To begin with, there are many advantages of concrete paint for home and business owners in the greater Triangle area. Painting old basement walls/floors, garage floors, swimming pools, and outdoor patios can bring new life to aging concrete components. Painting concrete can also hide the signs of wear and tear, surface discoloration, and prevent future damage from occurring. Additionally, coating concrete with paint provides low-maintenance and easy cleanup.
What is Concrete Paint?
Concrete paint has a different chemical structure than standard house paint does. It is designed to penetrate the pores of concrete while special binders like epoxy ensure it sticks. In addition to epoxy paints, elastomeric wall coatings or elastomeric paint are also used for painting masonry and concrete.
DIY or Professional Installation?
Although painting concrete can be a DIY project, most homeowners in North Carolina opt for professional concrete painting services instead. Painting concrete is not as simple as buying a gallon of paint and applying it with a brush and roller. Since porous concrete absorbs moisture and paint that keeps it from sticking, certain preparation steps need to be applied. The good news, painting concrete isn’t overly complicated, and the results are certainly worth the time and money.
Here are some advantages of utilizing a professional concrete paint installer:
- Professional cleaning and preparation
- Faster installations and applications
- Higher-quality concrete paints
- Multiple textures and color choices
- Patterns and unique designs
- Warranty on materials and labor
We Do Concrete Cheap is also proud to offer Epoxy Floor Coating Services to Our Local Neighbors in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill Areas of North Carolina. Always Dreamed of a Beautiful Epoxy Garage Floor? Look No Further As We Do Concrete Cheap Has Got You Covered…..
DIY Tips for Homeowners in North Carolina
Tip #1: Clean and Prepping the Concrete
This is the most vital part of ensuring that your concrete paint adheres properly. Even the best concrete paints will not stick to oil stains, rust, fungus, or dirty concrete. Therefore, a cleaning solution of either trisodium phosphate, industrial-strength degreaser, or muriatic acid may be required.
Tip #2: Hand Tools and Patchwork
You will need a wire brush or hard-bristled brush and a variety of hand tools to etch the surface. It’s important to rough up the entire surface before any patchwork or painting can be done. Once the cleaning is done and the surface is etched, let it dry before filling in cracks and holes.
Tip #3: Testing the Concrete
Before concrete paint can be applied, you should test the concrete. This can be done by simply pouring water onto the surface. If it soaks in, it can be painted, but if droplets appear, you will need more prep work. A harder scrubbing with an etching solution may be required. Additionally, if that doesn’t work, apply a coat of masonry sealer or concrete primer before painting.
Tip #4: Selecting Your Concrete Paint
As mentioned above, make sure the paint you select is actually made for painting the type of surface you intend to paint. If you are thinking about painting a patio, garage or basement concrete floor, you should select an epoxy-based paint. A heavy-textured roller and masonry paintbrush will give you maximum coverage and an even coat.
Tip #5: Plan Your Escape Route
It is always best to start on the far end of the floor and work your way back to a door. If the door swings inward, it’s probably worth the time to pop the pins on the door hinges and remove the door. You will also want to use plastic to cover doorways and close the windows to keep the dust under control.
The Advantage of Hiring a Pro
As you can see there are many steps to cleaning and prepping concrete before it can be painted. Here at We Do Concrete Cheap, we deploy a variety of techniques to quickly clean and paint concrete. We have specialized tools that etch a floor faster and better than most DIY techniques.
We also ensure the best concrete paint applications and guarantee our work. Call or contact us today for free estimates, advice, and to get started on your concrete painting project.
