Despite the high strength and durability, the concrete surface is prone to chips, chemical attack and mechanical damage. The easiest way to protect it is staining. Properly selected paints for concrete, in addition, will significantly improve the aesthetic appearance of this material.
Protective paint functions
Often, as a result of wear of the concrete surface, characteristic dust appears on it. This is due to the high porosity of the material, and may also be due to its low quality or violation of the laying technology. Special compounds that are used for painting concrete will help protect the surface from wear, damage and exposure to aggressive media.
In addition, the market offers a wide color palette of such paints, which makes it easy to choose a composition for any interior. Painting the concrete floor makes it more hygienic, easier to care for and conceals all kinds of defects on its surface.
Types of paints for concrete
When choosing a paint, you should consider the features of the room. In places where surface damage is possible as a result of shock, a more reliable coating is required.
Special paints for concrete - wear-resistant, containing solvents and epoxy enamels, will perfectly cope with this task. They are used not only in industrial premises, but also in garages, car parks, hangars, repair shops, etc.
For the decoration of internal or external walls, mainly acrylic paints (organic and water) are used. Coatings of concrete surfaces with a solvent-based composition are particularly durable, resistant to various aggressive environmental influences. Water-based paints for concrete are less durable, but in country houses, where the facades are not so heavily loaded as in industrial areas, they are widely used by many owners of private buildings.
Acrylic paints
This is an aqueous composition based on acrylic resin with the inclusion of organic and inorganic pigments. The paint forms a fairly durable coating and is suitable for the treatment of concrete surfaces in garages, basements, utility and production rooms, on balconies. The polymer film she creates is a serious obstacle to various chemical and mechanical influences, protecting concrete from corrosion.
Acrylic paints for concrete are highly environmental friendly. They dry quickly and do not have a strong smell. In addition, they are resistant to moisture and high temperatures. Apply them with a brush, roller or using a spray gun, usually one layer is enough. Do not just apply acrylic compounds to an old epoxy or polyurethane coating. A big advantage is the wide range of colors, including matte, semi-gloss and glossy paints. The cost is an average of 100-150 r per 1 kg.
Epoxy paints
The main advantages of these compounds is their ability to provide high strength and long service life of the coating. Such paint can withstand significant loads and is not afraid of exposure to acids, alkali, salt solutions and fuels and lubricants. The composition grasps well with the concrete surface, does not turn yellow over time and does not wear out, therefore it can be used in places with high traffic.
Due to its resistance to various atmospheric phenomena, it can be used not only for finishing surfaces indoors, but also as an external paint for concrete (in open areas, parking lots).
The disadvantages include the fact that the two-component composition of this paint requires its mandatory mixing before application. It is also quite difficult to change the color of the coating in the future, so you must immediately decide on the choice of the most suitable.
The price for 1 kg of epoxy paint for concrete is from 250 to 500 r per 1 kg.
Polyurethane Enamel
A great advantage of this paint is its ability to create a perfectly smooth glossy finish.
Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Despite the fact that its composition is two-component, it has excellent quality. Along with properties such as resistance to various damages, weathering and environmental friendliness, polyurethane paint on concrete is very economical to use, has a high hiding power.
Paint is applied at an air temperature of at least 5 ° C, and relative humidity should not exceed 75%. Concrete surface is painted in 2 stages. The second application is done no later than 24 hours after the first. The coating acquires full mechanical resistance after 7 days. Prices largely depend on the manufacturer and brand. On average, the acquisition of 10 kg of enamel costs 2800-3000 p. Polyurethane paint for concrete is considered a profitable and very economical material for decoration.
Facade paints
As a rule, very high requirements are imposed on materials for the decoration of facades. In addition to the task of providing the building with an attractive appearance, they must withstand all kinds of chemicals and temperature extremes, be resistant to precipitation, ultraviolet radiation, fungus and mold, and have a sufficient level of vapor permeability.
To better paint the material, a special facade paint on concrete is used, which has all of the above characteristics. It can be both polyurethane and acrylic compositions based on water or on organic solvents.
The life of the facade paint largely depends on the quality of adhesion, so when choosing finishing materials, you should pay special attention to those that include acrylic and vinyl resins, potassium glass, lime or cement as a binder.
Rubber paints
A new generation product is called this universal finishing material. This paint is suitable for both dry and wet surfaces. Due to its elastic structure, such a coating will never crack and will not peel off, it has a very pleasant to the touch texture. Rubber composition for concrete is absolutely harmless to the human body. Caring for such a coating is very simple, just wash it with soap. By creating a film that does not fade in the sun, the paint protects the concrete surface from the negative effects of the environment, while at the same time allowing it to breathe.
One of the advantages of these compounds is that the surface treated with them has anti-slip properties, and this is very important for a concrete floor. Due to the wide color palette that distinguishes rubber paints for concrete, they not only play the role of a high-quality coating, but are also suitable for solving any design idea. The price of one kilogram of paint is from 120 r and above.