How To Clean Unsealed Concrete Patios
Just a few supplies and a bit of elbow grease are needed to clean a patio. If the concrete is heavily stained, you may wish to use a power washer and a commercial cleaner recommended for the washer. Do not use a vinegar and baking soda mixture in a power washer.
Choose a mild, overcast day to tackle the job, so that the cleaning solution will not evaporate too quickly.
Can You Install Composite Decking Directly Onto Concrete
An existing concrete patio will make your deck installation much easier and faster, and you can install your deck directly onto the concrete.
You will want to account for water drainage and material expansion/contraction, so it is best to place boards called sleepers underneath the deck. It is also a good idea to add small spacers between the sleepers and the concrete patio.
- When you install your sleepers, keep them no more than a foot apart. You want to provide as much support for the top planks as you can, and too much distance can leave your deck feeling unstable and springy. It can even be dangerous nobody wants to put a foot through the deck.
- Some composite decking can be installed directly onto concrete without sleepers. In this case, you will want to make sure your patio is very level and well settled. If your concrete patio sinks an inch in various places over the years, so will your deck. Do yourself a favor and check the manufacturer installation guide before you decide on a deck built flush to the concrete.
- In either case, there will be a need to attach some elements to the concrete. To do this, you will need to drill holes and add plastic anchors to the concrete. Regular nails and screws will not attach to concrete.
How To Stain Your Concrete Patio
Prior to staining a patio, the surface needs to be prepped. Because concrete stains are translucent, they wont hide color variations or unwanted stains from dirt, oil, grease, organic matter, or weather exposure.
Here are tips for removing some common types of stains:
Staining your own concrete doesnt always end in a beautiful finish. Find a concrete staining contractor near you that will deliver professional results.
Stained Concrete Originals in Los Angeles, CA.
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How Can I Color My Concrete Patio
. Likewise, people ask, how do you color a concrete patio?
Scrub the concrete using a stiff broom to clean dirt off the surface. Then rinse the entire patio with water. This how to stain concrete project is much faster and easier if you stain your whole patio a single color. All you have to do is wet the concrete and apply the stain.
One may also ask, is it better to paint or stain concrete patio? Concrete stain embeds the surface to color it translucently, while opaque concrete paint covers the top of the concrete but is subject to chipping and peeling when improperly applied. Concrete stains go on quicker, dry faster and take less work than concrete paint, but they offer no significant protection.
In respect to this, what is the best way to color concrete?
Here are the 6 most common ways to color horizontal concrete.
Does colored concrete fade?
A. The color will not fade, but the concrete can fade. Left unprotected or weakened by a poor mix design or finishing job, the surface of concrete âdustsâ and erodes slowly. Keep your colored concrete fresh and looking new by protecting it with periodic applications of a good, high quality clear sealer.
The Best Time To Paint Your Concrete Patio
Like any paint job, good timing and fastidious prep work is key. Choose a time of year in your region when the temperature isnt too cold or hot or the weather too wet. The paint can will have the proper temperature range listed.
You might have some wiggle room with these high and low temperatures, depending on the type of paint you use but these general guidelines hold. That means for most folks, youll be able to paint an outdoor concrete patio throughout the year, with the exception of very cold winter days or very hot direct sun summer days.
You will want to paint your concrete patio outside of your regions wet season. Rain or snow will affect how the paint adheres to the concrete and how it dries, so choose a time of year when you know youll have proper dry time. The side of the paint can label will usually provide dry times to touch and to walk on. If youre painting a covered outdoor concrete patio, or a garage floor, you can paint if its wet out, just make sure water cant leak onto the slab and ruin your work.
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Choosing Concrete Stain Instead Of Paint
Choosing to stain the patio instead of painting it offers several benefits. Lets compare the two.Paint coats the concrete surface. The surface does not absorb it. This makes it easy to wear away. In the absence of a vapor barrier in an exterior surface, paint is more likely to bubble and flake. Problems may also occur depending on the weather of the area you reside in. Paint can become slippery and thus, become dangerous. Finally, if your patio is heavily used, the paint job will not last very long.
