Concrete paints will allow you to bring any concrete surface to life, from patios to garages to retaining walls. For these types of surfaces, choose a paint that can withstand the elements and heavy use. Read our guide to find out which concrete paint to choose for your project.
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Our selection
"This paint resists abrasion and most oil stains. It is water-based, odorless and low maintenance. It also protects and decorates at the same time, which…"
"Ideal for coating concrete, you have here a very economical special floor paint. It has a very good adhesion, protects the floor perfectly and has…"
"B471 is a two component product specially designed for floor coatings. It has good gradient and filling properties. It does not need a double coating.…"
"This polyurethane floor paint is available in several colors. It is weather, impact and heat resistant. It does not chip easily and is widely used…"
This paint resists abrasion and most oil stains. It is water-based, odorless and low maintenance. It also protects and decorates at the same time, which is why it is used as an interior paint.
See priceThe low odor emission of this acrylic paint has allowed it to be used as an interior paint. It is an all-purpose paint that can be used on concrete, cement and even wood. Presented in 5 L drums, it is available in several colors and has the reference W700 RAL7023. This paint is suitable for empty rooms, cellars, offices, etc.
This paint is made in Germany: it is very effective, decorative and has an excellent longevity. The 5 L drum allows to paint a surface of 6 to 8 m². As it is an acrylic paint, use it with the acid solution w800 as an undercoat. Indeed, this acid solution offers a better adhesion to the chosen support, including concrete.
Ideal for coating concrete, you have here a very economical special floor paint. It has a very good adhesion, protects the floor perfectly and has a very good covering power.
See priceArcasphalt is very UV resistant, has very good adhesion and can be applied without an undercoat. It has anti-skid, anti-reflective, flexible and follows the deformations of the support.
This acrylic elastomer paint is suitable for asphalt, porous concrete, tiles and even bricks. The average consumption for this paint depends on the porosity of the support where it will be applied, but it has been measured that 3,75 kg of this paint can cover up to 7,5 m² in 2 coats. While 25 kg can cover up to 50 m², always in 2 coats.
B471 is a two component product specially designed for floor coatings. It has good gradient and filling properties. It does not need a double coating. This paint is frost resistant.
See priceThis polyurethane paint is ideal for all types of surfaces such as concrete, cement, metal, etc. Specially designed to resist oil and grease, it protects the floor. It has a very elegant finish and can therefore also transform your floor to make it as beautiful, but not just functional.
The major advantage of this paint is its resistance to wear and tear, so it can be perfectly suited for painting low to medium traffic pedestrian areas. It can also be applied to previously painted surfaces simply by using a brush or roller. This paint is available in several colors, comes in 2.5 L to 5 L drums and can be used for both interior and exterior applications. It can cover 12 m² to 14 m² per liter, and the drying time is 16 hours (at 15°C).
This polyurethane floor paint is available in several colors. It is weather, impact and heat resistant. It does not chip easily and is widely used for concrete and cement coating.
See priceThis polyurethane paint is ideal for all types of surfaces such as concrete, cement, metal, etc. Specially designed to resist oil and grease, it protects the floor. It has a very elegant finish so it can also transform your floor to make it as beautiful, but not just functional.
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Your guide :
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | ALTERNATIVE | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
8/10 |
8/10 |
9/10 |
7/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
WO-WE- W700
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ARCANE INDUSTRIES - Arcasphalt
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MANADATEC- B471
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WATCO - Basique
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This paint resists abrasion and most oil stains. It is water-based, odorless and low maintenance. It also protects and decorates at the same time, which is why it is used as an interior paint.
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Ideal for coating concrete, you have here a very economical special floor paint. It has a very good adhesion, protects the floor perfectly and has a very good covering power.
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B471 is a two component product specially designed for floor coatings. It has good gradient and filling properties. It does not need a double coating. This paint is frost resistant.
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This polyurethane floor paint is available in several colors. It is weather, impact and heat resistant. It does not chip easily and is widely used for concrete and cement coating.
