How To Stain Concrete Patio? Renewing Concrete Patio In 6 Steps

If you have a concrete patio in your backyard, you’ll probably want to give it a more exciting look with the stains. It’s not too expensive or a hard way to change the yard. stain concrete patio following these steps:

1. Prepare the surface for painting;
2. Seal cracks in concrete with caulk;
3. Polish the concrete surface;
4. Apply paint to the concrete surface;
5. Check the stain on concrete after painting;
6. Apply the final layer of sealant.

Most people have once dealt with painting a deck, a fence, a ladder, or a bench. However, when staining a concrete porch, it is worth considering that, in this case, there may be a lot of nuances that you need to know about in advance. Take a few days to prepare the concrete surface for painting, apply layers of paint and complete the final work. For this period, it is better to ask family members to stay with friends so that the vapors of aggressive paint chemicals do not affect children and animals negatively.

In our article, I have prepared a step-by-step guide on staining a concrete patio and highlighted some essential tips for this job.

What Are Good Concrete Patio Stains

It is necessary to start with the fact that there are several types of stains for concrete patios. So, you can find acid-based and water-based options for paint. Each of these options has several pros and cons. I have prepared a small comparison table so that you can understand what kind of paint you should buy for staining your patio.

How To Paint A Concrete Patio

Everyone can cope with painting the floor, especially if you already have experience painting surfaces. There is nothing complicated in this matter, but it is worth considering that staining a concrete porch includes not only applying a layer of paint on concrete. Before you start painting, you will need to perform several preparatory steps. It is essential to do everything gradually, step-by-step, without missing any work points. I have prepared instructions that will help you properly paint the concrete surface and save the result of work for a long time.

Tools and materials that you will need while working with staining outdoor concrete:

1. Detergents, sponges, and mop;
2. Hose for garden watering;
3. Sealant for concrete;
4. Degreaser;
5. Converter;
6. Acid-resistant airless paint sprayer;
7. Rollers and brushes;
8. Paint containers.

Now, I should give you our guide for staining your outdoor concrete. I have prepared instructions with a list of steps. It will help you to work on staining your patio.

Stain Concrete Patio In 6 Steps

Let’s get started with staining the concrete patio. Read the instructions for your chosen crack bridging and surface painting materials. Follow these steps:

1. Prepare The Surface For Painting

Before you start working with staining outdoor concrete, it must be prepared. It is primarily because concrete stains are translucent and will not be able to hide color variation or unwanted stains. First of all, you should take care to carry out wet cleaning. Before working on the concrete, sweep and mop the floor to remove any dirt and dust. If you notice stubborn stains while cleaning the floor, you can use a large jet of water to clean the surface.

2. Seal Cracks In Concrete With Caulk

Use a sealant to seal any possible cracks in the concrete. Read the instructions for your sealant carefully to appropriately fill cracks in concrete. After working with gaps, let the concrete dry for about a day.

3. Polish The Concrete Surface

Use a sponge to remove any unevenness from the concrete surface. Carefully inspect the surface to ensure no stains, old paint, or old sealant traces. If you need to remove greasy stains from a concrete surface, use a degreaser and neutralizer, which must be diluted in one part to four parts. 

Also, it is worth considering that if you plan to work with acid staining, you must carefully prepare the concrete surface using a concrete stain and cleaner. If you have dense concrete that is not porous enough and wants to do an acid staining process, you will need to do some mechanical preparation first.

4. Start Staining Your Patio

Before you start working with paint, put on a protective suit and protect your face and hair from paint stains and contact with aggressive paint components. You can also wear a respirator if the paint has a strong odor. Apply the paint evenly and gently onto the concrete using a roller, brush, or acid-resistant airless sprayer. After each coat of paint is applied by spray, go over the roller. It will help you to get a smooth and even surface.

If you choose acid stain, start wetting the area, then spraying the paint.  Leave the concrete to dry for six hours. To find out the exact drying time of stain on concrete, read the instructions. This item is always indicated on the packaging for any type.

5. Check Stain On Concrete After Painting

It’s one of the main finish steps of painting the concrete exterior like a patio with stain. After the paint on your concrete has dried, spray the floor with water to approximate the final surface shade. If you want to make the color darker, apply a second coat of paint. To clean the floor of paint residues, use a solution of degreaser and neutralizer. After that, wash the floor with a cloth dampened with water. Change the water in the bucket periodically and keep mopping the floor until the water in the bucket is clean. After a while, wipe the floor with a white rag. Then check if there are any traces of paint left on the rag. If you notice traces, rinse the floor until you are sure the paint is no longer imprinted.

6. Apply The Final Later Of Sealant

This material helps protect painted concrete surfaces. You can use a clear sealer to deepen and intensify the color. Also, the sealant will help you save the surface from dirt, water, and environmental influences. After applying this substance to the concrete, let it cool for about a day. It would be best if you found the exact drying time by reading the instructions for your sealant. It is best to leave the floor alone for a few days, as adverse weather can slow down the drying process of the sealant.

Let’s move on and consider several tips for a staining concrete porch that our team has prepared for you.

8 Tips For A Staining Concrete Porch

I have also prepared some tips for you that will help stain your patio. Use our tips to apply the paint as evenly as possible, achieve a good result, and keep the result for a long time.

1. When preparing the concrete patio for work with stains, do not use hydrochloric acid to clean the surface. It can destroy essential minerals that are needed to achieve the desired color;
2. Test the selected paint on a small patio area, let the concrete surface dry, and see if the resulting color matches the desired one;
3. Apply painter’s tape along any surface that may come into contact with the concrete floor to avoid staining it with paint;
4. If you have just laid new concrete, let it cure for about a month before you start the process of staining the concrete porch;
5. If you’re buying a new airless paint sprayer, use the plastic version of the sprayer. The metal version of the atomizer can quickly fail due to susceptibility to corrosion;
6. If you are working with water-based paint, apply it with a spray gun in a circular motion. It will help you avoid unnecessary build-up of paint on the surface;
7. Carefully check the surface for the presence of a protruding sealant layer before applying a new coat of paint. If you notice a protruding section of sealant, remove it and only then proceed with painting;
8. Consider that the total amount of work, including drying, will take several days. Therefore, it is worth considering all the details in advance, including the weather for the near future, so that nothing prevents you from finishing the work.

Bottom Line

Thus, I told you about the features of choosing one or another paint and gave clear instructions for staining a concrete patio. Also, you can try your ideas while painting the concrete patio with the stain. Be careful during the work and do not forget to remove in advance everything that can get dirty with paint. If you have any difficulties, you can turn to painters who will help you paint your patio.

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