Can You Use Acrylic Paint on Concrete

In this modern world, several different multistory buildings are being erected day by day.

In this field, you can face up to paint on concrete. It is becoming a new artistic style gaining popularity and attention.

Do you want to get acquainted with the information about acrylic paint on concrete?

If your answer is “Yes,” we will offer several valuable details. So, draw your dreams with acrylic painting.

Can you use acrylic paint on concrete?

Whether you work in this field or not, you often come across a dilemma like this?

Since a new artistic style of painting is on the rise, learning whether you can use acrylic paint on concrete or not is important.

Even though you might be a modest man, not needing any sort of artistic endeavors, looking at the dull concrete slab may make you want to take a chance.

In this article, we will present you with all the necessary information on whether you can paint that dull-ass concrete slab with acrylic paint or not. Plus, we will go deep into detail about everything related to using acrylic paint on concrete.

Let us get started.

Can I use acrylic paint on concrete?

The short answer to the question is “Yes.”

You can use some types of acrylics on concrete-like water-based latex acrylic paints. Because they drench into concrete, which can endure even adverse weather conditions.

But you should keep in mind that oil-based acrylic/latex paints are not suitable for concrete. It is a waste of one’s time. If you use oil-based paints on your concrete, it does not drain or crack like a shell after a while.                          

Can I paint concrete with Acrylics?

For using acrylic paint on concrete, it must respond to specific criteria:

• Specially Formulated acrylic paint on concrete or alkaline. It must be developed for direct application on concrete and alkaline masonry surfaces. To put it more, you must choose suitable paint for concrete. You should keep in mind that not all paints are planned to withstand use on concrete.
  
• Great hiding power. It will be better to choose acrylic paint, which provides excellent hiding power. Because it supplies to cover the surface.     
  
• Great quality. Many acrylic paints cannot withstand abuse because of their adverse quality.
  
• Use a sealer after painting on concrete with the help of acrylics. Because by sealing your concrete, you can guarantee effectively over time.

These are the only basic standards for acrylic paints. It can be added the other measures according to the customs desire.

If you want to buy or apply acrylic paint on concrete, remember to be attentive to these points.

Is acrylic paint permanent on concrete?

Acrylic paint can be permanent when you adhere it correctly to the concrete. To be durable on concrete, the paint must dry sufficiently. After drying perfectly, it will be permanent.

But it cannot be waterproof until you seal the paint. By sealing, you have a chance to protect your paints from different components. After sealing, don’t forget about checking the concrete one more time.

You must be sure that the paint on the concrete soaks up perfectly. Otherwise, it cannot endure different elements which affect the concrete from the outside.

The paint is composed of pigments in acrylic polymer emulsion. These pigments are responsible for supplying the color of the paint.

Another essential chemical element – the polymer helps to adhere to it after drying well. So, these elements are the most vital elements of acrylic paint in being permanent on concrete.

Is acrylic paint waterproof on Concrete?

When using acrylic paint on concrete, one of the most exciting questions is whether acrylic paint is waterproof or not.

Unfortunately, there is no such kind of acrylic paint that can withstand any abuse, UV (ultraviolet) rays, yellowing, dust, and especially water damage. 

However, if you want your painted concrete to be waterproof, an acrylic paint sealer is the only way. It can be said with another word applying varnish.

By varnishing the paint, you provide water resistance and a long duration for the concrete.                                 

Is it possible to directly paint onto concrete?

This question is one of the most uncertain ones. You can answer the question either yes, or no.

But it is better to choose the second one when painting on concrete. Keep reading and take more information about this idea.

Acrylic primer is a bonding bridge connecting the concrete and the paint.  The concrete surface is porous, so the paint is soaked by this porosity.

As a result, you must paint the concrete repeatedly, even if you use the best masonry acrylic paint. Your concrete can not be smooth if you skip this step.

So, before painting concrete, just prepare it for painting. It may take much more time than painting directly. But the work will be fully completed and long-lasting when preparing the surface beforehand.  

Below, you will be given some tips to prepare the exterior before painting.

Step 1. Cleaning the surface

We need several instruments which help us to clean concrete. Let’s go through what’s necessary:

Hydrochloric acid	Plastic bucket
Rubber gloves	A watering can
Shades	Fiber bristle brush
Adhesive tape	Pressure washer

Bear in mind that the more unpolluted the surface is, the more satisfied the result will be.

