How to Paint Concrete Stairs

Many people look to save money by doing their own home improvement projects. The most common project that homeowners undertake, and one of the more difficult to get right, is painting. While some surfaces are easier than others, the true challenge for any do-it-yourself painter is going to be painting concrete, particularly stairs.

Things You'll Need

• Power washer (optional)
• Wire brush
• Scraper
• Brush
• Roller (optional)
• Sealant/primer (both if necessary)
• Paint
• Brush cleaner (mineral spirits or paint thinner)

Instructions

1. Prepare your area. The stairs should be cleaned off completely before they're sealed and painted. All old paint should be scraped away (though, if the area is outside, a power washer does this job much more efficiently). Any old stains or discolorations should be cleaned out or covered over (bleached out with a chemical agent, washed out with a power washer or covered over with a concrete patch that roughly matches the surrounding concrete), as they can leech through and ruin the look of the new paint job.

2. Make sure the stairs are sealed. Sealing concrete stairs means that water won't come up under them and create damage beneath the surface, which is a common problem in basements.

3. Apply the primer with either a paint brush or a spray, whichever suits you. The primer combines with the sealer to create a buffer between the porous concrete and the paint that you'll be applying. If the stairs are wide enough, use a paint roller, but more often than not you will end up using a paintbrush. When you're finished with the primer, clean your brushes thoroughly.

4. Paint the stairs. Apply your paint in thin coats and repeat several times. Several thin coats of paint form a harder surface than a single, thick coat of paint, which feels gummy.

5. Once you've finished painting, clean your brushes and yourself thoroughly. This is especially important when using oil-based paint. Once the paint is dry, check it for imperfections. Then relax and enjoy your new and improved set of concrete stairs.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that the paint you're using is appropriate to the area the stairs are in: indoor paint for basement stairs and outdoor paint for porches. Other than that, though, any surface paint should do, as you're painting over the sealant and not the actual concrete.