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You would be amazed at what a good coat of paint can do to surfaces. Painting a surface gives it a makeover. With the right paint colors, textures, and application, a surface will undergo a remarkable transformation. 

However, there are some uncertainties when it comes to painting concrete. Should you paint concrete? Are there specific paint products for concrete? What are the best products for painting concrete? Find out all the answers to your question about painting concrete here.

What Is Concrete Paint?

Concrete paints are specially made for painting concrete surfaces. Due to the porous nature of concrete, it is essential to use paints that can seep into likely holes and stick to the surface. Concrete painting can be tricky because it is very likely that the first coat of paint will go into covering up holes and get absorbed into the substrate. This is why the look of a concrete surface is usually patchy after receiving its first coating. Concrete paint is produced to be non-reactive, filling the pores of the concrete surface to produce uniformity in the paintwork. 

Concrete painters are meticulous in preparing for this task, which is the foundation of good paintwork. A concrete surface must be well prepared before the coat of paint is applied. 

Priming: The Core Step in Painting

A few necessary steps must be taken before the concrete surface is painted. One of these steps is Priming. Priming is essential to thorough painting work, and almost every concrete surface requires a primer. Surfaces that most definitely need a primer include;

• Chipped and peeling surfaces
• Unpainted surfaces
• Chalked surfaces
• Surfaces that are incompatible with the kind of paint being used. 

Here are some benefits of priming a concrete surface before painting;

• It fills gaps and holes in the surface, giving the surface a certain smoothness.
• It ensures that adhesion is appropriately done by functioning as a bonding agent between the surface and the paint.
• It increases the durability of the paint
• It makes tough surfaces more responsive to paint
• Surfaces first primed tend to have a specific luster and shine.

Oil-Based Paint vs. Water-Based Paint for Concrete 

Oil-based paints are less susceptible to weather, humidity, and temperature. They are quite durable, and they will certainly stand the test of time. Also, oil-based paint is likely to produce a shinier surface.

Water-based paints have less odor than oil-based paints because they do not contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). They also dry up faster, and they are easy to clean up. Water-based paints are not always suitable for use in wet climates.

For concretes, oil-based paints are more likely to produce a better result.

Sealing Concrete Surfaces Before Painting

It is very vital to seal a concrete surface before you paint it, especially when it is interior concrete. When the surface is sealed, there will be no way for moisture to sip underneath the surface and cause molds in no time. 

Cost of Concrete Paint

A spray paint can costs about $9.98, and fifteen gallons will set you back $1550. So really all depends on the amount of concrete surface you want to paint.

Here are some of our top picks when it comes to concrete paints. Our top recommendations are based on the analysis of the current customer sentiment data as well as recommendations from our community of metallurgists:

1. Colored Epoxies 15GLKTCL Clear 15 Gallon Kit is what we think is the best concrete paint

This durable coating is flexible and abrasion-resistant. It comes in three containers; two containers of Resin and one container of Curative in a ratio of 2:1. It has 100% solid coatings, and it is free from both VOC and VOHAP. It performs excellently in potential and commercial applications, and it is famous for its high color retention rate. 

It is a two-part epoxy that can be used as a primer and as the paint, all in one, saving you from making extra expenses on primers. It offers a lifetime warranty against cracking, chipping, and peeling. The consistency of this Epoxy is phenomenal. Whether rolled out at three or ten mills, you can rest assured that you will get the same strength and durability from it. 

The colored Epoxy is impact-resistant high gloss elastomeric ultra-premium. It is made in the USA. It has a NaNo-Composite technology which gives it a higher transmission of visible light, making the colors pop vibrantly. 

These products are made to adhere to all prepared surfaces, including concrete. Customers rate this product the highest for its ease of use. Its durability, sheerness, and value for money follow closely. It is also completely UV-resistant. The total package!

Every kit offers a high volume of quality. With 499 global ratings on Amazon, it gathered a whopping 4.5/5 star rating. Customers are highly satisfied with this one. 

Highlighted Features

Item volume: 15 gallons

Item weight: 51.4 pounds

Dimension: 11.74 x 10.91 x 14 inches

2. Rust-Oleum 317284 Rocksolid Polycuramine Garage Floor Coating, 2.5 Car Kit, Dark Gray

If your priority is adhesion, then the Rust-Oleum is your go-to paint. It completes the work in a very short time. Within 8-10 hours of application, you should be able to use the surface. This durable, Polycuramine concrete is perfect for interior concrete surfaces. It can find applications in workshops, garage floors, family rooms, basements, and other interior parts of a building. 

Both VOCs and chemical odors are absent in this pack, and its formula is about 20 times stronger than the Epoxy. 

Rust-Oleum is a reputable company known for its proactive nature. They have been on the frontline of the paint production industry, making new inventions and incorporating technologically advanced methods in their production. When it comes to quality, you can trust this company with this. 

This rock-solid floor coating offers unsurpassed durability. It is one of the toughest coatings available in the industry today. It will easily resist harsh chemicals, salt, and oil. One kit can cover up to 500 sq. ft. of a surface, depending on the porosity of the surface. 

The Rocksolid Polycuramine Garage coating provides a terrazzo flooring look when painted. This gives the surface a shiny, glossy look, enabling it to resist cracks, peels, and chemical spills. 

