Winter is knocking on the door, which means it’s time to be inside and caught up on all my articles, right? I’ve talked a lot about outside buildings, roofs, house siding and this month in my paint corner, I’ll be talking a little about concrete. Now, most of you probably want to stop reading right here, but concrete shouldn’t be a bad word! I’ll be explaining why concrete can actually be fun to work with and why painting concrete isn’t as bad as you’d think.
Paint is the least expensive and easiest way to transform bare concrete into something with character and personality for your residential or commercial area. Concrete is a very porous material, so you’ll want to use a paint designed specifically to adhere to concrete. Using regular house paint will not work for this kind of surface because of eventual peeling.
Water-based stains would be a better option for the job. These are typically a blend of acrylic polymer and pigments that tend to seep into the pores and bond to concrete, becoming a more permanent part of the surface. Water-based stains provide a tough shield and don’t fade, peel or flake like a regular paint.
Another great option is cement dyes that are available in water or solvent-based varieties and produce a range from monotone to translucent. Dyes penetrate concrete quickly and leave virtually no residue and no room for error because the application is very quick.
Cement stains and dyes are completely safe and very easy to use, and most come in a one-step system, which is commonly a stain and waterproof sealer in one. Now, you know why concrete isn’t as bad as you thought! If you have a job that you would like to receive a free estimate on, feel free to email me at bgarleb@gatewayfs.com or call me at 618-972-9516.