Having been cleaning dirt, dust, and contaminants with a fiber bristle brush, you must wash up the concrete with the help of a pressure washer. Remember to use a pressure washer in proper tension to see a satisfactory result.

You can simply sweep again to be the concrete rougher. The surface should be as harsh as 180-grit sandpaper. If it is not rugged enough, even sweeping can use hydrochloric acid. You add three parts of water to one part of the acid.

Don’t forget to wear your safety equipment. Spray this mixture at a high temperature all over the surface. After leaving for 15 minutes, you can check the concrete with masking tape. Dry the concrete thoroughly before the beginning of your work. If there is no debris on the video, you can quickly jump to the next step. 

Step 2. Choose the suitable primer for your concrete

 If your concrete is unpainted, chipping, chalking, and peeling the exterior and interior surfaces must be primed before painting.

It helps any tiny pores fill, make a smooth, ensure adhesion, protect from adversity, prolong the duration, etc. There are several types of concrete primers. You can see them in the table below with short information.

Acrylic/latex	Water-based and reduce the dust
Polyurethane/ epoxy	Heavy-duty, resist chemical attack
Acrylic masonry	Specifically formulated for new and unpainted concrete and protect from lime burns
Acrylic block fill	Specially designed for smooth or split-face concrete blocks

And now, let’s get through the information about painting directly on concrete.

Suppose you choose to paint concrete directly or without using any kind of primer. In that case, the surface will face up mold and mildew over time. And you have to paint it again and again to see the result.

Primer is also called block primer because it can fulfill the pores in concrete. So painting concrete without primer is like abusing the concrete deliberately.

Can I seal acrylic paint on concrete?

If you read all the information above, you’ve already had a basic idea about acrylic paint and using it appropriately. And now we can talk about sealing.

So firstly, what is sealing? and why do we need sealing on concrete in the painting process?

Sealing is a procedure that can help enliven the paint onto concrete longer and better. Keep in mind that the sealer can be used only on laid concrete that has been drained for 28 days. The sealers’ lifespan consists of 1-10 years, depending on the type of sealer and degree of use.

The differences between sealed and unsealed can be noticed easily. Sealing adds an extra layer to the surface of the concrete, which plays a role in protection. By sealing the paint, you just provide concrete luxury and aristocracy.

What do you use to seal painted concrete?

Several instruments are used in the sealing process. You can see them below.

• broom
• vacuum
• dustpan
• long-armed paint roller
• epoxy sealant
• painter’s tape
• paintbrush

These materials are generally used at the beginning of the process. Especially cleaning concrete and preparing it for painting.

The next step is choosing a proper sealer for the surface. Inventors have discovered different sealers varying from wax to linseed oil in the past ten years. And now, two categories of sealers are admitted as the best protective sealer.

1.   Film-forming sealer is also famous for surface-coating or topical sealers. It can present visual improvement from stains and chemicals. The duration of this category consists of 1-5 years or sometimes longer than that. (When the sealer is sophisticated epoxy or urethane system)

The film-forming sealer also has three types intended to use in different approaches.

• The acrylic sealer is easy and quick to use. It adds a thin protection layer from debris and dirt to the exterior. It can be accepted for both indoor and outdoor floors.
  
• Polyurethane sealer is a dependable layer of protection. It is commonly used in high-traffic and shopping centers. It gives the surface a glossy varnish. 
  
• Epoxy sealer is suitable for an excellent interior appliance. This type of sealer stands out with durable and long-term protection. It is more natural and glossier.

2.   Penetrating sealers. This category of sealer is responsible for permeating the small holes of the concrete. It is durable against salts and pollutants. Its duration is generally 5 years or more.

How long does it take to dry acrylic paint on concrete?

If you have used water-based paint on your concrete, let them dry for 16 hours. However, the second coat will be carried out after 24 hours. The second coat drain for one to seven days according to the type of paint.

In fact, the paint must take a rest of at least 24 hours before taking the first step. But it would be better to leave the painted concrete for 72 hours to dry well. 

There are also some ways to accelerate drying the paint onto concrete.

• Opening doors and windows of the painted room to improve air circulation.
• If there is an air conditioner in the room, switch it on
• Pay attention to the temperature of the room. It must not be so low or so high.