With 1494 global ratings on Amazing, this product received a 4.3/5 star rating. It is easy to maintain and will serve you for a long time. 

More options like this: we recently identified what we think are the top rated garage floor coatings so be sure to check that out if you think that could be a good fit for you. 

Highlighted Features

Item weight: ‎9.33 pounds

Dimension: 13.25 x 8.25 x 8.25 inches

3. Rust-Oleum 7590838 Professional High-Performance Enamel Spray Paint, 15 Ounce (Pack of 1), Flat White, 12 Fl Oz.

Enamel spray paint is quite a sensation among customers. It has received about 11,543 ratings on Amazon and has a 4.7/5 star rating. 

The high-performance enamel spray provides wide coverage and can be used for commercial applications. Its durable coating provides superior rust protection and resistance to fading, chipping, and abrasion. The tip of the spray is designed to dispense paint at any angle, thus increasing its range of application.  

This high-performance enamel spray paint is ideal for use on concrete surfaces and ferrous and non-ferrous metals, wood, masonry, and other surfaces. It has elements that make it prevent rust, and it gives a tough attractive finish that withstands weathering. 

Its coat quality is incomparable, producing consistency on every surface where it is used. It has a durable, oil-based formula, so you can rest assured that this paint will stick to your concrete wall. It is also corrosion-resistant and will withstand any element. The enamel spray paint is popular for its fast-drying abilities. Within 15 minutes after application, it will be dry enough to touch. It can cover up to 14 sq. ft. A quick trick that improves results with this paint is recoating the surface within the hour. This will quicken the project completion process and pop up the quality of the paint. 

Customers rate this paint highest for its heat-resistance capacity, followed closely by its durability and adhesion. It gives off a flat finish that covers imperfections properly, hence its suitability for concrete surfaces.  

Highlighted Features

Item volume: 15 Fluid Ounces

Item weight: ‎1.2 pounds

Dimension: 2.5 x 2.5 x 8 inches

4. FixAll Skid Grip Anti-Slip Floor Coating, Interior/Exterior -1 Gallon- Camel

The Skid-Grip Anti-Slip paint is one versatile paint. It is designed to highlight the beauty of existing concrete and other surface types. It has a 100% acrylic formulation, which increases performance and reduces oxidation. This prevents peels, flakes, and the erosion of concrete surfaces below, ensuring that the surface remains anti-slip. 

Another notable feature of this Anti-slip paint is its color-protective ability. It provides an additional layer of protection from UV rays, and it will result in a beautiful finish when used in medium to high-traffic areas. This paint provides an endless possibility of designs due to the availability of 7 standard long-lasting colors and two bases. There is a lot you can do with the Anti-Slip coating.

This durable Anti-slip finish has 100% acrylic. It also displays superior adhesive features, preventing flakes and peels on concrete surfaces. If you need a cost-effective way to improve the appearance of your building, then this paint will give you excellent results. 

With 1663 ratings on Amazon, the Anti-slip coating has 4.4/5 stars. Customers rate it highest for its ease of use and then its ease of spread. It gives off a high sheerness, and it is also very durable. This paint will stand the test of time, giving your concrete surfaces the shine they need. 

It can be used in both exterior and interior surroundings. 

Highlighted Features

Item volume: 1 Liter

Item weight: 11 pounds

Dimension: 15 x 8 x 15 inches

5. Epoxy Floor Kit – Epoxy-Coat”Good” Full Kit Black Base with Gray Blend Flakes- up to 500 sq. ft. at 9.7 mils – for Garage Floors, Basement Floors, Concrete, and More.

Regarding durability, the epoxy-Coat ranks very high in the market today. It finds ideal application in the garage, basement, patio, and other related environments. It can be used for residential and commercial purposes, but it is most likely used in commercial or industrial buildings. 

The thickness of Epoxy-coat paint is amazing. Compared with regular epoxies, a gallon of this will do the same job as 2.5 gallons of standard epoxies. A single coat gives off the thickness of 5 coats in normal paints. It has no odor and a dry time of 12 hours. 

Epoxy coats are self-leveling, and they have 100% solids and non-shrinking formulas. This makes them perfect for rough surfaces like concrete. Use the epoxy coat on your concrete walls, floors, or slabs, and watch the transformation happen in a flash. 

The kit comes fully loaded. Everything you need to complete the project is included in the kit. 

Materials included in the kit are;

2 gallons Epoxy-Coat Part A, 1 gallon of Epoxy-Coat Part B, .25lbs of Aluminum Oxide Non-Skid, 9oz Prep Solution, 2lbs of Flakes, Included Application Tools (Small Tool Kit): (1) 3″ Brush, (1) 9″ Roller Cover (3/8″ Nap), (1) Squeegee, (1) 16″ Mechanical Mixer, (1) Pair of Vinyl Gloves, (1) 16″ Mechanical Mixer, (1) Pair of Vinyl Gloves, and (1) Mixing Stick. 

Get to work immediately after you purchase this kit. 

Highlighted Features

Size: 3 Gallons

Color: Black

Conclusion

Concrete painting can rejuvenate your concrete surfaces. With the right procedures, application, and product, concrete paint is easy. Here, we have listed 5 top concrete paints you can try out depending on your specific needs. 

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