How to Paint Concrete

Interior and exterior concrete surfaces don’t always have to be monotonous gray. You can make concrete surfaces beautiful and pleasing to the eye with a few coats of paint. Painting concrete is a simple and inexpensive task that any homeowner can do. To paint concrete beautifully, you must clean and properly treat the surface to be painted, use the right paint and wait a sufficient time for the paint to dry.

Table of Contents

Prepare the concrete surface

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Clean concrete surfaces with soap and warm water, scraping off old paint if present. First, you need to sweep away leaves, dirt on the concrete surface, then scrape off the old paint or dirt layer with a high pressure washer or a paint scraper and iron brush. Scrub away dirt and grime from the concrete. Don’t worry about stains seeping into the concrete if nothing sticks to the surface.

Clear away vines, moss or other vegetation covering the concrete surface.
You need the concrete surface to be as clean as possible to get the best finish. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Use a chemical tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) to clean dirty and greasy areas to ensure that the paint does not discolor later. You can buy TPS at most home improvement stores. Just mix this chemical with water according to the instructions on the package, remove the grease stains, then rinse off the cleaning chemical on the concrete. Wait for the concrete surface to dry completely before proceeding to the next steps. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Use concrete patching paint to repair major defects such as cracks, holes or uneven surfaces. You need to make the concrete surface as smooth and even as possible. Cracks or cracks are where moisture will seep underneath the paint and gradually peel the paint off. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for the time it takes for the paint to dry. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Seal concrete surfaces in your home to prevent moisture from seeping through the cement. Concrete sealants are quite expensive, but are the best way to ensure your hard work doesn’t go to waste. Concrete is a material with many small holes in the surface, which means that moisture can accumulate inside and damage the paint. You need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper preparation and use.

This step is not necessary if you are painting the concrete outdoors. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Concrete paint

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Check the weather forecast to make sure there are 2-3 consecutive dry days before painting outdoor concrete. You’ll need to wait a night for the first coat to dry, then reapply a second, and possibly third, coat. Each coat of paint needs to dry overnight, so it will take about 24 hours for the paint to dry completely. Paint should be carried out only when the weather is favorable. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

In some cases, the paint needs 24 hours to dry completely. That’s why you need to plan a lot of time to complete the painting process.

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Use a paint roller to apply primer. Before painting, you need to apply a primer to ensure the paint adheres to the concrete. Apply a coat of primer to the concrete to ensure a strong adhesion of the paint. Again, you need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and drying time.

If you’re painting over an old paint or outdoor paint, you may need to apply 2 coats of primer. Remember to let the first coat dry completely before applying the second coat. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Buy paint suitable for the type of concrete. It is best to use concrete paint that expands when the concrete changes temperature. This paint is sometimes sold as resilient paint or resilient wall paint. Since this paint is much denser than regular paint, you will need a large capacity paint roller or paint brush. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Use a paint roller to apply a thin, even layer. Starting at a corner or top edge of the wall, roll slowly and evenly over the entire concrete surface. There’s no need to apply a lot of paint for each coat – you’ll be applying another 1-2 coats once the first coat has dried, so don’t apply too much at once. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Next afternoon, apply a second coat. Once the paint has dried overnight, you can apply another coat. You should apply at least one more thin coat, or maybe a third coat for a darker and more even color.

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Wait for the paint to dry for 1-2 days before stepping on or placing anything on the concrete surface. Allow the final coat to dry for at least 24 hours before moving objects over or near freshly painted concrete to ensure a smooth and beautiful surface finish. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Advice

Surface coating should not be applied more than 2 layers (with roller paint, spray paint). In case of painting the 3rd layer, it must be sanded to create adhesion.
Usually people only paint concrete when it is necessary to cover an existing concrete slab. New concrete should not be painted until it has set for at least 28 days.

Warning

Take safety precautions when using tri-sodium phosphate, as the chemical can cause eye, lung, and skin damage.
If painting concrete floors, use a floor texture additive that can be mixed directly into the paint to prevent slipping.

Things you need

High pressure washer
Paint scraper
Iron brush
Paint brush
Paint tray
Paint roller
Rag
Tri-sodium phosphate
Paint and patch concrete
Concrete sealant
Concrete primer
Concrete paint ^{[10] X Research source}

Steps

Prepare the concrete surface

Concrete paint

Advice

Warning

Things you need

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