Applying the right concrete paint is important to receive the best results from your work. Whether you're painting concrete walls or floors, you want to use the right techniques and materials to ensure that the color lasts as long as possible. Avoiding common mistakes when painting concrete floors can help you avoid premature flaking and peeling as well. In most cases, acrylic latex, epoxy, or masonry paints will give you the best results when going over a concrete surface. Walls tend to have better results with a masonry application, while flooring needs an acrylic latex application to withstand foot traffic. For areas where you may be parking vehicles, consider using an epoxy application to protect the subfloor. All of these options provide moisture protection, which is important for a porous material like concrete, while also guarding against premature cracking or peeling.
Almost as important is the preparation of the surface before you begin. You need to clean the area to remove any debris or dust. Use a broom or vacuum to do the basic cleaning, although you also can use a pressure washer on a lower setting, too. The pressure washer should help you remove existing paint from your concrete floor or wall. Next, apply an etching solution to remove salt deposits before filling cracks with a masonry filler. Filling cracks should improve the results of the paint job, as the cracks can store moisture that could cause peeling in the near future. Airless Stain Sprayer
Consider the location of the wall where you will be working before choosing the type of paint that you want to use. A concrete wall in a below-ground basement requires certain types of paint because of the possibility of moisture forming on or seeping through, while an above-ground concrete wall requires less specificity.
When working in a basement, epoxy or masonry paints are the best materials. When applying the masonry product, you receive an elastomeric material that can expand and contract along with the wall as moisture and temperature levels change. This reduces the chances of peeling, yielding a longer-lasting application. The epoxy product also is a good choice, as it offers a waterproof design. However, pros are more likely to apply masonry paint, as it dries faster and costs less than epoxy material.
When the concrete wall is above the ground, meaning you don't have to worry about moisture seepage coming through the cement, you have the option of using a latex product, or you can stick with the masonry and epoxy products. The best option may involve using a special kind of latex paint made for masonry. Latex delivers waterproof capabilities, which protects the cement from water penetration after a rainstorm. If you're working near a grassy area where water from the lawn sprinklers could strike, using waterproof latex is a good idea to prevent cracking and peeling of the painted layer on the wall.
When selecting paint to use on a floor that consists of concrete, you have a few additional considerations versus selecting a product to use on a wall. Because of the foot traffic that this area has to contend with, you may want to add a sealer over the top after you finish the painting job. This provides an extra layer of protection from scrapes, peeling, and scratches, meaning you won't have to do the painting work as often.
For areas that will see regular foot traffic and even some vehicular traffic, an epoxy material should yield the best results. Epoxy paints are extremely durable, and they resist staining, which can be important in an area where vehicles may be present. Some of the epoxy products will call for a two-step process, which creates a more durable finished surface. You would add a catalyst to the can of paint, which serves as a hardening agent. The epoxy also may have color flecks that you can add to create a more interesting look. This option can be more expensive than others, though, while also taking longer to dry.
Latex Floor Paint If you need to hide imperfections on the concrete surface, or if you need a material that is going to resist UV rays from the sun, an acrylic latex paint may deliver the ideal results for you. Acrylic latex products have a waterproof design that should resist peeling and fading while offering a reasonable price.