How to Paint a Boring Concrete Patio
If your patio looks run down or you just need a new look, you can stain your concrete floors to give them new life. Using stain on concrete has the added bonus of allowing the surface to breathe, preventing moisture build-up that can cause cracking and other damage, while still refreshing it. The variety of patterns that you can use is limited only by your taste and imagination, from simple to multi-color murals.
Materials needed for painting a concrete floor
To get started you will need:
- Concrete stain in any color you want
- Paint tray
- tarpaulin
- Broom
- Hose
- Brush
- Telescopic roller support
- Tear-resistant stain pad with handle compatible with your stick.
- Brush
- rag
- Bucket
You can also use chalk to draw your drawing if you want to do something intricate, or lay out your drawing before applying the stain. This will help visualize what it will look like once the template is in place and serve as a guide for your design.
How to apply stain on a concrete floor
First you need to prepare the floor. Remove all furniture and decor from the room and sweep up all dust and leaves. Use a hose and scrubbing brush to remove stubborn dirt to make sure the concrete is clean. After using water to clean the floor, let the surface dry for 24 hours so that excess moisture does not seep into the stain as it dries.
Once your area is clean and dry, you can apply the stain. Pour some stain into the paint tray and use the brush to cut through the edges and cracks. If you’re working with a pattern, use the brush to make outlines or any areas that require precision. This will result in cleaner lines and fewer random smudges than with a smudge pad. Once all edges are finished, use the stain remover to apply the color section by section.
If your pattern has seams or outlined areas, paint over each divided area separately so that the stain lays down in one layer and dries evenly. Walking over the same area multiple times after the stain has begun to dry will result in patchy, uneven color, as well as streaks and brush strokes.
Keep in mind that concrete will absorb paint at different rates in different areas, and unless the floor is perfectly level, any dips will accumulate a little more stain than other areas. Also, the patches will probably not be exactly the same color as the original concrete. Using an even, thin coat of stain with no excess or drips will give you the most even finish, but part of the aesthetics of stained concrete is that you can see imperfections and flaws in the concrete after it’s finished. If you want a lasting, more refined aesthetic, coloring is not for you.
You can walk on the floor as soon as it feels dry to the touch, but avoid scratches and moisture. Leave your patio empty to dry overnight before you arrange your furniture and enjoy your new floor. If you have used chalk to apply the design, allow the stain to dry for at least 24 hours before rinsing the chalk off the surface.