How to paint a concrete floor. Acrylic penetrating primer, sodium and potassium liquid glass, drying oil, epoxy impregnation, PVC and PU enamels

Applying paint to a concrete floor can improve its look, safeguard the surface, and increase its longevity. Selecting the appropriate materials and methods is essential to attaining a long-lasting and visually appealing finish, regardless of whether you’re working on a patio, basement, or garage.

When it comes to concrete floor paints and primers, there are numerous options. Each has its own benefits, ranging from liquid glass solutions like potassium and sodium that give a strong, glossy finish to acrylic penetrating primers that improve paint adhesion. Depending on the type of wear and tear the floor will experience, other popular options include drying oil, epoxy impregnation, and specialty enamels like PVC and PU.

This guide will help you choose the best products for your particular needs and ensure a professional finish by taking you step-by-step through the painting of a concrete floor.

Material	Description
Acrylic Penetrating Primer	Seals and strengthens the surface, improving paint adhesion and extending the floor"s lifespan.
Sodium and Potassium Liquid Glass	Provides water resistance and chemical protection, ideal for industrial and outdoor floors.
Drying Oil	Enhances the durability of the paint and protects against moisture, commonly used for wooden and concrete floors.
Epoxy Impregnation	Creates a strong, durable surface with high resistance to chemicals and wear, suitable for high-traffic areas.
PVC and PU Enamels	Offer a glossy finish with excellent abrasion resistance, perfect for garages, workshops, and commercial spaces.

Why is this necessary

Painting concrete addresses multiple issues at once:

1. First of all, a concrete floor is painted so that it does not dust. The surface of concrete gradually deteriorates even in literally greenhouse conditions – at a stable temperature and humidity; the rate of surface destruction increases many times over with fluctuations in these parameters.

Consequently, there will be a lot more dust in a bathhouse due to its intermittent heating than in a workshop that is heated continuously;

Additionally, vibration and mechanical floor wear significantly increase dusting. Concrete dust is raised by a car pulling into the garage, a lathe in operation, and a bar falling onto the platform.

1. Painting or impregnation will significantly delay the next repair. The notorious mechanical and temperature effects, uneven moisture (for example, melted snow from the roof of a car), inevitably spilling fuel and lubricants on the floor and electrolyte from the battery will sooner or later decorate the floor with chips;
2. Finally, do not forget about aesthetics. Indeed, who would like the dull gray color prevailing in the room?

The gym’s concrete floor was painted.

The proper materials and methods must be chosen when painting a concrete floor to guarantee longevity and a smooth finish. Every option, including liquid glass, drying oil, acrylic penetrating primer, and different kinds of enamels, has advantages and ways to use it. This tutorial will lead you through the steps, offering you advice on which products to use and how to achieve an attractive, long-lasting surface.

Impregnations

Impregnations are the simplest and most economical solution. The lack of pigments in the composition sets them apart from paints. On the other hand, the floor that has been impregnated with a protective composition has a noticeable color change; it now has a darker appearance and resembles wet concrete.

What precisely is accomplished by impregnation?

• Hydrophobicizes the surface, creates a barrier between the floor and any liquids;

It should be noted that following treatment, the floor no longer absorbs harmful liquids such as oils, diesel fuel, acids, and other liquids.

• Compacts and binds the surface layer of the material, preventing its destruction and, accordingly, the formation of dust.

Let’s familiarize ourselves with a few concrete impregnation options.

Acrylic penetrating primer

Ceresit CT 17, a well-known strengthening primer, will serve as our model. The manufacturer describes it as follows:

• The composition reduces moisture absorption;
• It can be used both indoors and outdoors;
• Priming increases the adhesion of any final coatings to the concrete base.

Beginning with Ceresit.

The following are some of CT17’s noteworthy qualities:

Parameter	Value
Composition	Aqueous dispersion of acrylic resins
Consumption	200 g / m2
Application temperature	+5 – +30С
Price per 1 liter	From 42 rubles

Getting ready to impregnate concrete.

