if there is moisture on the underside of the plastic or metal, this indicates that the concrete has a large moisture content.

What You Will Need

• Rust-Oleum 7200 Floorcoat
• Floor degreaser
• Exterior filler & sandpaper (not required)
• A long pile paint roller & extension pole
• A paint tray or kettle
• A stiff brush

1. Clean

Dirt and grime is extremely easily collected by concrete patios, which is why you must clean the surface first before anything else. Clear the full patio of furniture and sweep the surface using a garden brush in order to remove large amounts of leaves & dirt. This will be significantly easier if you do this in dry weather, especially as to continue with the other steps it must be completely dry anyway. Scrub any dirt or grease from the concrete using warm soapy water and a stiff brush. For a deep clean, you can use an anti-fungal cleaner such as Emperor Masonry Cleaner that will kill any fungus that can bloom underneath the paint film, causing the paint to fail. This is highly recommended if you want long-term results.

2. Preparation

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Once the concrete is clean, it is then time to prep it ready for to paint. The first part of this is to ensure that any cracks in the concrete are repaired, if this is something you want to do. This is not a step that you have to take, but if you want to achieve the best possible finish repairing any cracks is an option. Start by removing any debris or loose material from the crack. Using an exterior filler such as Toupret Touprelith F Masonry Repair Filler fill the crack, working the filler back and forth in straight lines. It is recommended to slightly overfill the crack to ensure that the crack is fully filled and to account for any shrinkage. Once this has been done, you must then sand the filler down in order to achieve a smooth finish.

3. Prime

On bare outdoor concrete, depending on the floor paint you are using, it may require a primer. Even if the paint you are using is self-priming, it is recommended to use a primer for the best possible results as primer ensures the paint can properly adhere to the surface long-term. Rustoleum 7201 Floorcoat PU Floor Primer is ideal for use with 7200 Rust-Oleum Floorcoat. Apply one-coat of the primer using a paint brush or a paint roller, ensuring a thin but even coating. Allow to completely dry before moving on to painting, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

4. Paint

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Starting at the edges apply the first coat of paint with a paint brush and eventually using a roller to paint the main bulk of the patio. You should ensure that you use a long-pile roller sleeve when painting any exterior concrete as this gives you the best possible coverage and allows you to paint in the various bumps and cracks of a rough exterior surface.

We would recommend using an extension pole to take the pressure off your arms and back.

This first coat of paint should be a thin, even layer as this is solely to create a solid basecoat to the concrete, rather than to add a strong build of colour. Allow to dry completely, which will be a minimum of 12 hours due to it being a solvent-based paint. Once the first coat of outdoor concrete paint has fully dried, apply the second coat slightly thicker to the concrete, ensuring you paint in all of the cracks and bumps in the concrete. It may require a third coat of paint depending on the surface and the thickness of your previous coats.

Allow to completely cure over a period of 24 hours without walking on the concrete.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor