Wear-resistant concrete paint for outdoor use: selection and application technology

Concrete is one of the most ancient building materials, the earliest examples date back to the sixth millennium BC. In those days, clay and lime were used as binders. Modern concrete with cement has been known since 1844, since then it has become the most used building material. He has a lot of advantages, but there is only one drawback - an unpresentable appearance. To improve design indicators, various mineral additives are used during the manufacture of concrete or its surface is painted.

We will not touch on additives, but let's talk about wear-resistant concrete paints for outdoor use.

Performance requirements for paints

Outdoor concrete structures are exposed to various negative influences: precipitation, ultraviolet radiation, mechanical stress, cyclic freezing / thawing. In addition, it is a hygroscopic material that absorbs a large amount of moisture from the air or earth. And most paints react negatively to high relative humidity of surfaces.

Due to such features of the operation of concrete structures, special paints for external work are subject to increased requirements.

1. Indicators of adhesion. On the surface of the concrete there are always tiny particles that noticeably reduce adhesion. The paints must penetrate deeply into the concrete and thus ensure high adhesion rates. To improve this indicator, concrete surfaces must be impregnated with special primers before painting.

   

   Before applying paint, the walls are primed

2. Moisture resistance.

   Constantly high concrete relative humidity values ​​complicate the operating conditions of coatings. During the development of new durable paints, manufacturers take this feature into account and take a set of special measures to increase the moisture resistance of paints. Various innovative additives are used, paints are made on the basis of polymers, etc.

   

   It is important that the paint is moisture resistant

3. Abrasion. Garden paths, decorative elements of landscape design, platforms, etc.

   are made of concrete. Mechanical loads on such elements can reach high values, paints must withstand the effects of abrasive elements. The requirements for all other designs are not so stringent, which expands the range of possible dyes.

   

   The paint must have good mechanical resistance.

4. Resistance to sunlight.

   This means not only ultraviolet, but also infrared. They also have a negative effect on all paint materials.Ultraviolet rays destroy intermolecular bonds, paint loses its plasticity and cracks and peels off at the slightest load, and infrared rays change its original shade. The problem is solved through the use of innovative additives. Heat rays change the original color of the paint.

   Mineral-based dyes are used to increase stability.

   

   Resistance of paint to sunlight is no less significant characteristic

5. Water vapor permeability . The coating should not seal the concrete surface; it should be able to release excess moisture. Otherwise, moisture accumulates between the paint and the concrete surface, destructive processes occur during freezing / thawing. Water vapor permeability is ensured by changing the chemical composition of paints.

   Do not use oil paints to paint concrete surfaces; after drying, they become completely sealed. As a result, it is rare to see structures painted with oil paints, without cracks and delamination.

   

   Water vapor permeability and water resistance are important properties that a paint should have.

6. Resistance to dirt . The surface of the painted concrete should be as flat as possible.

   Less dust accumulates on smooth surfaces - the development of vegetation slows down. In addition, they are easy to clean with ordinary running water. Strictly speaking, this characteristic is conditional. Much depends on the place of use and purpose of the concrete structure, and not on the properties of the paint.

   

   The paint must be resistant to dirt

7. Drying time.

   Outdoor paints can not be exposed to rain, drying time should be optimal. The longer it dries, the more likely it will be exposed to rain.

8. Low flow . This requirement applies to all types of paint, but for concrete the parameter plays an important role due to the fact that such surfaces can have a significant area. In addition, the surface is painted at least twice, the consumption is appropriate.

   

   It is important to choose a paint with a low consumption

9. Manufacturability. Concrete paint for outdoor use should be applied by all known methods, from the simplest using a roller or paint brush to special pneumatic spray guns. Although not all methods of applying the material are recommended by professional painters, we will talk about this in the article below.
10. Cost. Manufacturers must maintain an optimal ratio of quality and price, the coating should not significantly affect the estimated cost of construction work.

    The choice is not very large - either quality or price. The fact is that the cost depends not so much on the manufacturer's brand as on the list of components. And it is almost the same for the same types of dyes from different companies.

    

    Choose a quality paint, not forgetting about its cost

11. Color saturation. Even a relatively thin coating layer must reliably hide the original color of the concrete.

    Due to this, not only the design characteristics are improved, but also the consumption is reduced. This advertising of manufacturers is rarely confirmed in practice. Concrete is such a difficult material for painters that they consider it a great success to paint it with high quality in two layers. In most cases, you will have to do at least three coats of paint.

