May 27 , 2022 Anderson Painting

A concrete patio is both an elegant and durable addition to your outdoor space. As sturdy as concrete is, however, it’s also highly porous, making it susceptible to all kinds of environmental deterioration. One of the best ways to protect your concrete patio and extend its lifespan is to seal it with the proper coatings. Like any application, proper preparation and planning are essential for achieving the best results. With that in mind, here are three useful tips for applying concrete coatings to your patio or deck.

3 Tips for Applying Concrete Coatings to Your Patio or Deck

1. Prepare Your Patio

Whether you’re dealing with standard paint, deck stain, or residential concrete floor coatings, cleanliness is key. If you attempt to coat a patio that’s covered in dirt and grime, your coatings won’t properly adhere to the surface, diminishing their appearance, effectiveness, and longevity. Likewise, if your patio was previously coated with a material that’s now peeling away, you’ll want to remove this residue before applying fresh coatings. Depending on your patio’s condition, these preparations may take the better part of a day or two to complete, so keep that in mind when scheduling your project. Generally speaking, the patio preparation process is as follows:

• Remove all patio furniture, decor, and accessories

• Sweep away loose dust and dirt
• Wash surfaces with water and detergent via scrubbing or pressure washing
• Remove previous, loose coatings (you might apply a chemical stripper before scraping away loose bits; conversely, you can invest in professional abrasive blasting services)
• On the day of application, sweep once more and make sure patio is completely dry

Following the above preparations will streamline the coating process and ensure superior protection.

2. Consider Your Climate

Your approach to coating your concrete patio is in no small part determined by your local environment. For starters, keep an eye on the forecast – if it’s too humid, excessively hot or cold, severely windy, or rainy, you’ll want to hold off on this project until things have calmed down. Beyond these day-to-day details, your region’s overall climate can help inform which concrete coating is best suited for your patio. Indeed, the best concrete floor coating for a homeowner in the deep south might not be the same for someone living up north due to differences in average temperatures, humidity levels, rainfall, snow accumulation, sunlight, and so on. Ideally, the concrete coating you select is one that holds up in all environments – this requires significant flexibility, durability, impact resistance, and moisture prevention.

3. Invest in Quality Concrete Floor Coatings

This final tip is directly tied to the previous one. No matter your location or preferences, it’s always worth investing in a high-quality concrete patio coating rather than settle for a lesser option. Of course, superior coatings tend to cost more upfront. Keep in mind, however, that the short-term concrete coating cost you incur when choosing a quality product is offset by the long-term benefits, such as superior durability, reduced maintenance needs, and longer lifespan. So, while you don’t want to break the bank when buying concrete coatings, you must also keep the bigger picture in mind. Low-quality coatings often end up costing much more in the long run, as they necessitate more maintenance, significant repairs, and frequent replacements.

Polyurea for Your Patio

At Anderson Painting, there’s a reason we recommend and install Penntek polyurea concrete coatings for our Raleigh, NC, clientele. These coatings are highly flexible, durable, and customizable – they’re also easy to install by professionals like us. If you’re looking for concrete patio coatings that will endure a long time no matter the weather, we have you covered with Penntek polyurea patio coatings. To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!