Have you ever seen a building while under construction? If the answer is yes, then you know what a hunk of concrete is? Why is it used in construction? Well, Everyone has a curiosity whenever we see a construction building. Some of us may enter the building, start to shout, and listen to our echo, which may give us immense pleasure. At the same time, few of us will reach the top floor and opt for an aerial view.
But we don’t notice much about the materials and matters. However, to construct a building, concrete is one of the essential elements that is being used. Concrete ensures durability. It is a type of fluid cement used since ancient times. Most speculations and famous buildings were constructed using concrete during the bygone era.
However, people are always concerned about concrete and a sealer. Can you paint over sealed concrete? No, you can directly paint over sealed concrete. But you can remove or scrape the sealer and can use them for painting. Well, this blog ultimately guides you via various concerns and queries. Scroll to know more.
Can you paint over a concrete sealer?
Not only you, most people always want to explore many things and try them out in different ways. One of the ways to explore concrete is can you paint over a concrete sealer? No, you cannot paint over a dull, older concrete sealer. Usually, the sealer has a rough surface. Painting over the concrete sealer never gives you a good look. Instead, before painting over the concrete sealer, scratch the older surface and then start painting. Also, not all the concrete sealers absorb the paint. Some concrete sealers don’t absorb the paint, whereas water-based concrete sealers may likely absorb the paint.
Bostik
Bostik, you have heard the name whenever you go to a hardware or electrical shop. Bostik concrete sealer is a type of sealer used for various other purposes, such as adhesive for DIY products in the packaging industries and concrete sealers. Usually, painting over a sealer concrete such as Bostik will not absorb the paint properly, especially if the color is a water-based composition because Bostik is water resistant. Hence, scratch the surface and coat paint to enhance a powdery look.
Acrylic
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly sealer, you can choose an acrylic concrete sealer. Acrylic is available as water as well as solvent-based sealers. Acrylic is applicable for exterior as well as interior concrete surfaces. They are resistant to chlorine, water, and UV radiation. Paint over an acrylic sealer may not yield good results because acrylic has multiple thick layers. Hence, you can scratch the older layers to apply a new one.
Solvent-Based
Due to its abrasion and chemical resistance, solvent-based sealers are suitable for elevated wear exteriors. These sealers are employed mainly and used to prevent the concrete. In addition, these sealers enhance the concrete’s color and texture as they contain a high amount of organic compounds and act as a shield for the concrete.
Though it’s a solvent, painting over solvent-based concrete will not fetch you good results.
Penetrating
A penetrating sealer is one of the best options if you have a porous concrete surface. They are not only suitable for porous surfaces. They are affordable and friendly to use. The penetrating sealer is a water-based sealer employed for all types of the porous layer. For painting over a penetrating sealer, you may use primers with low viscosity because they easily penetrate the paint to the porous surface.
How can you paint over the concrete sealer?
Before painting the surface, you must examine the concrete sealer. Look at the surface and identify which concrete sealer has been used. Whether acrylic, solvent-based or water-based. Examining the surface may give you an idea of how much sanding a concrete sealer needs.
Remove the sealer
After examining the surface, primarily you have to remove the sealer. You can’t paint over the sealer as they don’t allow the paint to penetrate. Hence it is essential to remove the sealer either by sanding or scraping.
Wash the concrete
The next step is to wash the concrete to remove the excess dirt and residues. If the concrete has a single sealer, you can wash them using water. Otherwise, it is suggested to use alkaline acids or chemicals to clean. Also, after washing the concrete, you can perform a moisture test to check if there is still moisture. If so, leave the surface for 24-48 hours until the moisture escapes.
Apply paint
If you’re going to paint a sealed surface, it is essential to prime it before painting. Check the concrete sealer before painting, whether it is dried or not. Then continue with the following process, such as you can paint the surface either by spraying or rolling. Leave the surface for 2-3 days.
How to prepare sealed concrete for painting?
If you paint a sealer concrete, you must examine the surface before painting. You can do a sealed surface painting only on a water-based sealer, or you should altogether remove them by scrapping because you need to apply primer before painting over a sealed surface.
Moisture context:
If you’re painting a sealed concrete surface, it would be water-resistant. Hence, it is essential to perform moisture testing to proceed with the subsequent paths. You can complete the test using water droplets or using plastic wrap.
Remove the sealer:
It is essential to remove the sealer before painting. Most of the time, painting over a sealed surface doesn’t yield the expected results. For removing the sealer, you can either scrap the surface or sand it. If you’re going to sand the texture, look for the sealed surface to predict how much sanding it needs.
Cleaning:
After removing the sealer, it is vital to clean the surfaces. If you’re cleaning a sealed concrete, water, chemicals, or degreaser is one of the good options to use. Scrub the surface thoroughly using the cleaning agent. Once cleaning is done, leave some time to proceed with the following steps.
Do you need to seal concrete before painting
Yes, If you have a quality primer, you can seal the concrete before painting. Otherwise, don’t seal the surface using a sealer. Due to it being highly resistant, the sealer can damage the surface. Hence it is not recommended to seal the concrete using a sealer. Instead, you can use a primer that helps fill out the cracks and void spaces and provides a smooth surface to paint.
How soon can you paint after sealing the concrete?
Usually, after sealing, you can paint within 30-35 days. This is to get rid of the moisture. In addition, before painting, you can perform a moisture test. If there is no moisture, then the surface is ready to paint.
Do you need to acid wash sealed concrete before painting?
Without etching, you can’t paint a surface smoothly. So, washing them either by grinding or with an acid wash is essential. But ensure whether a particular sealed surface needs an acid wash or not. Because sometimes, if you wash a sealed cover with acid, it might cause damage or crack. Hence look before you leap.
What kind of primer should I use on sealed concrete?
You can use any primer according to your preference. Still, it is advisable to use the epoxy primer, as it penetrates quickly into the sealed concrete and provides a hold onto the surface while painting. Epoxy primers are more durable when compared to other primers, and they will fetch you a good outlook.
Can you put concrete sealer over the paint?
Putting a concrete sealer over the paint will give you a glossy and smooth outlook. They will provide you with a matte finish and make the coat shiny on top of it.
Or how long after painting concrete can you seal it?
In most cases, it may take some 24-48 hours to seal the surface. After, that you can go ahead with further procedures.
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Final thoughts
Before doing anything, it is essential to look before you leap because without knowledge doing anything will never provide good results. Hence, when you’re concreting a surface, you need to clarify all your concerns beforehand. After entering the field, if you retract, it would be expensive. To ensure that your concerns are refined.
Thank you for reading this article. If you have any queries regarding this topic please feel free to contact us we will be more than happy to help you.
