How to paint the concrete floor in the garage: make a choice
How to paint a concrete floor, it is necessary to decide initially, because it is necessary to properly prepare the plane and then apply a high-quality dye. In many ways, the quality of the coating depends on the dye, because preparation is done just for it and will serve as the basis, this will be the key to durability.
How to paint the concrete floor in the garage and how to do it right, we will consider today. You can also watch the video in this article and the photo, and this will help to do the job efficiently.
The content of the article
Choosing paint for concrete floors
In most cases, concrete surfaces are painted with alkyd or epoxy paint. They are not subject to electrification, slipping and the influence of chemicals. But they have fundamental differences.
Epoxy paint requires certain preparatory work before use. It must be thoroughly mixed and the desired color tinted. For alkyd paints, these stages are not necessary, but before applying it, the concrete surface must be primed (see Primer for concrete - preparatory stage for subsequent finishing).
So:
- In addition to paints, some kind of soil mixture is often used. They are designed to change the state of the floor. For leveling the surface, impregnations containing polymer substances are suitable. A monolithic coating can be achieved using putty mixtures intended for these purposes. Flocks and glitters are also great for decorating the floor. Even after the passage of time, they do not fade, maintaining their appearance.
- Before buying paint, you should carefully inspect the room to detect the characteristics of the floor. In some cases, it is necessary to make a more reliable coating, for which you can use paint with increased wear resistance.
- For non-production premises, it is advisable to purchase polyurethane enamels or varnishes. For garages and industrial premises, paints containing epoxy enamels and solvents are used.
- Concrete coatings are painted in residential premises with water-based dyes. To cover the floors on the loggias, in the corridors it is recommended to use a polyurethane elastomer, consisting of two components. A one-component polyurethane-based dye increases the water resistance of the coating.
Attention: If you decide how to paint the concrete floor on the street, then be sure to take water-repellent dyes. Before buying, the instructions for the reaction of the paint to a temperature change should be fully studied.
Epoxy Dyes
Epoxy paint provides a high degree of strength and increases the period of operation of the concrete floor, improves its appearance. They are not exposed to chemically active substances. It can be: any acid, salt solutions, alkali and fuel and lubricants.
So:
- It features a good hitch with a concrete coating., providing it with protection from moisture, increases its strength and durability. Epoxy paint is not afraid of heavy loads.
- Epoxy based dyes are not susceptible to yellowing and abrasion.. This type of dye is widely used when installing the floor of automobile service centers, hangars, various open-type sites. Paint easily tolerates atmospheric effects. For its application, it is not necessary to wait until the concrete mortar has completely dried.
- The disadvantages of epoxy dyes include their two-component composition. It must be mixed before use. It is recommended that you carefully choose the color of the paint, otherwise it will be difficult to change it on the concrete floor.
Acrylic dyes
Acrylic based paint is very popular for painting concrete floor surfaces.
So:
- One of its components are acrylic resins and polymer blends. Acrylic paint provides concrete coating with protection against the damaging effects of corrosion, forming a polymer protective layer on concrete. It is an obstacle to chemical and mechanical damage to surfaces.
- It is advisable to purchase acrylic dye for painting the concrete floor in garage, basement, attic and stairwells.
- Acrylic paint is very easily applied to the painted surface with a roller (see Paint rollers: consider in detail), a spray gun or an ordinary brush. It is enough to cover the concrete floor with just one coat of paint. To achieve higher strength, several layers can be made. It should be remembered that the drying period of each layer is approximately 14 hours.
Polyurethane Enamels
As a rule, polyurethane enamels have a two-component composition, which does not prevent them from possessing the highest quality characteristics. They cover the surface of the concrete floor, both indoors and outdoors.
- The advantages of polyurethane-based enamel include: environmental safety, resistance to various atmospheric manifestations, mechanical and chemical effects, uniform glossy coating of the entire concrete surface. This coating is quite economical.
- Before use, the paint must be mixed, then add the second component and mix again. During application, the room humidity should be approximately 75%, the temperature cannot fall below 5 degrees.
- Concrete floor painting should be carried out in two stages. First, the surface is covered with the first layer of paint, let it dry for 24 hours. Then proceed to the application of a second coat of paint.
- The disadvantages of this coating include a long period of drying. It can be from 2 to 14 days. The enamel layer dries in 2 days, but the surface reaches the required mechanical strength after one week, and a high level of chemical strength in two weeks.
Polyurethane-based primer
An excellent solution for covering a concrete floor is a polyurethane primer.
It can be used in case of lack of paint. The primer has excellent protective properties.
Primer mixes are on a polyurethane and epoxy basis:
- A polyurethane primer fills the gaps formed between the pores of the concrete coating, reduces dust and compacts the surface. Gasoline, oils, fats, gasoline, chemicals and detergents are not afraid of this type of primer.
- Polyurethane primer is the basis for applying polyurethane enamels. They have a similar composition. The drying period of the primer is about 12 hours, only then you can start painting.
