The Look Of New Concrete Without The Cost
The Look Of New Concrete Without The Cost
Before you get too discouraged with the appearance of your driveway, walkway, patio or other concrete surface, don’t do anything rash. Instead, look at some of the cost effective ways to give that drab, boring surface some new life and pizzazz. And, one of the best ways to do that very thing is with concrete painting.
With the popularity of concrete pavers and flagstone and other materials that can be used in lieu of the tried and true concrete slab, people often get excited about a new project until they realize the true cost in terms of time and money when it comes to ripping out, replacing, and material purchase. By doing some basic concrete painting, you can reinvigorate a surface at a fraction of the cost of what the new material would run you.
In addition, you aren’t limited to just a few color options with which to transform your targeted concrete surface. Choose a terracotta color for a warm southwestern feel, or use a canary yellow for grandma’s bright and cheerful back patio. Dad’s dream garage can be complimented with a showroom grey to highlight his work area or custom hot rod. The color choices and the imaginative ways that you can apply them are virtually unlimited.
Before you start your concrete painting project, however, you will need to do some basic surface preparation to insure that the paint adheres correctly and to avoid cracking or peeling in the future. Get rid of dirt, oil, grease, stains, etc. before applying paint. Check out your local home improvement centers for concrete cleaners. You might also consider using a power washer to ensure that your surface is clean of all surface grime and gunk.
Ideally, you want whatever concrete surface that you are working with to be a bit rough. If it is too smooth and not porous enough, the results of your concrete painting efforts may be somewhat short lived. You may want do a once over lightly with a concrete acid etching solution. This will open up the pores of the cement and allow for better paint penetration and adherence.
Once you have completed the cleaning and preparation, give the surface ample time to dry. In most cases, you won’t need a lot of complicated tools to complete your concrete painting project. A brush and a roller is generally all you will need. And, as was mentioned previously, this should be a relatively cheap project in terms of overall cost to you. A quality gallon of concrete paint shouldn’t cost you more than .00 to .00, less most of the time. With this, you should be able to effectively paint around 300 square feet, more or less.
Take special care, when painting, to apply a number of thin layers as opposed to one or two thicker layers. By taking a methodical approach you are more likely to avoid streaking and excess paint accumulation. Likewise, with thinner coats, the paint tends to adhere more solidly.
If done carefully, the end results of your concrete painting job should be an attractive surface that will give you years of satisfaction. And best of all, you will have saved a load of money in the process.
Joey Shepherd writes more about concrete paint at http://www.workingwithconcrete.com
Tags: concrete, cost, look, without
