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How to paint an existing concrete patio (textured finish)?

Hello,

We bought (borrowed/loaned a scary sum of money for) our first home earlier this year. I always end up on this website because it's so helpful and yet I have never posted; figured I would give it a go because I don't trust AI, Facebook or Reddit.

We have a small (12-15sqm), shaded concrete patio where we plan to put a barbecue and an outdoor setting. I believe it was originally a 'brush' textured finish because it is also right beside our pool (the bank's pool) and therefore has an increased slip hazard.

Although we had planned to paint it eventually (Monument of course, for we are unoriginal millennials), we have brought this forward because the concrete has incurred some minor and shallow cosmetic damage from a mini excavator. So shallow it would probably be difficult patching it. There is no evidence of paint peeling and if I had to guess I'd say it's only had the same paint from day one as the scuffs are all concrete coloured.

I'm getting a bit confused with all of the different product options. Additionally, cost is a big factor for us and the Dulux pricing is scary. Most of the advice online and this website seems to relate to smooth finish concrete like garages and porches and I am not sure if the textured finish is a variable.

My initial question was:

1A. Can I disguise the damage using paint?

After a test patch (albeit, it's British Paints Four Seasons so not designed for concrete) seemingly the answer is, for the most part, yes.

1B. If I add some kind of grit to the paint, would it disguise the scuffs further?

I don't know. I know a textured roller is not the way to go because I tried.

1C. Depending on the type/brand of paint chosen, could that disguise the scuffs too (low sheen?)?

Then I got onto:

2. Do I need to scuff/etch/wire brush?

Considering the ridged nature of the finish and the random scuffs everywhere, I think it will probably just need an active clean.

3. Is it worth resurfacing the area when considering cost versus output? Is it even possible to resurface a brushed finish? What tools would be required?

This, I really don't know anything about.

It's a bit dirty (except for where the paint is, I cleaned it before I tested) but you get the gist of it. Dog for scale.

Looking forward to the demystification of this DIY conundrum (and yes - I did speak to someone at my local Bunnings but he was a young fella and wasn't too sure - which I appreciated because at least he didn't give me a bum steer to get me to go away 😂).

Kind regards

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Decking and Paving

Repairing

Painting

Comments

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @nfi-diy. It's sensational to have you join us and many thanks for you question on painting concrete.

Looking at your photos, most of the scuffed areas will likely be covered by a final coat of paint. You could sand back the painted surface in the scuffed areas to help blend the marks, but depending on the size, this could be a significant job. From your test patch, it appears that some of the deeper scuffs may go all the way through to the concrete itself, so sanding could help reduce their visibility, but it won’t completely remove them.

More importantly, what will affect your final coat isn’t just the scuff marks, but the underlying condition of the concrete. Many of the lower depressions in your patio seem to be actual damage to the concrete surface rather than just paint removed by scuffing. Given the shallow nature of the damage, traditional fillers might not work well, and the surface itself is likely stippled and uneven.

If you wanted a truly smooth, clean finish, you’d need to remove the existing paint, by grinding back the surface, and apply a thin layer of self-leveling concrete or a resurfacing product. Because your patio is flush with adjoining surfaces, any new layer would have to be only a few millimetres thick, but removing the old paint and preparing the area would be a big job. Hiring a professional to resurface the concrete could save time and ensure a proper finish.

On a budget, another option could be tiling over the area. Tiling would completely cover the deteriorated surface and give a neat, long-lasting finish. Painting a textured, slightly damaged surface will always show imperfections to some degree. However, you could consider the Dulux 10L Concrete & Paving Crushed Pebble Effect - Night Fall as the effect would most likely disguise the damage.

Regarding grit additives or low-sheen paints, they can help disguise minor marks, but they won’t hide actual depressions or gouges in the concrete.

In short, painting will improve the look, but if you want a very clean, smooth finish, resurfacing or tiling is the only way to completely hide the damage.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

nfi-diy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/58452#Comment_58452

Hi Mitchell,

Thanks for the reply.

That all makes sense; my only follow-up question is about traditional fillers not working for shallow areas and why that might be. I'm presuming the filler compound is quite thick molecularly so there will simply not be enough volume, even with an appropriate amount of surface area. That may cause it to become sandy/cracky (very professional adjective) on top?

For paving, is there a requirement to have paint grinded off to pave over the slab or can I paint as a stop-gap now and pave it when we have time for that project?

Thank you.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/91588#Comment_91588

You’re on the right track regarding traditional fillers @nfi-diy. Most concrete patching compounds are designed for deeper repairs and rely on a certain minimum thickness to cure properly and bond with the substrate. When applied very thinly over a shallow scuff or shallow depression, there isn’t enough volume for the chemical reactions to fully develop, which can cause the patch to dry out, become crumbly or sandy, and potentially crack. Essentially, they’re too “thick” to feather down effectively in very shallow areas, so the bond and surface integrity are compromised. However, there is the Dunlop 5kg Ardit Rapidset Repair Mortar, which can be applied to a feather edge. So, this would be suitable for skim coating over the damaged areas. Bear in mind that it will only bond to concrete/cement, so any you apply over the painted surface would likely delaminate from it—a bit of a tricky situation. You probably would have to skim coat the area and then sand back the product to remove it from the paint. Remember to wear suitable PPE, including a respirator, during this process.

For paving over your existing slab, you don’t need to remove all the paint immediately if your plan is to pave later. However, when you are ready to pave, it’s usually recommended to grind or remove any paint and contaminants to ensure proper adhesion of the paving adhesive or mortar. This step helps prevent delamination or movement issues with the new paving.

Mitchell

nfi-diy

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/111784#Comment_111784

Thank you for this helpful information 😊

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