How to paint concrete

The first form of concrete was straw mixed with mud as well as mortars of line and gypsum mortars on the great pyramids. Next came pozzolana cement in 300 BC and hydraulic cement in 1779. Portland cement was invented in 1824. Concrete is much used today for floors, construction and more. Painting concrete can give you a nice finish on the century's old material. This article provides a guide to painting concrete.

Prepare the concrete

Remove any grease from the concrete as this could prevent the paint from adhering. Concrete cleaning is important. Mix Trisodium phosphate (TSP) and water in a bucket according to the manufacturer's instructions. Apply it to the floor with a mop or scrub brush, and scrub thoroughly. If you are cleaning a wall, use power washer. If any paint is peeling, scrape the paint first with a scraper and then clean the concrete with the TSP.

Cracks and sealing

Perform any floor repair or wall repair if there are any cracks. Fill any cracks on the concrete floor or wall with either hydraulic cement or with a concrete patch. Follow the manufacture's instructions. Allow the concrete and the patching to dry completely before continuing. Place a piece of tape over a portion of the concrete and check it the next day. If there is a patch of moisture beneath the tape, then you will need to seal the concrete. Check the directions to make sure that you use the proper amount of concrete sealants per square footage. Spray the sealer on the floor in a thin coating. Let dry before continuing. The sealer can emit fumes. Make sure that you have plenty or ventilation when applying the sealer.

Paint

Apply a primer to the floor. Make sure that the primer will work well with the sealer if you need to seal the floor. Allow the primer to dry. Paint the floor in the colour of your choice. Apply the paint in a thin layer. Create patterns by painting the floor with more than one shade. With the paint, you can make the concrete look like different materials such as granite or marble. If you wish to make patterns like stencils or designs, make sure that you tape off the area that you don't want to paint.