How To Paint A Concrete Floor So As Not To Get Dusty

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

The need for painting
Preparing the concrete floor for painting
Paint selection
Acrylic paints
Epoxy paints
Polyurethane based materials
T eksipol for concrete floors
Stages of work
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Concrete floors are a versatile structure that is usually used in buildings for economic and commercial purposes and, much less often, in residential buildings. The coating is highly durable, but for the most efficient operation it requires additional processing, one of the types of which is painting. At the same time, the main criteria by which paint for a concrete floor is selected are its decorative characteristics and wear resistance.

The need for painting

The preparation of the concrete floor for painting and the painting work themselves can improve the characteristics of the coating:

protect it from destruction and wear and tear, reducing the impact of various external factors - from physical to chemical;
smooth out the concrete layer, eliminating all its defects - cracks, chips, potholes and delamination;
prevent the floor covering with dust, which is very difficult to remove from concrete and quite simply from the painted surface;
increase the moisture resistance of the porous structure, increasing its service life.

By choosing the right way to paint the concrete floor, you can make it resistant to aggressive environments, prevent static electrification and even slip on its surface. In addition, painted concrete floors look much more attractive than untreated floors, which can be an important consideration for commercial spaces.

Preparing the concrete floor for painting

In order for concrete floors to be painted evenly, their surface requires careful preparation. A good option to clean the concrete pavement and make it perfectly smooth is by sandblasting. However, the high cost of such cleaning leads to the need to use other, more profitable options. The most popular is preparation by performing the following works:

Wet cleaning;
Removing the old paint coat (if any);
Removing stains from lubricants or paints and varnishes using special detergents;
Sealing cracks and other defects using a special solution.

After processing the concrete floor, it should be allowed to dry - preferably by covering it with a film, fixed at the edges with masking tape. After 24 hours, the surface of the film material is checked for moisture. If it is missing, you can start painting work.

Paint selection

Due to the wide range of paints and varnishes on the modern market, it is rather difficult to choose what to paint a concrete floor with. In this case, you should know that:

oil or alkyd paint will have to be applied in several layers, so this option is abandoned in favor of more profitable materials;
the most wear-resistant and, therefore, popular for concrete processing, are paints based on polyurethane, epoxy and acrylic resins;
recently, such a glossy paint for concrete floors as T exipol is often used.

A feature of concrete floor paints and varnishes is high strength, obtained due to the large amount of binders. In this case, the price of a properly processed coating increases. However, the absence of the need for too frequent repainting allows you to recoup these costs over time.

Acrylic paints

One of the most popular materials is acrylic concrete floor paint, which is a structure based on synthetic resins and other polymers. It can be matte, glossy or semi-matte. By creating a protective film, this material allows you to get the most durable and resistant to various influences coating, which can be used within 48 hours after staining.

Another plus of acrylic paint is the ability to apply in various ways. For this, brushes, a spray, and a roller can be used. And the main application for such a material is covering the concrete floors of balconies, garages and basements.

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Epoxy paints

Epoxy based materials consist of two components mixed right before application to the surface. The disadvantage of this paint is that the choice of colors is too small. And the advantages include the ability to use after two days - the material is applied in 2 layers, each of which dries up to 24 hours. In addition, acrylic paint for concrete floors is wear-resistant and practically unaffected by aggressive media, including acids and alkalis, and also provides a high degree of waterproofing.

Just like acrylic materials, epoxy materials are applied using brushes, roller and spray guns. The paints adhere easily to the surface and retain their color for several years. They are used most often in industrial premises, workshops and parking lots, as well as in open areas.

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Polyurethane based materials

Polyurethane concrete floor paint also contains two components that must be thoroughly mixed before use. Although the painting process differs markedly from the application of other materials. So, the drying time of the first, thinnest, layer does not exceed a day. However, the second, final, acquires maximum strength only after a week, and resistance to aggressive environments - after 14 days.

The main purpose of polyurethane paints and varnishes is the coating of concrete floors in production shops and car services, in stadiums and in parking lots. At the same time, the minimum application temperature should not be lower than –5 degrees. But after drying, the paint can withstand temperature changes in the range of –40 - +150 ° C.

T eksipol for concrete floors

When choosing how to paint the concrete floor so that it does not get dusty, they pay attention to materials such as urethane-alkyd paints. Distinguished by high resistance to abrasion, they also have a good range of colors. However, the resulting coatings can only be glossy.

One of the most popular modern concrete protection materials is Teksipol, a concrete floor paint that is resistant to any kind of impact. It is used when it is necessary to protect the surface from abrasion, as well as the influence of diesel fuel, mineral oils, alkalis and acids. Therefore, the main purpose of Texipol is to cover floors in rooms with high traffic or a large number of passing cars.

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Stages of work

Typically, high quality hardwearing concrete floor paint is sold ready-to-use. Therefore, it no longer needs to be diluted, and staining can be started immediately after completion of the preparatory work. At the same time, it is recommended to apply a primer for concrete surfaces in the first layer, with which you can significantly increase the service life of the base material.

Dyeing is performed in ventilated areas using personal protective equipment (respirator, glasses and gloves) and, preferably, special clothing. The temperature during application should correspond to the selected type of paint. Its minimum value, as a rule, is –10 degrees, the maximum is about 30–35 degrees. Indoor humidity should not exceed 80 percent

The most effective and time-saving way of painting the floor is considered to be a spray gun. And, if the selected paint is compatible with this tool, it is advisable to use it. Regardless of the number of layers (most often there are two), each next one is applied only after the previous one has dried.

Particular attention should be paid to paints that contain epoxy resins. The term of their use after mixing should not exceed 3-4 hours. Therefore, such material should be applied immediately after preparation. Polyurethane materials have about the same feature. But both of these options differ in a lower consumption per unit area compared to acrylic paint, which can be used a few days after the previous painting, by tightly closing the can.

You can walk on a painted concrete surface after 24 hours. However, for the passage of cars, it will be ready no earlier than in 3-7 days. And the material reaches its maximum resistance to any external influences within 7-14 days.