Concrete Paint Australia

Check these 5 things before painting concrete

1. Environment and use are two of the most important aspects of a coating choice. For example, a balcony coating needs to be UV and weather resistant, a driveway coatings needs to be oil resistant and suitable for traffic.
2. Before painting concrete, the substrate needs to be free of moisture. Damp concrete will affect coating adhesion and lead to a coating failure.
3. Concrete paint works best as a coating system. This means for premium results it can include up to five layers, for example – a primer, a sealer, undercoat(s), topcoat(s), and a final sealer.
4. The concrete substrate needs to be cured, free from defects, dry, and clean – no contaminants such as oil, algae growth, loose particles.
5. The concrete substrate needs to be sufficiently porous for good adhesion – smooth concrete may require extra preparation such as acid etching, sandblasting, or concrete resurfacing.

Tip: if you decide to leave the job for a professional concrete coating contractor, check their qualifications: for example the completion of ‘CPCCPD3010A – Apply protective paint coating systems‘ shows that the contractor qualifies for applying protective coatings.

Discover your concrete floor paint options

Not all paints are suitable for all environments. Some coatings are simply underqualified for the job if applied in the wrong places. By the same token, some coatings are overqualified. A heavy duty industrial polyurea would be entirely inappropriate for domestic use or a home garage.

One of the key reasons for coating concrete is its porous nature. Left unprotected concrete can absorb water, salts, acids, and other substances to which it is exposed, and deteriorate. If there is reinforcing steel within the concrete, these elements can lead to corrosion and failure. The job of the concrete paint in this case is to seal and protect the concrete from water, weather, chemicals, and other harmful factors the environment may contain. But concrete paint may also be used to beautify a substrate, to create an easy-to-clean surface, or to brighten up a warehouse or factory and improve safety. The different types of basic concrete coatings are polyurethane, polyurea and epoxy.

1. Polyurethane – an option for exterior

Applying high gloss polyurethane concrete paint products.

Properties: UV stability, durable, water resistant, chemical resistant, abrasion resistant, flexible, hygienic, easy to maintain, range of colours and finishes.

A two component coating, polyurethane is often used for external applications or in environments with a high UV exposure where epoxy does not work. It provides protection against medium to high foot traffic and high wear situations, and is a flexible concrete paint solution. Water-based, solvent-based, and 100% solids varieties are available. Less common in industrial setting than epoxy paints because they have weaker impact and chemical resistance.

Examples of uses: Warehouse, hospital, storage floors and more, exterior finish for balconies, patios, pool surrounds, car parks, use as a UV stable topcoat over an epoxy paint.

2. Polyurea – fast application and cure

Properties:Waterproof, chemical resistant, abrasion resistant, no VOCs, UV stability, fast return to service, thermal resistant, flexible.

The relative “new kid on the block”, polyurea has made a name for itself due to its outstanding physical properties. It is a hot spray applied coating with a dry time of only seconds, meaning there is a very short return-to-service time. Polyurea provides a monolithic, waterproof coating which can also cure at low temperatures. The other benefit of polyurea is its flexibility and tensile strength; polyurea can stretch with a substrate without damaging, unlike the other traditional coatings.

Examples of uses: Secondary containment, bridges, tank coatings, car park decks, waterproofing membranes, foundations.

3. Epoxy – the best durability

Properties: Hard-wearing, water resistant, chemical resistant, abrasion resistant, heavy duty, durable, hygienic, easy to maintain, range of colours and finishes.

Usually a two component coating, epoxy paints are the go-to flooring paint for factories and industrial facilities, in fact they are the most common concrete floor coating in Australia. They come in solvent- and water-based varieties, as well as 100% solids, and anti slip additives and aggregates can be added for a non slip finish. The downside to an epoxy paint is that is not UV stable, and will chalk and fade in sunlight. Epoxy is also available as a self-levelling paint.

Examples of uses: Workshop, garage, warehouse, and showroom floors, schools, prisons, hospitals, car parks, cold storage.

Let the concrete coating modified to fit the project perfectly

Concrete floor paint can be formulated to give it anti slip or antimicrobial properties. In healthcare and food preparation industries an antimicrobial coating is often regulated. For anti slip properties, an aggregate can be added (not to all paint, always read the specifications), or choose a concrete paint with an anti slip profile.