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Color
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Concrete gray similar to RAL7023
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Grey
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Ral 7016 Anthrazitgrau
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Light Brown
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Surface area
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Concrete, cement
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Concrete, wood, metal
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Concrete, floor, garage
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Concrete, bitumen, tar, outdoor flooring
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Indicative volume
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5L
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5L
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10 L
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3.75 Kg for 7.5m2 in 2 layers
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Resistance
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Price
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Where and how you plan to use your concrete paint will carry a lot of weight when choosing the ideal product. For example, some concrete paints will not work as well outdoors as they do indoors, so you will need to purchase an exterior grade paint in this scenario. While most concrete paints are "indoor/outdoor," you need to make sure the one you choose will work outdoors. Also, some concrete paints do not work well on vertical surfaces. Floor paints and epoxies can be heavy, causing them to flow onto a wall before they dry. You may end up with streaks, runs and uneven coats if you use a floor paint on a vertical surface. For these applications, be sure to choose a concrete wall paint or a concrete block/brick paint.
Your exterior concrete surfaces experience all kinds of weather year-round. They bake in the sun in the summer and freeze in the winter, which can cause discoloration and cracking on poor quality paint or paint that's more for indoor use. While no paint lasts forever in harsh conditions, paints and epoxies specifically intended for outdoor use will hold up and require fewer touch-ups and repairs between coats.
If you want to enjoy fresh, clean paint even long after application, choose water-based latex concrete paints. Because they are water-based, you can easily clean up stains with just soap and water. This type of paint also doesn't stick to your hand too much during application. Epoxies, on the other hand, do not clean up very easily, requiring the use of chemicals that are much more difficult to remove. Of course, you can also use soap and water to clean stains on this type of paint, but they will require more effort and take longer to come off. On the other hand, epoxy paint has a much more wash-resistant finish, so it will break down less quickly than latex paint.
Depending on
the look you're going for, you'll want to choose a paint with a glossy finish or a sheen. A glossy surface will reflect light and create a smooth surface that is both durable and easy to clean. You are less likely to notice scratches and scuffs with a glossy finish. Epoxy surfaces are naturally glossy, and you can always polish them a bit to bring back their colors if they become dull.
Painting your concrete surfaces can be a bit of a headache, especially when it comes to a garage or basement. It takes a fair amount of work, so it's best to go with concrete paints that last over time. In most cases, latex paint applied to a floor will last about two years before needing another coat, but on walls, it can last much longer. Epoxy hard floor paint has a longer life, making it the best choice for a floor.
Painting on concrete is trickier than painting most surfaces: concrete breathes, draws in moisture and therefore also the paint. For the paint to set, you'll need to follow a few steps:
This is a vital step, as the porous surface tends to trap dirt, grease and oil. For the paint to set, you'll need to remove the dirt and grease with trisodium phosphate (or a more environmentally friendly, but also more expensive, cleaner, such as Krud Kutter's pre-paint cleaner).
Then pull out any vines and moss growing on the foundation. Use a pressure washer to finish off the remaining roots and dirt. And finally, remove efflorescence, a white powder that forms on wet concrete, with a phosphoric acid masonry cleaner.
Strip paint that is peeling or starting to blister with a wire brush, a paint scraper, and lots of elbow grease. You can also use a pressure washer if you want to paint your garage or patio floor, etc.
Water moves easily through porous concrete, so it's necessary to seal interior walls to prevent moisture from seeping in, promoting mold growth and a cold, damp basement feel. Use a masonry sealer to correct these irregularities.
Concrete primer, called block primer, fills pores and evens out the surface. For foundations and exterior walls, use an exterior-grade block filler, such as concrete-masonry bonding primer. This type of product typically dries in two hours, but wait at least eight hours, but no more than 30 days, to paint.
Choose a paint specifically designed for concrete, as it contains binders that contract and expand with this surface. Regular exterior house paint can crack and chip on concrete. You can easily apply this paint with a masonry brush, a heavy duty roller, or a texture roller.
Polyurethane paint is specially designed to be applied to concrete floors. It is perfect for painting the floor of a garage or a basement, for example. Its texture is not opaque and it offers a satin finish that will beautify the concrete. Available in several colors, polyurethane paint allows for total creativity. Moreover, it is known to be resistant to scratches, oil and grease stains, vehicle marks and even impacts.
This paint is widely used because it also has an anti-skid property and can be easily cleaned with a high pressure cleaner. This paint can also be used as exterior and interior paint, but only on wood.
