How to Paint Cement Patios
The great virtue of a concrete patio is that it is easy to build. Its great drawback is that it is gray, featureless and plain. However, you can easily fix that with a coat of paint. Even the simple step of putting a single color on the patio can greatly improve the appearance of a concrete patio. You can even get creative and paint the patio with decorative designs, such as those that mimic tile work. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Hammer
- Chisel
- Tub of quick-drying concrete patching mix
- Broom
- Mop
- Bucket
- Detergent
- Primer
- Paint
- Brushes
- Roller
- Roller handle
- Paint pan
- Masking tape (optional)
Instructions
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1
Inspect the patio for cracks or damage. If there are repairs to be done, start by chipping away any surface concrete that is rough and would interfere with a smooth finish with a hammer and chisel. Mix up a batch of quick-drying patching concrete and apply it to the crack or gash. Push the wet concrete into the joint and smooth it out with the trowel. Allow that to dry overnight.
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Clean up the patio. Sweep off all debris and mop away all dirt. Allow the wet patio to dry for a few hours.
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3
Apply primer to the patio with a brush or paint roller. The roller is a good idea if you are painting a large area in one color, and you can even skip the paint pan and pour primer right on the concrete in that case. Use the brush for fine work, such as painting designs or touchy areas like where the patio meets the walls of your house. Allow the primer to dry for at least eight hours.
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Paint the patio. Apply two to three layers of paint with the roller or brush, just as you did with the primer. Allow a minimum of eight hours to dry between coats of paint.
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Tips & Warnings
A trick for creating decorative designs on your concrete patio is to measure and mark out spaces with masking tape. You can create even, tile-like grids and paint them in alternating colors. Another option is to draw uneven designs and create a flagstone-like appearance. When you pull up the masking tape at the end of the job, you will have concrete-gray channels between your painted, colored blocks.
Make sure you have chosen exterior primer paint that is rated for masonry or concrete for this paint job. If it doesn't say "exterior" and either "masonry" or "concrete" or both, the paint will peel off and wear away years ahead of schedule.
