Using Concrete Paint to Enhance a Patio
Summer is now in full swing, and if you’re fortunate enough to own a deck or patio, you probably want to get the most out of these leisurely features while you can. If your concrete patio has seen better days, though, you might not feel so enticed to spend your summer lounging on it. Perhaps it’s time for an outdoor renovation -- a good place to start is by investing in concrete paint for your patio. Let’s explain how painting your patio properly can enhance its integrity and appearance for many summers to come.
How Concrete Paint Helps Patios
Why Concrete Paint?
There are two primary ways to protect and maintain a concrete deck or patio: staining and painting. Both options have their merits and drawbacks. Concrete deck stain, for instance, seeps into the concrete itself and provides a translucent coating that provides some sheen and minor protection against moisture, sunlight, and impact. Concrete paint, on the other hand, lays over the concrete and provides stronger protection against environmental threats -- however, if improperly applied, concrete paint can peel away from the surface, chip, and fade over time.
The key to a successful concrete patio paint job, then, is in the preparation and application processes. If these two parts are handled well, concrete paint provides superior protection and offers more aesthetic options for your patio when it comes to color and texture.
Prepare Before Painting Your Patio
As just mentioned above, proper preparation is essential for enhancing your patio with outdoor concrete epoxy paint (or any other type of concrete paint). Failing to perform this prep work will likely result in an uneven, short-lived, unprotected outcome. Necessary prep work includes steps such as:
- Cleaning and degreasing the bare surface
- Scraping away any previous coatings
- Removing curing chemicals with muriatic acid
- Grinding and filling cracks
- Sealing the patio with primer prior to painting
These measures will create a much more receptive surface for your concrete paint to adhere to when the time comes. As such, the paint will go on evenly and resist peeling away from the surface.
Concrete Patio Paint Options
So, now that we have gone over the advantages and caveats regarding concrete patio painting, let’s go over the various paint options you might consider. Each of these options contains concrete binders in order to move with the concrete as it expands and contracts over time.
Low-Luster Acrylic Latex Paint
This is a common option for concrete decks, porches, patios, and walkways. Low-luster acrylic latex paints with enamel finishes hide surface imperfections and provide protection against impact, scruffs, fractures, and ultraviolet (UV) damage.
Epoxy Concrete Floor Paint
Patios and other concrete surfaces that undergo significant foot traffic and pressure benefit from concrete epoxy paint. A quality epoxy floor paint will resist fading, protect your patio from moisture, chemicals, impact, and more, and reduce the amount of maintenance you must perform.
Masonry Paints
Though typically used for brick and stone surfaces, masonry paint can also work well for concrete applications as they contain binders suited for concrete. Waterproof masonry paints are best for outdoor patios.
Polyurea Coatings
Lastly, polyurea coatings provide superior protection against the elements and significantly enhance the look of concrete surfaces thanks to their versatility. Anderson Painting uses Penntek polyurea floor coatings for patios, decks, basements, garages, and commercial applications. These coatings are durable, reliable, easy to maintain, and beautiful.
Time to Paint your Patio?
Painting your concrete patio is a powerful way to not only protect it this summer, but also to boost its appearance for maximum enjoyment. Let the pros at Anderson Painting help you get the most out of your outdoor spaces this season and beyond. To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