Stain, on the other hand, is absorbed by the concrete surface. This makes it less prone to wear and tear in comparison to concrete paint. It also maintains the texture of concrete making it less hazardous. It is definitely longer lasting and requires lesser maintenance than concrete paint. On the downside, staining is a relatively expensive procedure and is best done by hiring a professional. Also, the color options are more limited in this type of treatment.
Whatever option you choose, remember that regular maintenance is essential. If you are not confident enough to get the job done yourself, get it done professionally. It may cost a few extra bucks, but youll be stress-free and have a great looking porch by the end of it.
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Removing Red Wine Stains
Theres no use in crying over spilled wine. If the spill is caught early, simply blot or wash it into a drain right away. After rinsing or blotting the initial spill, apply a 1:1 ratio of water to white vinegar and scrub with a sponge soaked with water and dish soap. Then simply rinse and blot dry.
If the stain is older or set-in, you can take the following steps to remove it.
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A Guide To Stained Concrete Patios
Artistic Concrete Floors LLC in Covington, LA.
Stained concrete is a cost-effective and versatile way to upgrade the look of both new and existing patios. With a stained concrete patio, you have the ability to add subtle hints of color, bolder design accents, and even custom graphics. Stains penetrate deeply into the concrete surface, producing fade-resistant, permanent color. Unlike paint, the color won’t flake off or peel away.
Take a look at some staining work in our gallery of patio pictures.
How To Remove Red Mud And Rust Stains
Rust stains from furniture legs and grills can be especially difficult to remove. In some areas of the country, the soil contains so much iron that red mud stains must be treated like rust stains. Rust stains should be treated before removing mildew stains. Chlorine bleach can permanently set in rust stains.
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The Best Paints For Painting Your Patio
Depending on the material of the patio you have, you will need to use specific kinds of paints to ensure that they will properly bond and last. In this section, we will go over the best paints to use for painting concrete and wooden patios, and some of the qualities of each different paint mentioned so you can find the right one for your needs.
Why Dont More Homeowners Choose To Paint Concrete
Painting or staining a concrete surface isnt typically as simple as rolling a new paint color onto drywall. Because porous concrete tends to absorb paint and moisture , the process involves some additional prep work. Despite the extra steps, painting concrete isnt a complicated project, and the finished product can be well worth the effort.
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Painting Over Stained Concrete Patio
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Clean And Prepare The Surface
Remove any furniture or other items. The area you want to stain must be clean and free of loose paint, dirt and dust, or any other debris. You need access to the entire surface. Use a wire brush and a solution of trisodium phosphate and water to scrub the surface clean and remove any foreign matter on the concrete.
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Applying The Base Coat
As your concrete patio is ready for staining, its time to put the base coat on top of the concrete. Its going to help increase the contrast and make the overall stain more effective as well.
However, you need to spray the base coat onto the patio. Make sure that the surface is wet and you put a good amount of the base coat on it.
Its better to pick a white stain base coat to make the whole thing better. Use a sprayer wand to apply it and go with a circular motion, and make sure to go smooth and slow. After applying the base coat, you can move on to the next step.
Removing Moss And Algae
Moss and algae can spread rapidly if not controlled. Using Simple Green, a scrub brush and a hose can help small areas. Or, try distilled white vinegar and a scrub brush. For larger areas, homeowners report success eliminating algae by attaching a liquid fertilizer delivery device to the end of a garden hose and filling it with pool chlorine. For additional options, read this guide on removing moss from paving stones. Most of the methods will also work to remove stains on concrete.
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How To Clean Your Stained Concrete Patio
When cleaning your stained concrete patio, follow these steps:
What Is Concrete Stain
Staining is a method of adding color and unique design to concrete surfaces, allowing the pigments to penetrate and integrate with the concrete mixture.
Unlike paint that only stays on the concretes surface, stains become embedded into the concrete, becoming an integral component of the structure.
Because the pigment penetrates the concrete mixture, it creates a translucent appearance. One can see the distinct physical characteristics of the concrete floor or wall.
Concrete stains can be either water-based or acid. The former is easier to work with, requiring only the application of an appropriate sealant to prevent fading. One has to use more water-based stains to achieve a deeper color in their concrete.