- The advantages of this type of primer are: ease of application, economy, high adhesive properties.
Epoxy primer
Before applying epoxy paint, the surface of the concrete floor should be treated with an epoxy primer. In some cases, it serves as an independent coating.An epoxy primer hides pores on a concrete surface, reduces dust and makes the surface denser.
- The advantages of this type of primer include: a high level of water resistance and water resistance, a high degree of adhesion, resistance to mechanical and chemical effects.
- Before priming the concrete floor, you should grind the surface, get rid of debris and dust.
- The application of the primer should be carried out with rapid movements, so as not to reduce its quality.
- You can not buy paint, which contains in its composition substances that can cause harm to human health.
Stages of preparing a concrete floor for painting
The term of its operation and technical characteristics directly depend on the quality of processing the concrete surface of the floor.
The preparation of the concrete floor for painting consists of several stages:
- Getting rid of dust;
- Strength increase;
- Primer surface.
Before starting work, you should inspect the concrete surface. Detected stains from paint, varnishes, bitumen, fuels and lubricants and others are removed using any detergents.
Dust removal stage
Based on many years of experience, it is proved that floors made of concrete emit a certain amount of dust. Before painting, in order to reduce the level of dust emission, the concrete surface is treated.
First of all, they remove garbage, sweep the floor, putty various irregularities on the concrete surface. In the next step, the surface is ground using a grinding machine. This enhances the adhesion of the paint to the concrete base.
Dust that has formed after grinding is disposed of with an industrial vacuum cleaner.
Strengthening Stage
The next stage of preparatory work is the hardening of the concrete floor surface. It is strengthened with the help of special compositions - toppings.
They are impregnations of quartz and cement mixtures, dyes and plasticizers, providing concrete floor protection against dust formation and mechanical damage. With the help of toppings, the decor of the concrete surface can be significantly improved. The floor acquires a granular or perfectly even coating.
The composition of the toppings helps to fill the pores in the concrete coating, does not allow its destruction and provides high strength.
Priming stage
A primer on a concrete surface is needed to increase the adhesion level of a coloring material coated with concrete. Primer mixes impregnate the floor surface and reduce its dust emission.
Primer mixes are used both indoors and outdoors, subject to atmospheric effects. They are quick-drying acrylic-based dyes that provide concrete floors with protection against harmful substances. It can be: water, salt solutions, gasoline, mineral oils.
Set of necessary tools
It is possible to achieve high-quality performance of work on painting a concrete floor with the help of specially designed tools for this. They will help provide reliable coverage with a long service life. During work, do not forget about personal protective equipment.
The following equipment should be included in the set of equipment for painting a concrete floor:
- paint brush;
- paint rollers;
- removable handle for the roller - clasp;
- respirator;
- safety glasses;
- masking tape;
- a pair of protective gloves.
Technique for painting the concrete floor surface
- During the painting, the temperature of the concrete surface should not be less than 5 degrees Celsius, and indoors, the temperature minimum of the coating should be 10 degrees.
- The humidity level should not be higher than 80%.The main functions of paint for concrete floors are to improve its protective properties and remove dust from the base.
- The component composition of the paint affects the set of technical characteristics of the coating. The resistance of the concrete surface to the effects of low temperatures, chemicals and mechanical damage is increased. Paul takes on a presentable appearance.
After completion of the preparatory work, you can begin the process of coloring the floor.
Painting is carried out in the following sequence:
- First you need to mix the enamel thoroughly;
- Perform control of the temperature regime of the room;
- Using a roller or paint brush, 1 or 2 coats of paint are applied to the concrete surface. When working with a sprayer, the number of layers increases to three.
- The drying period of each layer should not be less than 20 hours.
- Dyes for concrete floors have a high covering ability. Application of the first layer already provides full coverage of the concrete floor, creating a uniformly painted even surface. As a rule, from 80 to 100 milliliters of coloring matter per 1 sq.m are consumed per layer.
- 3 hours after application, the paint ceases to stick. After 8 hours, you can walk on the painted floor. Finally, the surface dries out after 4 days, and then the concrete floor will be protected from mechanical stress.
During the preparatory work and painting the concrete floor, it is important to ensure that the room is ventilated.
Attention: By choosing the right paint, you can protect the concrete surface, increase the life of the floor, which will reduce the cost of its repair in the future.
Than paint the concrete floor so as not to dust, you decide from the above. For this, it is quite important to conduct the correct preparation. This will ensure good adhesion of surfaces. And you can do everything yourself, then the final price will not be high.
Tags: concrete
Epoxy paint, although it is a little more difficult to paint the floor, but the results are much better than when compared with alkyd. It’s just perfect for the garage, as something constantly spills in the garage, then oil, then fuel, and the same engine exhaust, which almost every time, when you change the oil, spills. At first, the floor in the garage was painted alkyd, so for comparison with epoxy, it’s like heaven and earth ... Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to compare these two options will see the difference. But of course, everyone makes the final decision for himself, so don’t count it as praise, I just share my experience, maybe it will be useful to someone.