Wide brushes, rollers, or sprays are used to apply acrylic primer to surfaces that have already been cleared of fuels, dust, and other impurities. Gasoline, solvent, or xylene can be used to remove stains from oil and diesel. The impregnation can take up to six hours to dry.

Sodium and potassium liquid glass

Glass impregnation using liquid:

• Manifoldly increases the resistance of concrete to acids;
• Reduces water absorption by forming a hydrophobic film 1 – 2 mm thick;

A floor made of liquid glass is hydrophobic.

Note that the depth of hydrophobic impregnation can reach two centimeters when applied in multiple layers.

• Makes concrete more resistant to abrasion – dry and wet.

Parameter	Meaning
Consumption	70 g/m2
Service life	At least 10 years
Price for 1 kg	From 15 rubles

The base is prepared for liquid glass impregnation in the same manner as primer application. The impregnation is diluted with water in a 1:3 ratio prior to use, which actually accounts for the relatively low material consumption.

Drying oil

For our needs, drying oils of all kinds—natural, synthetic, oxol, and blended—are appropriate. The impregnation depth is 5 mm when applying hot. For eight to ten years, drying oil guarantees both the hydrophobization of the floor and the absence of dust.

Concrete drying oil consumption can range from 300 to 400 g/m2. After heating in a water bath, it is applied to a base that has been cleaned of dust and grease.

Note that heating cold drying oil with a building hair dryer after applying it to the base—a method typically used on wood—is not relevant in this instance. It is likely that uneven heating will result in cracks in the floor.

A kilogram of natural drying oil produced in accordance with GOST 7931-76 costs 45 rubles at wholesale.

Natural drying oil made from linseed.

Epoxy impregnation

Typically, it is a two-component water-based mixture. Before usage, the impregnation is combined with the hardener and consumed in one to two hours.

KrasKo, a Moscow-based company, produces Epoxol, an example of this type of impregnation.

The manufacturer puts it like this:

• The composition increases the strength of the base by 2-3 times and completely eliminates the formation of surface cracks;
• The impregnation eliminates the aggressive effects of salts, acids, solvents and fuels and lubricants;
• Epoxol can be applied to wet concrete;
• It is odorless, since it does not contain organic solvents;
• It can be used both independently and as a primer for self-leveling epoxy floors;
• The consumption of Epoxol is 80-100 g / m2 (before preparation, it is diluted with water at the rate of 1 kg of resin with a hardener per 8-10 liters of water, the finished mixture is consumed in an amount of 600-800 g / m2);
• The temperature of the base and air should not be lower than + 8C.

A kilogramme of Epoxol costs 389 rubles.

How should this impregnation be prepared correctly?

The sequence in which the impregnation is prepared.

Paints

How can a concrete floor be painted to create a hydrophobic, wear-resistant, and aesthetically pleasing surface?

PVC enamels

Their foundation is an organic solvent-based dispersion of vinyl resins along with pigments and filler. compositions made of a single component; they can be utilized in spaces with heavy mechanical loads, such as workshops and warehouses, and they have a moderate degree of elasticity.

The vinyl paint Texil from the well-known company Krasko will serve as the study sample.

Enamel made of PVC.

• Curing of one layer takes only two hours;
• The organic solvent allows applying Texil at negative temperatures down to -20C;
• The paint can be used in unheated rooms and outdoors.

Parameter	Value
Consumption	300 – 400 g / m2
Drying at + 20C	6 hours
Thinners	Solvent, acetone, 646, 647, butyl acetate
Base color	Gray
Packaging	15, 30 kg
Price per 1 kg	219 rubles

Although not required, preliminary priming is recommended before applying the dye. The main steps in surface preparation are to dry and clean the surface of dust and other impurities.

PU enamels

Polyurethane enamels are likewise single-component and made using organic solvents. Their greatest elasticity and resistance to abrasive wear define them.

Useful: enamel can be used as a polymer self-leveling floor since it is a self-leveling coating.

