About the correct use of concrete paint as a floor coating
Today, concrete is a popular material for facades, as a building material or even as a decorative concrete piece in the garden. Concrete surfaces look really good indoors and outdoors and a concrete floor has excellent properties in numerous places. Concrete walls come in a gray. Anyone who finds that too boring can create a real eye-catcher with special concrete paint. But the coating can do a lot more. A garage floor painted with concrete paint makes the concrete floor particularly resistant. Other concrete surfaces are also protected with the coating. In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about concrete paint.
What is concrete paint?
Concrete surfaces are in demand both indoors and outdoors. Indoors, concrete walls give the rooms a loft-like feel and, as exterior walls, provide a modern look.
Concrete paint is a special coating that protects concrete surfaces and cement slurry indoors and outdoors and gives them an attractive appearance. The crack-bridging coating prevents moisture from penetrating, fends off mechanical influences and UV radiation damage and can even prevent the formation of moss or mold if it contains biocides. This is particularly necessary for paving stones and concrete blocks. One solution for this is BAUFIX stone paint.
Concrete paint is used particularly on garage floors because of the high level of wear and tear. With color pigments added, it offers a beautiful appearance and is easy to apply with a brush or paint roller. A transparent concrete glaze can also be used for a natural look. Color variants are available in glossy or satin finish.
Which paint is suitable for concrete?
Concrete paints should therefore be used for concrete surfaces. These have special ingredients that reliably protect the surfaces and make them abrasion-resistant, durable and weatherproof. There are two types: 1K and 2K concrete paints. 2K paints are usually mixed with epoxy resin. The paint consists of two components that only react with each other when mixed. The latter is long-lasting and easy to clean. Epoxy resin concrete paint is also an environmentally friendly method and can withstand a lot of stress after a short drying time.
The color of the coating depends on personal taste. A selection of RAL colors is common here if a colored coat is desired. Whether anthracite gray, rapeseed yellow, tomato red, terracotta, jet black, fire red, gentian blue or leaf green - the important thing is that you like the finish afterwards. As a rule, most customers online or in specialist stores choose concrete gray or anthracite for floor paints or opt directly for a concrete glaze, which further emphasizes the attractive appearance of a concrete wall. This gives you an efficient protective layer with the coating, which makes the natural concrete gray color and structure appear more intense. In general, when choosing the right concrete paint, you should pay attention to the location and purpose:
concrete in the interior
interior walls made of concrete
coating for floors
Painting concrete floors: Are there differences for outside and inside?
In order for concrete walls, concrete surfaces and concrete floors to be reliably sealed and thus able to withstand heavy loads from different environmental influences, their composition must be suitable for the respective purpose. Concrete paint for outdoor use is usually mixed with biocides. These ensure that the concrete surface outdoors is protected from mold and the formation of algae and moss. However, biocides are substances that are hazardous to health and pollute the environment. Therefore, they should generally only be used sparingly on the concrete surface and should under no circumstances be used indoors.
In the interior, concrete paint should be harmless to health and permeable to vapour diffusion so that any moisture that accumulates on the walls can escape. Options include chalk paint, lime paint, acrylic paints and silicate paints, which prevent mould. For garage and basement floors that are exposed to heavy mechanical stress, a special floor coating such asBAUFIX professional garage floor paint is ideal. It is hard-wearing, protects against breakage and is resistant to plasticisers in car tyres.
Benefits of Concrete Paint
Concrete and cement paint has a lot of advantages and is essential if you want to extend the durability of your concrete surfaces:
- Concrete paint provides reliable protection against the weather.
- It can be easily applied in several layers with a brush or paint roller.
- The coating extends the durability of your concrete walls.
- Processing can be done both inside and outside.
- In addition to the transparent glaze, there is a large selection of RAL colors.
- They show good UV resistance and abrasion resistance.
- With biocides they provide good protection against algae and moss outdoors.
- On the inside, paints containing silicates prevent the formation of mold and are harmless to health.
- Based on epoxy resin, the surface is particularly robust.
- The diffusion openness keeps out moisture.
- A concrete primer is usually not necessary.
