You can paint a concrete patio. In fact, painting it may extend its life in addition to improving its appearance. Special products exist that will help you do the job quickly and correctly. This is a project that, for an average sized patio, can be completed over one or two nice weekends. But, painting your patio does involve some preliminary steps.
Strip Old Paint
If the patio has been painted before, remove all traces of the old paint using paint remover and a scraper tool. Use a long-handled scraper to save your knees. Also use protective gloves when working with paint remover.
Clean And Repair
After removing the paint, clean the patio thoroughly with soapy water and a push broom. Rinse it well and let it dry completely before continuing the project.
Check your patio for any cracks, holes or rough spots. Use concrete filler in a tube for small cracks and use concrete and a trowel to fill in any larger uneven areas. Flatten and smooth the filler using the trowel. Concrete tends to swell slightly as it dries, so you may have raised areas that need to be sanded down once the filler is completely dry.
Clean Again and Prime
Sweep, scrub and dry again. The surface must be as dust free as possible before applying primer and paint. Concrete primer is absolutely essential. This will keep your paint from peeling and chipping. Apply primer with a roller attached to a long-handled extension. Small areas or trim can be done with a brush.
Paint
Use a quality paint designed specifically for concrete. Apply two coats, letting the paint dry well after each coat. Some concrete paints come with texturing sand or grit that reduces the slickness of the painted surface, making it safer in wet weather or when feet are wet from swimming.
Considerations
The optimum temperature for outdoor painting varies depending on your location. The experts at your local paint or hardware store can advise you on this matter. In general, wait for weather that is dry and warm, but not hot as this will make the paint dry too fast both on the surface and on your brushes and rollers.
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