    

    Paint in saturated shades

Modern paints satisfy the requirements of consumers, now you can find materials in the sale that match operating conditions of concrete products.

If strict environmental requirements are imposed on concrete paints for interior work, then materials for exterior use may contain harmful chemical compounds. Due to this "relaxation" of requirements, manufacturers are able to create coatings with improved performance.

Types of concrete paints for outdoor use

Depending on the base used and manufacturing technology, all concrete paints are divided into several types.

How to paint concrete surfaces

No matter how expensive and high-quality paint on concrete for external surfaces, if you do not adhere to the rules for performing paintwork, then it will not live up to expectations. And the manufacturer is not to blame for this situation. What recommendations should be followed in order for concrete painting to be reliable?

Choosing a paint grade

A very important criterion, the final results depend on the correct choice. Before buying material, carefully read the instructions. At the same time, pay attention to the following points:

• on what basis the paint is made;
• temperature modes of operation;
• relation to ultraviolet radiation;
• chemical composition;
• whether the material is plastic;
• wear resistance.

If you live in difficult climatic conditions, then the paint should be expensive and high quality. Don't skimp on the cost, repainting concrete will be significantly more expensive than purchasing paint at a high price. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the dye preparation technology and temperature conditions under which you can perform painting work.

Prices for various types of building paints

Construction paints

Purpose of concrete structures

Elements of fences, garden paths, details of facade walls and landscape design are made of concrete. Concrete paths are used in the most difficult conditions; only deep penetration dyes should be used to stain them.

For other designs, you can use paints that form only the top layer.

Practical advice. If you plan to make concrete paths in the garden, then the issues with their painting should be resolved even at the stage of preparing the solution. Various mineral dyes must be added to the mass, this is the only way to guarantee the long-term operation of concrete without changing the original characteristics. To reduce the cost of construction, fill them in two layers.

The first layer is made of ordinary concrete, and the second with dyes. The thickness of the second layer is within three to five centimeters. This is quite enough to achieve the required strength, and a three-centimeter layer of colored concrete has not been erased for many decades.

This method is considered optimal for another reason - concrete paths constantly absorb moisture from the ground, and the presence of moisture has an extremely negative effect on the adhesion performance. There are, of course, modern primers that make it possible to more or less reliably waterproof paint from wet concrete, but in terms of their effectiveness they are much inferior to the above recommendation.

All other concrete structures are operated in more gentle conditions, painting requirements are less stringent, it is allowed to use any dyes for external work.

Surface preparation

Concrete has a negative property - insufficient strength of a thin top layer. Even after running a hand over the surface, microscopic particles of material remain on it. This characteristic does not negatively affect the strength values, but can create problems during dyeing. To minimize negative effects, concrete surfaces should be carefully prepared before painting.

1. Level the concrete plane . It is necessary to close not only cracks, depressions, but also to level sharp protrusions. Each sharp ledge is a place of concentration of loads, no modern dyes will be able to withstand them and will necessarily be damaged. And then, through the holes, water gets between the concrete and the paint and a continuous peeling process begins.

   

   Scheme of repairing concrete walls with repair mixtures

   

   Embedding reinforcement in concrete walls

2. Clean the surface.

   If it has oily stains, it is a big problem. Detergent will not get rid of them, as some inexperienced craftsmen promise. Why? First, the oil penetrates very deeply into the concrete; it is almost impossible to "get" it out of there. Secondly, effective detergents contain acids or surfactants. Both the first and the second have an extremely negative effect on the strength of the material.

   In these places, it becomes brittle, gradually crumbles under light loads, as a result, the paint will surely fall off in the cleaned area. This means that it is impossible to clean the oil from the thickness of the concrete layer, and the remaining oil will constantly rise to the front surface due to the capillary effect. The consequence is the same negative - the paint in these places will certainly peel off. If an oily stain is found, then it must be removed together with concrete to a depth of 2-3 centimeters. Next, seal the depression with fresh mortar, wait a few days until it completely hardens, and only then continue painting.

