Any repair requires physical and material costs. However, in the case of utility and utility rooms, the budget is much smaller, and the work can be completed in a short period of time, because they are not subject to such serious requirements.
Among other tasks that are set for the owners of buildings of the above-mentioned purpose, one should highlight the coloring of concrete. At first glance, this work may seem quite simple. This is true, because it does not require special building skills from the master, but it is still worth getting acquainted with the technology.
Need to stain concrete
Some are wondering why concrete should be painted. The answer to this question can be several properties that the surface will have after the work. Firstly, it will not generate dust, and secondly, it will be protected from wear and mechanical damage. Third, the concrete surface will no longer be afraidchemicals and the aggressive effects of precipitation and temperature changes.
The latter characteristics are especially relevant when concrete is used outdoors. In addition, painting concrete allows you to extend its life and make the surface more aesthetic, and performance is improved. But it is worth remembering that the above factors will depend on the quality of the applied material, so you should not buy cheap paint, because it will not be ready to last for a long time.
How to color
When choosing a paint, consider what you expect from the concrete structure or product after processing. It is also necessary to take into account the conditions under which the concrete will be used. For example, for industrial surfaces, residential premises and street walls, it is recommended to select the paint separately. For many buyers, the cost of the material that you are willing to give up to achieve the goal is also quite an important factor.
Based on the above factors, it can be noted that the paint must be water-repellent, frost-resistant. In addition, it should contain antibacterial additives. Another thing is if you plan to carry out work indoors. For example, polymer coatings are suitable for clean concrete floors that are laid in warehouses, trading floors, hangars, industrial freezers.
Recommendations for choosing dyes
If concretethe surface is operated without a layer of protection, then over time traces of grease and fuel appear on it, which are quite difficult to get rid of, because these substances are absorbed into the concrete. Such stains do not decorate any premises, in addition, they can emit harmful fumes. In order to exclude damage to the concrete base, you should seriously approach the choice of paint. Among other market of modern building materials are epoxy compositions, which are the most modern and have high rates of resistance to chemicals. Such mixtures are plastic and can withstand significant loads without collapsing.
You can use them in cities and on sites that are operated in the open air. If you carry out external painting of concrete with an epoxy mixture, then it will not be afraid of the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays and precipitation. Another important advantage of such enamels is the possibility of application to uncured concrete. Moisture at the same time evaporates not so intensively, which increases the physical strength of concrete. The dye does not harden when it dries, but as a result of chemical reactions between the ingredients, and the humidity of the base has no effect on this.
Advantages and disadvantages of epoxy enamels
If you started painting concrete on the street, you can choose epoxy enamel. Among its positive qualities, it is worth highlighting the invariability of the original color and characteristics throughout the entire period of operation. The dye is moisture resistant and has a high coefficient of adhesion to the concrete coating.
Enamel does not react to chemical compounds and does not emit harmful substances. If you will be painting concrete on the street with your own hands, then before choosing epoxy enamel, you should consider its disadvantages. Among others, it is necessary to highlight the relatively high cost. In addition, before applying the composition, it will be necessary to prepare the components. To work with dyes, you will need at least minimal experience in painting work, because theoretical knowledge does not guarantee quality.
Acrylic paints
Acrylic compounds are made using acrylic resins, which increases the stability of the layer. Among the ingredients, polymers should be distinguished. After drying, a strong film appears on the base, which is wear-resistant, does not peel off over time and can withstand heavy loads.
Choosing a primer for concrete
If you are wondering how to prime concrete before painting, then you can consider Elakor-PU Grunt. This composition is basic and provides surface hardening. The primer is made on the basis of polyurethanes and is used when installing appropriate floors on concrete surfaces.
It is noteworthy that this composition can be applied at temperatures from -30 ° C and above. Priming of concrete before painting can be done with a deep penetration compound. Elakor-PU Grunt-2K/50. This polyurethane mixture is effectively absorbed into the pores and provides impregnation of the material to a depth of 6 mm. The composition is used when constructing floors on concrete. The primer also copes well with hardening the surface, and can be applied even on a damp base.
Among other market offers, we can consider Elakor-PU Grunt-2K/40. This primer provides deep penetration and has a wide range of applications. It can be used in the case not only with concrete, but also when working with brick, as well as stone. The mixture has maximum penetrating and astringent properties. It is used for impregnation of magnesite, polymer concrete and other low-porous substrates. Great mix for weak surfaces where maximum hardening is needed.
Preparatory stage
Concrete painting begins with preparation, it involves the removal of dirt, debris and remnants of the old coating. It will be necessary to carry out surface repairs: putty cracks and repair potholes. The floor should be sanded in any way, in this case you can use:
- scrapers;
- brushes;
- grinders.
The base must be dust-free, for this it is better to use a vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth. When prepping floors, you should achieve a smooth surface, this will increase adhesion and reduce material consumption.
Primer floor
Concrete painting involves priming the surface. This isallows you to improve the quality of the result and achieve maximum adhesion.
Painting the floor: preparing tools
For painting work, you should take care of the availability of some tools, among them:
- rollers;
- long roller handle;
- personal protective equipment;
- brushes for hard-to-reach places;
- masking tape.
Prepare a film to protect vertical surfaces.
Work technology
Paint for painting concrete is applied in the next step in one or two coats. Depending on what requirements are imposed on the coating, it is possible to increase the number of layers. Each layer is applied after the previous one has completely dried. If by the time you start painting you notice that the paint has become thicker, it can be diluted to a working consistency with solvents.
Two-component paints should be prepared very carefully. They are mixed with mechanical devices, because this is the only way to achieve a high-quality coating. Such compounds are diluted only in the volume that you can work out for 3 hours. This is due to the fact that after mixing the ingredients enter into a chemical reaction, and the composition gradually hardens. It is impossible to store it for a long time.
Before applying the first layer, the condition of the surface must be checked again and the "route of movement" determined. For coloring, you can use different tools, namely:
- rollers;
- brushes;
- pneumatic spray guns;
- aligners.
Their condition must be checked before work begins. With the help of brushes, you can paint the surfaces adjacent to the wall. This tool will allow you to circle pipes and other communications. It will be impossible to paint the corners with a roller, as well as with a spray gun, because the walls will be dirty, like all adjacent surfaces.
Do-it-yourself painting of concrete starts from the far corner of the room. In this case, you need to head towards the exit. There should be no gaps, and the thickness of the applied layer will be 0.5 mm. With a roller dipped in paint, it is necessary to pass over the same place several times, pressing the tool with little effort. This will ensure the penetration of the composition into all microcracks. If you notice that air bubbles have appeared on the surface, then you should roll the roller again. When the bubbles reappear, you can talk about the problem. This indicates that a chemical reaction is taking place, which is accompanied by the release of gases.
Concrete painting technology must be accompanied by compliance with safety regulations. Usually dyes contain harmful solvents in the composition, therefore, when working indoors, it is necessary to ensure effective ventilation. The master needs to work using personal protective equipment. If the paint gets into the eyes or mucous membranes, they should be rinsed immediately with running water.
Conclusion
Staining of concrete is carried out in many cases, because people sooner orlate decide to update the walls, ceiling surfaces or other bases of non-residential premises. Before starting work, you need to seriously approach the issue of choosing a dye.
If the structure or concrete surface will be used outdoors, the mixture must be frost-resistant and waterproof. But for the compositions that are applied to the base indoors, there are not so serious requirements.