What should you consider when buying concrete paint?
underground
Concrete paint is suitable for walls and floors. All concrete structures can also be treated with the paint. In principle, the concrete coatings can be used on all mineral surfaces. However, good preparation is required.
resistance
Especially when used outdoors, the paint must be weatherproof and prevent the formation of moss and mold. It is also important that it is permeable to vapour diffusion so that perfect moisture exchange can take place. UV resistance, which prevents cracks in the material, is also important. On garage floors, resistance to mechanical stress must be guaranteed.
gloss level
The degree of gloss indicates the extent to which light is reflected. This has no influence on the protective properties of the paint. Here you can go according to your taste. There are matt paints (dull matt, matt or satin matt) or glossy (glossy or high gloss). It is important to remember that dirt appears more quickly on glossy surfaces than on matt coatings.
shade
The same applies here as with the gloss level: whatever you like is allowed. The color is available in numerous RAL colors. Classics are usually various shades of gray and silver or white and black. This gives you the opportunity to breathe new life into your home.
Once you have found a variant, it's time to apply it. You will find a short guide below. However, if you still have problems choosing, contact us. Our qualified service staff will be happy to help you find the right concrete color for your project.
Materials and tools for painting
- Paint or varnish roller and a brush for application
- Alternatively, a paint sprayer
- Concrete filler for leveling unevenness and filling cracks
- tool for removing old paint
- Possibly sandblaster or a high-pressure cleaner for cleaning
Step 1: Clean, sand and repair
First, the surface must be optimally prepared. This means that old paintwork must be removed and dirt must be removed. No dust, dirt, oil or grease stains must remain on the surface. Use a wire brush, sandblaster or high-pressure cleaner to remove the dirt. This is followed by filling and repairing cracks, dents and gaps. A leveling compound or epoxy resin mortar is used for this. Once the leveling compound has dried sufficiently, sand down the filled areas so that any unevenness disappears.
Step 2: Primer? (optional)
Primers and primers may be necessary for individual products. A primer ensures optimal paint adhesion. Please note the manufacturer's instructions on the container. This is not necessary for most paints, but it does no harm. In damp rooms, a sealing layer can be useful.
Step 3: Painting concrete
You should cover surfaces that are not being painted with foil. This will protect them from paint splashes and blobs.
Color pigments often settle on the bottom of the container. Stir the concrete paint well so that the color pigments are evenly distributed and you get a nice painting result. Then start applying the paint with a roller or a paint sprayer. The latter has the advantage that application is quick and easy, the application is even and the end result is professional. When processing several containers, make sure that the batches are the same.
Then let the surface dry thoroughly. In most cases, it is necessary to apply several coats of floor paint.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Concrete paint should always be used if you want to keep your concrete surfaces for a long time. It offers optimal protection and enhances the appearance.
TheBAUFIX professional garage floor paint is a high-quality coating and effortlessly seals surfaces made of concrete, screed or cement so that moisture doesn't stand a chance. The paint is resistant to plasticizers and insensitive to car tires. Our solution also scores points with its very good light and weather resistance and abrasion resistance. Moisture doesn't stand a chance either.
For mineral surfaces outside of the interior, we recommend the BAUFIX stone paint . It has very good UV and weather resistance and can be quickly applied several times to dry surfaces.
Frequently Asked Questions about Floor Paint on Concrete
There are several ways to strip and remove the paint. These include:
- stripping
- using hot air
- using a sandblaster
- sanding
- with a brush wire
- using a high-pressure cleaner
The drying time often differs from manufacturer to manufacturer. You can find information on the container. At the same time, factors such as the ambient temperature and humidity play a role.
This depends on the load on the surface and the weather conditions. As a rule, it can last up to 12 years without any problems.
Concrete glaze is a transparent protective layer that protects the concrete from the effects of weather and moisture. It allows the natural color to come into its own.
Without a special coating for concrete, the material is absorbent like a sponge and absorbs a lot of water. In general, the special paint is not 100% waterproof, but can be sealed with additional components. Concrete coatings based on epoxy resin are well suited for this. You will find information on whether the paint is waterproof on the product container.
Our concrete paint: BAUFIX Floor Liquid Plastic
- high-quality sealing of concrete, screed surfaces & cement
- water-dilutable acrylic-based topcoat
- for terraces, balconies, house bases, cellars, cellar stairs, storage & hobby rooms
- outstanding color quality, color fastness & opacity
- for indoor & outdoor