Let’s examine Polymerstone-1 enamel from KrasKo, a typical member of the family, in more detail.

• The coating is resistant to any aggressive environments, including fuels and lubricants;
• Elasticity allows it to withstand significant impact loads;
• When applying the composition, you need to pay serious attention to the ventilation of the room and personal protective equipment.

Parameter	Value
Gloss	Semi-gloss coating
Dry residue	70 – 80%
Drying of one layer at +20C	3 hours
Application temperature	+5C and above
Operating temperature	-50 – +100C
Basic colors	Gray, blue, green, red-brown, beige
Price per 1 kg	369 rubles

Epoxy paints

Their composition bears a striking resemblance to the epoxy impregnations we have previously examined: distinct packages containing resin and hardener, as well as the option to dilute with water. The only distinction is in the percentage composition of the thinner and base; for ideal viscosity, water should not be added in excess of 10%.

From the same KrasKo, this is a description of Epostone paint.

Epostone packaging is seen in the picture.

• The coating is especially resistant to aggressive environments;
• It is less elastic compared to polyurethane enamel, but it is extremely resistant to dry and wet abrasion;
• Epostoun can be applied to raw concrete, including that which has not yet gained strength (at least five days from the date of laying). At the same time, the applied coating will not allow concrete to crack due to rapid evaporation of moisture;
• The composition can be used as a primer when applying both epoxy and polyurethane paints.

Note: Epostone can be painted after the concrete has solidified (28 days from the date of laying).

Parameter	Value
Consumption	250 g / m2
Application temperature	Not lower than -10C
Operating temperature	+30 – +60
Base color	Gray
Drying of one layer	24 hours
Price per 1 kg	419 rubles

How can I create my own Epostone paint?

1. Mix the resin with the hardener in a ratio of 100:17;
2. Stir for 3 minutes;
3. We hold for 15 minutes, after which the composition is ready for work.

This is the final appearance of the epoxy floor coating.

Acrylic paints

Acrylic floor coverings consist of acrylates dissolved in water along with pigments and filler. Latex and silicone resins are occasionally added as additives to change the adhesive’s performance characteristics.

Acrylic paints’ moderate wear resistance is a drawback; industrial settings are not appropriate for them.

However, for domestic ones, they are just perfect:

• Thanks to the use of ordinary water as a base, acrylic dyes are odorless and toxic;
• Their cost compared to other paints is very affordable.

Today’s final test subject is Moscow-made Aquapol paint.

Aquapol is a resin-based acrylic.

• Aquapol is intended for floors with low and medium loads;
• It is a complete waterproofing coating, impermeable to water, gasoline and oils.

Parameter	Meaning
Application temperature	Not lower than +5C
Consumption	300 – 400 g/m2
Diluent	Water
Time for complete drying of the layer	12 o"clock
Basic colors	Grey, white
Price for 1 kg	189 rubles

The base must be cleared of dirt, dust, outdated coatings, and oils in order to be prepared. Grease stains can be eliminated by grinding or using a solvent. Applying paint in 1-2 layers can be done with a brush, roller, or sprayer.

Rooms with moderate operating loads can use this dye.

A concrete floor can be made to look better and last longer by painting it. The particular requirements of the area and the desired finish determine which coating is best. Every material—from PU enamels to acrylic primers—offers special advantages and is reasonably simple to apply.

There is a solution that works for your project, whether your goals are a high-gloss finish, more wear resistance, or just a modern appearance. You can guarantee a durable and appealing outcome by carefully preparing the surface and choosing the appropriate product.

To get the best results, always remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for each product. Your concrete floor can be made into a long-lasting and fashionable feature in your house with the appropriate method.

Video on the topic

Impregnation for concrete – liquid glass

LIQUID GLASS ON CONCRETE FLOOR! HOW TO WORK WITH IT CORRECTLY?! NUANCES.

Tough😅 don’t cover the concrete floor with liquid glass!!!