Free UK mainland delivery on orders over £50*

How to Paint Masonry and Concrete Surfaces

Painting exterior surfaces is no small task which is why we've created this handy guide to help you achieve the best results. A fresh coat of paint will bring a new lease of life to masonry walls, brickwork, a basement, garden or balcony space. From painting exterior masonry walls, concrete floors, garden walls or painting exposed brickwork, we have the perfect paint for the job.

What do you need to paint masonry walls or concrete?

Painted_wall

Clean the surfaces

For a good paint finish, cleaning & preparation are absolutely vital. If possible, power-wash the surface to remove old flaking paint etc. Also, if mould or algae are in evidence then add some bleach or mildewcide to the water. If you are working indoors or the use of a power washer is impractical, then use a scraper and wire brush to remove old paint.

After old flaking paint has been removed, ensure surfaces are clean and dry. Grease or oil on the surface will bleed through the new paint, interfering with the longevity of the paint and causing it to discolour. Apply a fungicidal wash, to clean the surfaces before applying paint. Scrub well into the masonry or concrete surface to ensure that paint will adhere.

Repair any defects

After surfaces are clean, use a masonry filler or a ready mix concrete patch to make good any defects on the surface. The concrete manufacturer will normally make recommendations on drying time and tell you when the surface can safely be painted.

Masonry Cleaning & Preparation Products

Selecting paint

Choose your paint depending on where the paint is going to be applied. It could be the interior of a garage or an exterior wall for example. Some paints are even specifically created for floors, and additives can be used to provide more texture and grip.

The experts at The Paint Shed are happy to provide advice and suggestions to ensure that you choose the most appropriate paint for the job. Take a look at our range of masonry and concrete paints, available at low prices with fast delivery.

At the same time as ordering your paint, you should also consider if you require mineral spirits or paint thinner to clean your brushes or spillage.

Sealing and priming

Most masonry surfaces require to be sealed and primed prior to painting. The sealers stop moisture from seeping through the concrete or masonry. This is most likely to occur in basements. You can check if your basement has been already sealed by taping four sides of a square of plastic kitchen wrap onto the surface of the floor and leave for 24 hours or so.

If the floor has not been sealed, water will have condensed under the plastic wrap due to evaporation up through the concrete. It's best to use a quality masonry sealer with a separate primer that complements it. The process of sealing and priming will build a strong, water-resistant foundation for the final painting.

Popular Masonry and Concrete Primers

Painting

Only start applying the paint after your sealer and primer coats have completely dried out. It’s preferable to use a brush for the detail work around windows and trim etc. A brush is also better for cutting in between the walls and floor. The remainder of the painting can be done using a roller. Check with the manufacturer's recommendations as to what size nap is appropriate. Most likely it will be a ¾-inch or 1-inch nap. Buy a minimum of three roller covers – for the sealer, the primer and the paint.

It’s better to apply several thin coats, rather than one thick coat, as paint creates a harder surface when thin coats are laid on top of each other. Paint dries (or cures) to different thicknesses, depending on its sheen and chemistry. The length of this process depends on the thickness of the ‘mil’. Painted floors or walls in basements will likely have a longer curing time. Always ensure you allow enough curing time prior to use.

You can find all the supplies you need when painting masonry and concrete surfaces at The Paint Shed. At The Paint Shed, you'll find a huge range of masonry paint colour inspration from brands at low prices - that's what has helped make us the UK's most recommended independent paint retailer.

Recommended Masonry Paints