I’m wrapping up my front porch rehab and the only thing I have left to do is finish the concrete floor. There were many cracks that I patched and so I need to put something down that will hide the patches (they are a different color than the original concrete) and there are just too many products out there to choose from.
The concrete finish is not smooth, more of a sandy grit. This is important because the finish will affect what sort of luster I should shoot for on the finish.
Assuming proper prep for either method, which is going to work better?
1. Should I use an enamel based porch paint? The advantage is that I can tint the paint to whatever color the wifey wants. I assume we would use a gloss enamel to make a more durable finish. Another advantage is that I can use the same product to paint my back wood deck boards (Same material, different primer and prep), saving a few dollars.
2. Should I use a Siliconized 100% Acrylic solid concrete stain? This product is only available in a few colors. I assume this will be an opaque finish.
My primary concerns are durability and hiding. Which finish will be more durable, which finish will hide the patches the best?
Thanks for any help or advice…
Replies
Acid stain in not opaque. I have a medium grey concrete porch with many light grey patches along several crack and holes and spalled corners. An acid stain will not work. I need an opaque coating. The question is: Enamel porch paint, or Acrylic solid color stain?
Please help. Anyone?
Taken from your acidstain website:
"Not every concrete floor is eligible for Acid Stain, though age is not an issue, the shape it’s in is. A smooth concrete surface will yield more attractive results than an old worn one. If the concrete is spalled, the aggregate is exposed or has previously been acid etched, the stain may not “take in” and will not look as desired because the aggregate does not react with the stain, only materials in the concrete paste do."
My porch is a sand-textured finish. Therefore, I do not believe an acid stain will work.
Back to my original question: Porch paint or solid stain?
Anyone else? Please.
I,m sorry just trying to help. I will delete all my past posting. I know nothing about concrete or acid stain floors, please forgive me.
Well you asked for any help and got some help and then chewed him out because it's not want you want. We haven't got a picture in our minds eye like you do, perhaps you need to give a little slack when the solution isn't exactly what you're looking for.My suggestion (notice it's a suggestion, take it or leave it) is to use epoxy paint because it'll last the longest. Tint it to your favorite colour and apply with a roller (which you will throw out cause it will also turn rock hard). Make sure you wait the 30 minutes or whatever the can says after starting the reaction. You'll have about an hour and a half at most to put it on the floor before the coloured epoxy glue (uhm, paint) becomes rock hard.I'd stay away from stain of any kind. Enamel gloss paint will give you a slick surface but won't necessarily last longer, just cleans up easier. Lower gloss finishes are just that and take more work to clean the dirt off. I don't know what part of the continent you live in because you haven't filled in your profile, but if you get snow and will be walking through this porch with snow covered boots then I'd stay away from the high gloss finish. Think skating without skates on. Fastest way to wipe out and end up on your arse.
I'd stay away from stain of any kind. Enamel gloss paint will give you a slick surface but won't necessarily last longer, just cleans up easier. Lower gloss finishes are just that and take more work to clean the dirt off. I don't know what part of the continent you live in because you haven't filled in your profile, but if you get snow and will be walking through this porch with snow covered boots then I'd stay away from the high gloss finish. Think skating without skates on. Fastest way to wipe out and end up on your arse.
****************When I was a kid, my dad used SW deck paint for the concrete front porch, battleship grey. (This was before the days of epoxy. If there was another name for it, I don't know what it was. We always asked for deck paint at the SW dealer, for all I know it could have been mil-spec paint.)Because we had a fair amount of snow & ice during winters, he'd paint the pathway to the front door and the steps first, then carefully scatter fine white sand over it whilst wet. The second coat covered the sand but left a textured surface that held up for a couple of years until he'd (trans.: moi) would repaint.Might or might not work for you, my dad was the sort of guy that went for functionality over good looks.Leon
Have you consider another thin layer of cement mix with color added to the mix? I think the big box stores have both the thin coating cement and color additives. Maybe mix two colors to match what the better half likes...
Edited 10/8/2005 5:38 pm ET by goldfreaz
I have never used it myself, but there is the epoxy paint kit with tape that peels off to create a faux stone tile look. I have seen it on HGTV and it looked good on TV (caveat alert!).
...that's not a mistake, it's rustic
All standard paints, regardless of hardness, will trap moisture behind them and eventually peel. Check out breathable silicate mineral paints and ask specifically about wearability on floors.
Here's a link. http://www.eco-house.com/silicate_paints.htm