Is it possible to mix acrylic paint with cement?

There are different thoughts about this criterion. Some people think that it is impossible to mix acrylic paint with cement.

But you can easily mix acrylic paint with cement. Mixing acrylic paint with cement basically changes the color.

However, you should be careful when adding cement to the paint. Make sure the cement must be added quickly before it hardens.

Acrylic paint and latex paint are the paints you can add to the cement. Both are waterproof and make sure that there are no spots.

Types of concrete paint

It is mainly what type of acrylic paint convenient for your construction is. It depends on your wish, building structure, environmental condition, duration, and another determined target for your erection.

There are several kinds of acrylic paints that are appropriate for concrete:

• Acrylic paint
• Latex paint
• Acrylic Latex Paint
• Epoxy Paint
• Masonry paint  

Acrylic paint is mainly assembled with acrylic resin. It is convenient for artists and crafters because it is easy to use and provides your work more quickly than the other paints. You can use it on paper, canvas, wood, plastic, and other materials.

It is great to use, dependable, long-continued, and economical. Yet you can’t use this type of acrylic paint on concrete. Because it peels and cracks, you will just have to remake it repeatedly to see the result. In other words, acrylic paint is not permanent on concrete.

 Latex paint. Before beginning the information about latex paint, it will be better to know about the word “Latex.” It is the name of a domestic rubber tree in South America that is stretchy and mainly harvested for its rubber. It can be synonymous with “water-based” or “water-reduced.”

Latex paint is basically specialized for concrete walls. They are odorless that were supported by water-based. Latex paint is more environmentally harmless. That’s why you can use it indoors. The percentage of poisoning because of the paint is lower than in others.

The quantities of latex paint are significantly more than the other types of paint. You can easily find it in the markets.

Acrylic Latex Paint

Acrylic latex paint is considered one of the best choices for concrete in the construction industry. Because it is formulated with acrylic resin and latex paint to enhance the quality of the paint. This paint is more durable and adhesive.

You can use it outdoors without hesitation because of its high quality. It can endure adverse weather conditions, pollution, and additional damages. Other paints are not able to equate with acrylic latex paint.

The advantages of acrylic latex paint are the following:

• Economic capability. Because it uses a synthetic polymer or plats.
• More environmentally because of the lack of oil compared to other acrylic paints, 
• Flexible,
• Capable of being washed without injury or damage,
• Breathability,
• Adherence,
• Water-based. It can be mixed and spread quickly on the surface.

Despite these advantages of acrylic latex paint, it also has some drawbacks, like limited adhesion or inappropriate for an unprimed steal.

Epoxy Paint

It comprises two elements: an epoxy resin and a polyamine hardener. Even though there are several despites, like economical choice, long curing duration, and slippery when wet, many people prefer to use it in the construction industry.

The prosses of epoxy paint are more noticeable than the cons. It is easy to clean and resistant to chemicals.

Because of the epoxy, the paint will be shinier and more durable. After introducing epoxy paint, it is considered an excellent option for concrete in the construction industry.

Despite these, there are also several paints for concrete, like masonry paint (also called elastomeric) or interior paint, and others

You can choose the paint on your concrete according to your preferences.   

Advantages of epoxy paint on concrete:

• Resistant to chemicals,
• Easy to clean,
• Provide a tough,
• Long-lasting duration,
• Resilient,
• Sealed,
• Safer,
• Shields floor from heater and chemicals.            

Masonry paint

So, what is masonry paint?

Is it possible to use it on concrete or not?

The short answer to the question is “Yes.”

 You can call masonry paint an elastomeric paint or elastomeric wall coating.

Masonry paint is a paint that you can easily use on a wide range of exteriors. Here is a list of surfaces on which you can use masonry paint to show you what I mean.

• Concrete
• Building blocks
• Brick walls
• Metal surfaces
• Wood
• Plastic       

It is resistant to all weather conditions, and it can endure even high weather temperatures. Many acrylic paints can be either water-based or waterproof. However, masonry paint has both water-based and waterproof types.

Final thought

We can use acrylic paint on concrete. We should highlight the paints’ type, quality, facilities, type of applications, condition, and other criteria.

Cleaning before the painting process, using a primer and a sealer, and choosing the proper paint are critical steps. And now, don’t forget the helpful information used in the experiment below and use it in your daily life.