You may have seen beautifully painted concrete walls or floors and asked yourself, “Can commercial painters in Melbourne do that too?” We are here to tell you everything you must know about that concrete painting and how it can transform any room in your home. Here are the significant points you should know before getting started.
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Can You Paint Concrete?
Painting experts apply paint to almost every sound concrete surface, including the interior floors, walls, exterior patios, sidewalks, and pool decks. All you need to do is ensure that the surface is clean and free of any existing coatings or sealers that may interfere with the paint’s adhesion, and you’ll be good to go.
According to commercial paint experts in Melbourne, concrete paint is not the perfect option for high-traffic areas such as concrete driveways because it is a surface coating prone to abrasion. An acid-based stain or dry-shake colour hardener will provide better wear resistance in these applications.
Difference Between Concrete Stain and Concrete Paint
The primary distinction between acid-based concrete stains and paint is how they react with concrete. Acid-based stains penetrate the concrete and react with the salts and minerals to produce rich, deep, translucent tones. Although the colour is long-lasting and will not chip or peel away, it is unpredictable and will vary depending on the concrete’s makeup.
Concrete paint is non-reactive and fills the surface pores to achieve an opaque, uniform, and consistent colour. But, if you don’t prepare and maintain it, concrete paint can chip and peel over time.
Benefits of Concrete Painting
Concrete paint is unbeatable if you want a product:
- Simple to use
- Economical
- Colours are available in various shades.
- Coverage is adequate.
Unlike acid stains, most concrete paints are applied with a paintbrush or roller. Because most concrete paints are water-based acrylic latex formulas, cleanup is also simple. Concrete paints are also safer to use, particularly indoors. Take precautions when working with acid-based stains because they often have corrosive elements that cause eye and skin irritation and strong odours.
Most concrete paints, like latex-based house paint, are tintable, giving you an infinite colour option. Furthermore, because concrete paints are opaque and used in multiple coats, they are excellent for concealing cracks and other issues in your existing concrete surface. In contrast, the translucent stain would let those imperfections show through, so choose wisely.
What is the Best Concrete Paint?
When shopping for concrete paint, look for a product specifically designed for concrete or masonry use. Concrete paints are thicker and more durable than traditional exterior or interior wall paints, and they have binders allowing them to expand and contract with the concrete.
Concrete paints are typically labelled to indicate the surface type for which they are best suited:
- Acrylic latex paints for concrete porches and patios are resistant to fading, scuffing, peeling, and UV damage. They are available in low-lustre and gloss finishes and get used on interior concrete floors.
- Professionals use waterproofing masonry paints for brick and other masonry surfaces but can also use them for concrete basements and foundation walls. They are ideal for outdoor use due to their resistance to mildew, dirt, and moisture penetration.
- Concrete garage and floor paints get used in garages, carports, basement floors, and walkways. They resist stains from motor oil, grease, gasoline, and peeling from hot tyres.
Concrete paint should not be confused with epoxy coatings, two-component resin-based systems that chemically bond with the concrete. Epoxy coatings are more expensive per square foot than paint, but they are often long-lasting and wear-resistant, which makes them a better option for floors and other high-traffic surfaces.
Are Concrete Paints Slip-Resistant?
When wet, painted concrete surfaces can become slick. For high-traffic areas such as porches, steps, pool decks, and patios, an anti-slip concrete floor paint containing fine aggregate, which gives the surface a light sand finish, is a good choice. If your chosen paint is not slip-resistant, you can improve traction by mixing anti-skid additives into the final coat of paint.
How to get Best Concrete Painting Result?
Any concrete surface you want to paint must be clean and free of contaminants and any existing coatings, sealers, or curing compounds. Otherwise, the paint will only partially adhere to the concrete. For proper paint adhesion, the concrete that needs to get painted should have a slight texture. If the surface is highly smooth or has a hard-troweled finish, it may be necessary to first acid etch or mechanically abrade it.
Although some concrete paints require priming, many are self-priming and can be applied directly to bare concrete. Make sure to follow the paint manufacturer’s instructions. Also, when painting outdoor concrete surfaces, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for minimum air and surface temperatures. Temperatures should be above 50° F in most cases.
The concrete must also be dry and free of trapped moisture for the paint to adhere correctly. Duct tape the surface with a square-shaped clear plastic and leave it in place for 24 hours to test the moisture content of the concrete before painting. If condensation forms under the plastic after that time, the concrete is too wet for painting and will require additional drying time. Contacting professionals is the best solution to get the perfect concrete painting result.
Talk to Our Professionals at Blue Sky Coating
Concrete is a popular building material found in almost every home. You may want to invest in quality concrete painting if you have a concrete driveway or a beautiful concrete wall feature in your backyard. Blue Sky Coatings can help you with concrete painting if you want to elevate your concrete elements and breathe new life into your home. Whether you search for residential or commercial painting services in Melbourne, the professionals remain just a call away, so connect soon!