Acid stains produce more stunning aesthetics but are challenging to apply. They can also pose a health threat, causing serious lung, eye, and skin irritation if the acid gets in contact with these body parts.
Because the pigment becomes a part of the concrete, this coloring option does not chip, flake, nor peel away. Of course, cracks in the concrete also reduce the stains elegant look.
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Pet Urine Removal Instructions
Did you know that you can identify pet urine on concrete with a black light? Take a look at Urine Zero: The Pet Odor / Urine Smell Remover
Deep Cleaning And Prepping The Concrete
Regardless of the extent of the existing damage to your concrete patio floor, you must prepare the surface before giving it a fresh look. Failure to adequately prepare your concrete floor will make it hard for the new materials to bond with it. In most instances, pressure hosing the patio floors gets the job done. But if you suspect that the present dust wont be easy to remove, use a stiff-bristled broom to scrub the surfaces. You can also increase the pounds per square inch of the hosing pump to reach the depths of your concrete. High-pressure hosing ensures that worked-in dust and grime detaches from the surfaces.
Alternatively, chemical etching ensures your concrete patio is properly prepared and ready for the sealer to penetrate and bond with the existing concrete stain. Just remember that any cleaning that involves chemicals should be done with a lot of care lest someone gets hurt. If your floor has paint drops, you can invest in a paint stripper to clean it off. Also, be careful to remove dust and debris from the kerfs.
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How To Clean A Concrete Patio
Concrete patios and driveways are practical, affordable, and durable. With design innovations like adding color stains, stamping, and sealers, concrete is no longer just a hard, dull gray surface and has even moved inside the home as an interior floor or countertop. Even though outdoor concrete is exposed to harsh weather and lots of use, with just a bit of care, concrete patios can look beautiful for decades.
How Do I Cover An Old Concrete Patio
An old concrete patio can be the most boring part of an exciting backyard. You dont have to live with that plain concrete patio, though. A little creativity and a liberal helping of elbow grease, and you can breathe new life into that old patio.
Cover an old concrete patio with a wood or composite deck to bring a warm, organic look to the backyard. Build the new deck with wood or composite decking and attach the deck directly to the concrete patio.
There are several considerations regarding the kind of deck you build over your concrete patio, as well as a few other options for patio covering. Keep reading to pick up some tips and ideas.
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Phase One: Clean And Prepare The Concrete Surface
The path to beautifully stained concrete begins with a smooth, clean surface. Using the proper tools and prep materials during this step is essential to achieve beautiful results. For this reason alone, its best to hire an experienced concrete staining company to handle your project. Here are some ways a skilled professional can help prepare your surface for beautiful results:
- Use cutting-edge tools: Experienced professionals use a concrete diamond grinder and other cutting-edge tools to prepare your floors.
- Remove stubborn glue or drywall mud: Skilled pros know how to completely remove glue, mud, and carpet glue from your concrete.
- Repair wide cracks: While small cracks can give your stained concrete floors character, you may wish to have wide cracks repaired.
Should I Use Wood Or Composite Decking
The warm and natural feel of a deck can be accomplished with either wood or composite decking. When youre putting a deck over an old concrete patio, your first decision will be which material you want to use.
Wood Decking
Wood decking is the more traditional approach to building a deck, but it is fading in popularity. While it does look nice, it is prone to fading, rotting and drying over time. It does have the distinct advantage of being considerably more affordable than composite decking, however.
Composite Decking
One of the many benefits of composite decking is that it is built from a combination of wood fibers and PVC plastic. These are molded planks or tiles, not natural wood, and so they are not as prone to warping, swelling, drying or splitting like wood decking. They last longer than wood and require considerably less maintenance. If your project budget allows for it, composite decking is the superior choice.
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Dont Stop Until You Get The Perfect Staining
Renewing an outdoor concrete slab can be a small project thats less costly. It can also be an elaborate process that requires several professionals to give it the look it deserves. The simpler option just requires single and uniform staining. On the other hand, you can go with multiple layers of different colors to make your patio a great place to be.
If you are unsatisfied with the results, you should just keep applying different colors until you achieve the hue that appeals to you. Once you are done, give your patio two days to dry before you can start using it.