Concrete Paint

What Is Concrete Paint?

Concrete paint as the name would suggest is paint that has been specially designed for application on concrete surfaces, such as garage floors or patios. The reality is, there are many different examples of concrete around the exterior of the home, which means that there is no one-fits-all example of concrete paint. Concrete exterior walls for example require a different paint to concrete floors. These vertical surfaces are what masonry paints are designed to paint, providing durability and weather protection. While many sources recommend using a masonry paint on all concrete surfaces such as patios as masonry paint can adhere to any concrete, this is something that shouldn't be done. Masonry paint is designed for vertical concrete not horizontal concrete, as the footfall and standing water that a patio much endure is not what masonry paint has been designed for. If you are looking to paint your exterior concrete walls, why not read our full guide to the best masonry paint?

In the case of concrete floors there are a number of concrete floor paints available. Some of these paints are designed for interior use, while some are designed for outdoor use. It is crucial that you always check whether a paint is suitable for your intended project. If you use a paint that is not suitable, such as masonry paint on patios, the paint will fail in a matter of years, if not months - just a fraction of the longevity of products when they are used for their designed purpose.

Which Paint Brands Offer Concrete Paint?

There are a wide range of paint brands that offer concrete paints for floors:

• Dulux Trade
• Crown Trade
• Rust-Oleum

Here at Painters World we only stock high-quality trade paints as we believe that not only do they ensure the best possible finish in any decorating project, but they also offer significantly better value for money no matter if you are a professional decorator or a homeowner.

When To Paint Concrete

When it comes to outdoor concrete, the best time of year to paint is when it is not too warm, but not too cold. This is because cold temperatures mean that paint struggles to dry, while warm temperatures mean that the paint dries too quickly, resulting in flashing.

Furthermore, as with any exterior painting, you must ensure that there will be no rainfall until the project is fully completed.

This means that people usually reserve outdoor painting until spring and summer, picking a weekend where the forecast is completely dry but the temperature does not rise too high.

It is also important to note that you should not paint concrete that is high in moisture. If the moisture content of concrete is high, the paint will not perform to the best of its ability. To check if the concrete is dry enough to paint, place a metal or plastic sheet on the ground overnight. If there is no moisture on the underside of the metal or plastic in the morning, the concrete is dry enough to paint.

Can You Use Any Paint On Concrete?

Most paints will adhere to concrete once they have been suitably primed using a primer. Unfortunately, in the short-term this paint will begin to peel & flake unless it has been specially designed for use on concrete. If you are painting concrete walls, use a masonry paint, If you are painting concrete floors, ensure that the paint you use is suitable either for interior or outdoor use.

Do You Need To Prime Concrete?

Concrete as with many substrates is porous, meaning it will absorb paint, resulting in an uneven finish. By priming concrete before painting, you create a create an adhesive base that paint can stick to, ensuring an even paint film across the surface for the best possible finish. Without using a primer, the paint will not achieve an attractive finish and is much more likely to begin to peel or flake.

What Concrete Floor Paint Is Best For Me?

When it comes to floor paint, it is all about durability. Some floor paints are designed for low traffic rooms, such as a converted garage into a room, while some are designed high traffic such as vehicles. For a low traffic interior room that only has to withstand footfall, Dulux Trade Floorshield is ideal. For an exterior concrete patio paint, we would highly recommend Rust-Oleum 7200 PU Floorcoat which offers excellent durability on outdoor surfaces, while 5300 Epoxyshield Maxx 2 Pack Floor Paint is perfect for high traffic rooms thanks to its car tyre resistance.

Non Slip Paint For Concrete

There are a number of non slip, otherwise known as anti-slip paint that can be applied to concrete surfaces. One of the best is from Rust-Oleum with their Supergrip Anti Slip Aerosol that can be sprayed on any concrete surface to provide a non-skid coating. It is ideal for steps, grips and handles in an interior setting and an exterior setting to a certain extent. If you are looking for an easy to use anti-slip aerosol, look no further!

Concrete Paint Colours

A question we get asked a lot here at Painters World is what concrete paint colours do we offer? Well, a number of our concrete paints are available in 'tinted colours' which means they can be mixed in almost any colours thanks to our paint mixing service. Whether you want a modern Anthracite Grey or a clean Pure White, no matter what colour you want, we can mix it. All you have to do is either select a colour from our colour palettes or type in the shade you would like in the text box.

Where To Buy Concrete Paint

Here at Painters World, we offer a huge range of trade paints, including concrete paint at the most competitive online prices, plus we offer free next working day delivery on all orders over £50, so you can get the trade paint you need, when you need it. We also stock a huge range of sundries, meaning you can get everything you need to complete a project in one place.