Concrete patio paint?

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Loismustdye

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#277257 4-Oct-2020 13:42

We’ve got a concrete slab under a covered pergola at our place, and we are currently looking at options for painting it in order for it to look a bit nicer than just a chunk of plain concrete, and to make it aside to clean etc.

has anybody done something similar and can offer advice on a paint or a method to do so?

Thanks

mdf

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#2579031 4-Oct-2020 13:53

Paving paint.

But read the data sheet (linked on the page above) about painting concrete. Concrete requires very careful testing and prep if it's too new, too old, or sealed.

richms

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#2579040 4-Oct-2020 14:33

Easy to clean surfaces are normally slippery when wet, the additives to let you have grip in the wet also trap dirt well.

Once painted, you will have to keep painting it when it looks tatty, whereas plain conrete can be cleaned back to bright quite easily.

Richard rich.ms

Eva888

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#2579136 4-Oct-2020 16:26

Other alternative could be decking over it. I’ve seen some IKEA squares of clip together decking that would be easy to lay and can be packed up in winter.

Fake grass by the meter that also can be lifted in winter...or back to painting.

neb

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#2579141 4-Oct-2020 16:51

Eva888:
Other alternative could be decking over it.

+1 for the decking, or don't paint as @richms pointed out. Plain concrete you can always waterblast when it picks up dirt/mould/etc, while painted concrete has ongoing issues.

Also, how about posting a photo? It may be perfectly suited for decking over if it's under a pergola.

Another option is to polish and seal it, if the aesthetics work, but it has some of the same downsides as paint. Or use self-levelling epoxy, but that stuff is like ice when wet.

Loismustdye

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#2579263 4-Oct-2020 19:11

Thanks for the advice. At this stage the wife’s not really interested in decking it as it steps down from A small deck outside the dining room and she Likes It concreted. I’m not a big fan of the concrete pad as it stands as to me it looks like it’s just a patch of concrete dumped on the lawn. Will take a photo and add it to the post.
Might have a chat with the chaps at Bunnings and at least try the cleaning solution on the existing concrete to see how it comes out.

k1w1k1d

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#2579278 4-Oct-2020 20:08

What about a concrete stain?

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neb

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#2579280 4-Oct-2020 20:12

Loismustdye:

I definitely wouldn't paint that, my first thought would be to sand it back to bring out the natural texture, either a salt-and-pepper or exposed aggregate finish. You can rent the gear and DIY, see e.g. this writeup.

Loismustdye

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#2579447 5-Oct-2020 10:36

k1w1k1d:

What about a concrete stain?

thanks, might have to look into that, my main dislike is the “white concrete” colour so that would certainly help with that.

Loismustdye

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#2579450 5-Oct-2020 10:42

@neb

thanks, that looks quite good but my inherent laziness would prevent going through with it haha.

if I was I would probably go salt and pepper as we’ve got exposed aggregate outside the back door and it’s awful to walk on in bare feet

timmmay

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#2579455 5-Oct-2020 10:59

One thing I learned the hard way which is related is if you put color through the concrete when it's being poured you need a plastic groundsheet underneath. If you don't salts come up through the soil and make it a lot lighter. I used professionals for the work but they got it wrong. Paint on top won't have that problems, stains probably ok too.

petercad

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#2579984 6-Oct-2020 11:44

If you are contemplating getting it 'sanded' (which is the incorrect term anyway), speak to a specialised concrete grinding/polishing company in your area.

I manage a team of staff that do this for a living, so I have some experience here, and have done the grinding/polishing for some time also

I would personally grind it to Exposed Aggregate, then seal with 2 coats of Permacolour Concrete Sealer that has been matted down to take the shine down a step or two

We do this on a weekly basis, from 20-1800 m2, including driveways, paths, patios and packhouses with no negative results

Done *properly* it will last for years, done DIY, it won't

Also, the dust generated by grinding concrete is dangerous, and can cause silicosis over time, so appropriate PPE is a MUST!

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joshharwood

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#2595878 1-Nov-2020 12:30

The wooden patio tile suggestion sounds interesting.

What did you end up doing?