Epoxy paint is a high-performance oil-based paint for flooring. It can be applied to concrete, cement, wood, tile and even PVC. This paint is the most wear resistant paint that is up to 20 times more resistant than usual conventional paints. When handling epoxy paint, some precautions must be taken: in particular, the room where the paint is to be applied must be well ventilated to limit fumes during and after the work.
When applying the paint, it is important to follow the instructions given or call a professional, because if the surface on which you want to apply the paint is poorly prepared or if the application is not done according to the required specificity, the paint may lose its effectiveness.
Acrylic paint is a paint that penetrates deep into the concrete surface and creates a semi-transparent finish. It is also a paint that is durable: it will not peel or flake off the concrete unlike conventional paints. This type of paint is designed to be very durable, especially on surfaces exposed to heavy traffic. It also has a great resistance to ultraviolet rays, humidity, etc. It is a type of paint that is elegant, resistant and that you can find in a variety of colors according to your taste.
Concrete paint can be alternatively labelled as epoxy paint. This is because concrete paint is created by combining two main ingredients - a resin and a hardener. These two components combine to create an epoxy. A concrete paint is usually highly adhesive and completely resistant to degradation from the elements. These qualities of concrete paint minimize the possibility of fading or chipping over time. Concrete paint stands up so well to heavy traffic that it can even withstand wear and tear from heavy vehicles or mobile equipment.
Alternatively, regular paint is either oil-based or latex-based. For both types, the liquid base is combined with a binder to provide adhesion. However, traditional paint binders are not as strong as the bonding properties offered by the thermosetting polymers in concrete paint. Also, on concrete, regular paint tends to have a flat or matte finish that may be a bit dull. The biggest advantage of this type of paint is its price.
Epoxy paint is more expensive than regular paint. However, when considering factors such as stain resistance and durability, concrete paint is often the most cost-effective option. Still, if you prefer to save money on your floor painting project, regular paint may be an option - as long as you apply a solid sealant.
Take the time to prepare the soil
This may mean removing old paint with a chemical stripper, power washing the surface, or even renting a grinder and roughing up the floor while removing the old paint. When preparing a concrete floor for painting, it should be slightly rough, similar in texture to 120-grit sandpaper. Take your time and don't settle for a "good enough" result.
Wash the bare floor thoroughly
With
all that old paint gone and traces of various chemicals left behind, it's definitely time to wash the concrete. Not only does this remove all the residue, but you'll ensure that no unexpected chemical reactions occur (you're not going to blow up the house, but your paint may not stick). Let it dry completely, for a few days if possible.
Always test the porosity, permeability and moisture content of the floor before buying your paint
To
achieve a good result and longevity, you need to do some checking and preparation. For this, professionals advise to perform the water drop test to estimate the porosity of concrete. The concrete must be porous enough to absorb the paint. It also needs to be dry enough to have only less than 4% moisture, as this could be the cause of blisters.
Consider the exposure conditions of the concrete
Knowing
the expected conditions of use (e.g., normal wear and tear, chemical exposure, thermal shock, etc.) will help you choose the right paint for the concrete. A concrete paint has the physical and chemical properties necessary to perform optimally under specific conditions.
Think about the aesthetics
As the role of concrete coating systems is not only to protect the surface from deterioration, but also to give your patio, garage or workplace a more professional and well-maintained look, make sure the product you select complements the existing decor. When selecting a concrete coating for an industrial environment, adherence to recommended color coding standards will be necessary to meet safety standards.
The best concrete paint depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find the best products available today.
Masonry paint (also called elastomeric paint or elastomeric wall coating) is a good choice for painting concrete because it contains binders that contract and expand with the concrete. Regular exterior paint can crack and chip on concrete.
Using a solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP) and hot water, thoroughly clean the concrete floor or surface, removing any oil and grease that would otherwise discolor the paint job. Work the solution into the concrete with a wire brush.
Rust-Oleum Seal-Krete Clear-Seal is a premium, ready-to-use, deep penetrating sealer that seals and protects painted, stained or bare concrete. After preparing the concrete, apply the first coat of Clear-Seal, wait two hours and apply the second coat.
Once painted and finished with the proper sealer, concrete is very easy to clean and maintain. A good quality sealer is made to help resist water, stains, dirt and abrasives.
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