How to prepare the surface? First of all, let's say that pure concrete is very rarely painted; the top leveling layer is subjected to such actions. And it is made from a cement-sand mixture. It needs to be prepared "greasy", the proportion of cement and sand is about 1: 2. By increasing the amount of cement, the sand is held much stronger. After the screed hardens, it should be thoroughly rinsed with high pressure water.

Do not be afraid that a high pressure can wash the grooves, if this happens - you are in luck. This means that we managed to find a weak point and we can take timely measures to eliminate it. Otherwise, it would have manifested itself anyway, it would have been necessary not only to close up the depression, but also to renew the paint. And it will not be possible to make the patch invisible, it will differ significantly from the old paint for many reasons.

Primer

Be sure to use good quality special primers.

On concrete surfaces, primers perform two tasks: they bind together the smallest particles of material and prevent moisture from entering between the concrete surface and the first layer of paint. There are two types of primers depending on the substrate:

• polyurethane. Perfectly protect the concrete surface from dusting, prevent moisture penetration between the paint and the surface. They have high adhesion rates with most types of paints for external use;
• epoxy. More expensive option.

  Unlike polyurethane, they do not penetrate very deeply, but have better indicators of physical strength. For the price refer to the expensive segment.

Choose a primer according to its characteristics and the specific application of the paint.

Deep penetration primer prices

Deep penetration primer

Technology for applying paint on concrete for outdoor use

Do not violate the manufacturer's recommended preparation technology. As for the consumption, it will be significantly more than what is written on the packaging, buy paint with a margin.

During the application of paint, it must be rubbed very carefully into the surface. The best option is to use a pneumatic gun. Particles of paint fly out of the nozzle at high speed, hit the surface hard and fill all micropores.

An acceptable option is paint brushes. With their help, paint can be applied with force, which will also provide a reliable adhesion.

Disadvantage - work takes a lot of time and physical effort.

She is also a problem of painting concrete with brushes. During the rubbing of the material into the surface of the structure, grains of sand may peel off, you will have to remove them. To do this, you need to wash the brush in a clean solvent, which takes time. And the percentage of solvent in the paint is constantly increasing, a little liquid will always remain on the villi, the new place must be covered with an additional layer, otherwise the difference in shades will be noticeable.

The worst option is to use rollers. The paint does not rub into the concrete, but only spreads over the surface. Of course, it is faster and easier to work with rollers than with brushes, but professional painters strongly advise against painting concrete surfaces with them, and not only those located outside the building.

Prices for paint sprayers

Spray gun

The option of self-preparation of cheap wear-resistant concrete paint for outdoor use

In many cases, there is no need to buy expensive concrete paints for outdoor use, you can make them yourself. In terms of reliability and durability of operation, they will not differ in any way from the factory ones, and in terms of cost, significant financial resources will be saved.

How to prepare the paint yourself?

Step 1. Take any primer, an obligatory requirement - it must penetrate deeply into the top layer of concrete. The optimal depth is 2-3 mm, but the deeper the better.

Step 2. Use colored pigments, the proven Sniezka Colorex brand, but another one is possible, if there is confidence in its quality.

Pay attention that the manufacturer guarantees that the pigment is resistant to sunlight. The cost of the pigment is much lower than the cost of the finished paint. And you still have to buy a primer, otherwise the paint will fall off the concrete surface in a few months.

Step 3. The first layer can be made a little thinner - it will be absorbed deeper.

Let it dry well; in good weather, two to three hours are enough for this. Do not be alarmed that, after drying, the external will be unattractive. After the second layer, the color will become more saturated. If this is not enough, make a third layer. There will be no shine on concrete surfaces, but don't be discouraged.

The main thing is not to have to repaint the concrete structures regularly.

This is a proven method of painting parapets, fence hats, decorative elements, paths, etc. All factory materials in 5-6 years (and this is at best) begin to flake off, complex repairs are required. It is difficult to remove old dyes; you need to use hand-held metal brushes. If you work with an electric grinder with a round brush, then there are great risks of surface damage.

Repairing them is not as easy as it seems. A thin layer of cement-sand mass does not stick to the surface, you will have to hammer the concrete to a depth of several centimeters and only then close up the hole. And then there is a chance that the joint between the new and old material will crack. We advise you not to rush to purchase factory dyes, but use the above recipe and make the paint yourself.

Video - Paint Types for Concrete