How to Paint Concrete Flooring

If you’re looking for a DIY refresh that can instantly upgrade your basement, garage, or patio, then painting your concrete floors might be just the thing. It’s easier than you might think to paint concrete on your own, and it’s a great project for bringing a touch of the unexpected to gray, uninspiring concrete or cement surfaces.

There are a couple of big things to consider when you want to paint concrete floors, including the type of paint that you use and the overall look that you want to achieve. Below, we’re covering the essentials—including the eight steps to painting concrete floors in your home.

Revamping concrete: paint or stain?

When you’re upgrading a concrete surface, both paint and stain offer a quicker—and much more affordable—alternative to replacing the slab entirely (a gallon of concrete paint will run you around $50, for example, versus about $600 or so for a new 10 foot x 10 foot slab).

So how do you decide whether it makes more sense to stain or paint concrete floors? It mostly comes down to the final look that you want. Acid-based stains penetrate into the surface of the concrete, so you get longer lasting coverage. However, because concrete is inherently porous, the lack of a solid, top layer of coverage means that you’re likely going to end up with some streaking and unevenness.

Opting to paint concrete instead of staining it provides you with a more even and richly colored finish. Where it slightly falls short is in terms of durability. Expect to deal with chips and peels over time, plus the need for occasional touch-ups—especially if you’re driving on the surface or giving it heavy foot traffic.

Ultimately, both concrete paint and concrete stain have their advantages and disadvantages. If you’re wanting the most dramatic finish, however, then paint is almost certainly going to be your best bet.

Choosing the right type of concrete paint

If you’ve decided on paint, then the next step is to choose the best type for the job.

You have two options when it comes to concrete paint: epoxy or acrylic latex.

• • Acrylic latex concrete paint is water-based and simple to work with. It applies similar to any other standard acrylic paint that you might use in your home, and most people are pretty comfortable working with it.
  • Epoxy concrete paint is the most popular choice among pros, since it’s weather resistant, a lot more durable, and provides a more expensive looking finish. It’s a bit trickier to work with though than acrylic latex paint, since it requires a two-step process that includes mixing the epoxy formula before you can start painting. Don’t let that intimidate you though—epoxy is still easy enough for DIYers to work with.

  The takeaway: Acrylic latex is cheaper and easier to apply, while epoxy offers increased durability and a glossier, longer lasting finish. In general when you paint concrete floors you’ll want to go with the epoxy, though acrylic will work just fine for concrete walls or for areas that aren’t exposed to outdoor elements or don’t get a lot of regular use.

  The step-by-step guide to how to paint concrete

  A gallon or two of paint (plus a few other must-have supplies) are all you need to turn a boring slab of concrete into something totally updated and unique. You can take on this project with minimal experience, but be sure to take your time to ensure that you get the job done right. Here’s how to do it.

  What you’ll need:

  • Concrete paint (epoxy is ideal)
  • Concrete degreaser
  • Masonry primer
  • Masonry sealer
  • Plastic wrap
  • Painter’s tape
  • Broom and dustpan
  • Mop and bucket
  • Wet/dry vacuum
  • Sandpaper (80- or 100-grit)
  • Hand sander
  • Paint roller
  • Roller tray
  • Extra roller brushes
  • Protective gear: mask, goggles, and gloves

  Additional tools that you may end up requiring when you paint concrete are masonry crack filler or concrete patch compound and a caulking gun, depending on the current state of your concrete surface.

  If you don’t own some of these bigger tools, such as a hand sander or wet/dry vacuum, save on costs by seeing if you can rent them from your local home improvement store instead of buying them.