How to Repaint a Painted Concrete Patio
Painting an already painted concrete patio can present somewhat of a challenge---especially if the area you desire to paint is exposed to water, high traffic, etc. If you don't paint correctly, your final result will look horrible. You first need to remove all of the existing paint before moving forward with your painting plan. Next prepare the concrete itself for its new coat. If you do everything just right, you will have a nice, neat, painted patio whose new surface should last for years. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Paint-removing solvent, high-pressure water hose or handheld paint scrapers (or all 3)
- Broom and dustpan
- Mop and bucket
- Epoxy for concrete surfaces
- Paint rollers with 3/8 nap and long handles
- Muriatic acid
- Eye protection and gloves
Instructions
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From Beginning to End
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1
Gather all the things you need first; this procedure is time sensitive---especially for the epoxy with which you will cover the concrete. If not used before its specific time limit, the epoxy will turn into a useless hunk of goo. Most hardware stores carry concrete epoxy, and some sell epoxy kits that include everything you need. You must know the square footage of the surface you wish to cover in order to purchase the correct amount of epoxy. Make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions.
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2
Remove the existing paint. The time and effort needed to accomplish this task depend upon the type of paint already on the concrete. You can use a paint-dissolving fluid and scrape the nasty mess off, or you can blow it off with a high-pressure water hose. Do not simply scrape the old paint off---a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. Either way, get ready to clean up a pretty impressive amount of, well, gunk.
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3
After the newly cleaned surface has dried, clean it again; mop and sweep it thoroughly. Any foreign matter will glaringly show up in your new surface or will cause tiny parts to come loose and lead to a failure akin to a small hole in a ship. Do not wait too long between the cleanup and the painting, as concrete emits lots of dust particles---another reason to paint all concrete surfaces in your house.
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4
Next, unleash the muriatic acid, which will etch the concrete so that the paint will adhere to this tricky smooth concrete-dust-emitting surface. Don your eye protection and gloves; keep muriatic acid away from your skin and, at all cost, out of your eyes. Apply the acid per directions. After the acid has dried completely, mop the floor again with clean water.
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5
Now you've prepared the concrete surface---a canvas waiting for the artist's touch. Apply the epoxy evenly and not too thin or thick, covering the entire surface. The epoxy works great on concrete because, unlike other paints (enamel, for instance), the epoxy settles in and seals the concrete, protecting it from exposure to Mother Nature, water or high traffic.
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Tips & Warnings
Heed the precautions related to the use of muriatic acid.
