Refresh Your Concrete Patio With Color and Protective
Concrete patios are one of the ugliest backyard elements out there, but many of us get stuck with them because we rent them out or just don’t have the means to take them apart. A restoration can be the answer to a much needed renovation of your backyard, starting from scratch.
Over time, concrete terraces will crack, get dirty and irritate your eyes. Combat this with a concrete coating product that will fill small cracks, prevent chipping, and protect against moisture and sunlight. These paints and varnishes are applied like paint using a roller, but much thicker. As with any painting, preparation is the most important step. If the concrete surface is not 100% clean, the coating will not adhere or will peel off later.
You can choose from a variety of colors, and if you are adventurous, you can paint patterns on the ground. The two most popular products are Rust-Oleum Restore 10x and Olympic Rescue It Resurfacer . Olympic is slightly more expensive but can be dyed in 110 different colors, unlike Rust-Oleum, which only has 60 colors.
Both of these concrete coatings can be applied to wood decks and provide the same water and UV protection for wood surfaces as for concrete.
Workshop is a new blog from Lifehacker dedicated to DIY tips, techniques and projects. Follow us on Twitter here .