Should You Paint Concrete Floor

Because concrete floors are subject to a lot of traffic and duress they require a very durable finish.
Should you paint concrete floor. Concrete floors can be treated with concrete stains or concrete paints. Epoxy can add shine. Masonry paint also called elastomeric paint or elastomeric wall coating is a good choice for concrete painting because it contains binders that contract and expand with the concrete. Use caution when applying.
For garages and concrete floors that regularly encounter tires vehicles and outdoor power equipment choose a high performance epoxy based floor paint that resists hot tire pickup and marring. Exterior house paint can crack and peel on concrete. If you re painting a concrete floor remember to start on the far side of the room so you end up finishing near a doorway or another convenient stepping off point. Oil and grease stains will interfere with the paint s ability to bond with the concrete and will also bleed through the finish.
A hard two part epoxy paint is best for concrete garage floors weight rooms and any other horizontal concrete surfaces that must endure stains nicks and scratches. If the surface of your floor is cracked or rough mix concrete patch compound following package directions. An acrylic floor paint is best suited for interior concrete floors. Paint covers and protects the concrete but requires more work.
Because concrete has special characteristics however it also has special needs when it comes to being painted. To get the best results for your floor plan on giving the project at least 2 weeks to complete. The best paints for concrete floors have finishes designed to be highly resistant to chemicals oil and gasoline. Concrete can be made to look interesting and beautiful by applying a few coats of paint.
Masonry paint 20 per gallon can be tinted and is much thicker than exterior paint. If your floor surface is smooth skip to the next step. Interior and exterior concrete surfaces do not have to remain a flat boring shade of gray. Priming before you paint concrete floors helps ensure that your new look will stick.
Both have their advantages. Select a primer that s compatible with both concrete and the epoxy paint that you ll use as a finish coat. Painting concrete is a simple and inexpensive task that can be completed by most homeowners. Painting a concrete garage floor may however require more detailed preparation than most indoor painting since it is very important to clean the concrete thoroughly and repair any damage before you paint.
In other words don t paint.