We are frequently asked, “Can pavers be painted?” We always say “Yes!” Painting pavers is a great way to breathe new life into worn-out areas around your home. You can update the outdoor spaces like patios, driveways, landscaping, and sidewalks with paint.
A well-prepped patio with the right paint applied correctly could last another couple of years. A poorly prepped patio using the wrong paint won't last long at all. The weather conditions where you live and how often the patio is used will again affect how long before a repaint is needed.
We really don't recommend you to paint your pavers without properly sealing them first. While you were cleaning, you probably got rid of more than just dust and weeds. Spaces between pavers should always be properly sealed, otherwise, you'll risk etching them.
One of the greatest pros of choosing staining over painting is that the stain penetrates into the concrete rather than just building up on the surface, as with paint. This results in a longer-lasting color that won't fade as quickly as paint.
Acrylic paint
It is water-based paint, so it can be easily cleaned up with soap and water. This type of paint comes in many colors, which allows for more creative freedom in painting pavers. Acrylic paint is also weather resistant, so it won't fade or chip in extreme temperatures or from heavy rain or snow.
Yes, you can pressure wash your pavers. But while using a pressure washer at a basic level is simple, ignorant and inexperienced users can easily damage their pavers by using a stream that's too powerful, by holding the wand too close to the pavers, or by falling into any number of other rookie mistakes.
Two coats are recommended for best results.
Staining concrete pavers can be an excellent choice. Whether you're aiming for a complete color transformation or a simple refurbishment, there are several methods and products at your disposal to achieve the perfect finish.
Instead, try to stay within the color “tone”. If the siding, brick, stucco or wood is a warm brown, look for pavers within that color family. Likewise, if your home is a cool grey, look for grey tones. However, if you have a red brick home, don't feel you need to choose a brick-colored (or brick-sized) paver.
Pressure washing removes the chalky residue, moss and stains, and leaves your pavers looking new again. Once your pavers have been cleaned, it is a good idea to check the condition of your pavers. Make sure they are level and intact, as any repairs should be done prior to moving to the next step.
Try Concrete Stain
The simplest path to reviving tired pavers is to apply an acrylic-based semitransparent concrete stain, such as Behr Premium Semi-transparent Concrete Stain ($27/gal.; Home Depot) or Valspar Semi-transparent Concrete Stain ($28/gal.; Lowe's).
Fall or spring is a great time of the year to seal pavers. Cooler weather allows the sealer to penetrate into the pavers unhindered.
The primary reason why your pavers are fading is because of their continual exposure to sunlight. The rays of the sun are so powerful that they can cause any pigmented item to fade. This includes fabrics, containers, and even the pigments used in manufacturing the pavers.
For human-made colored concrete paving slabs or concrete pavers, we don't recommend the use of bleach for cleaning. That's because the substance could fade your paver colors if regularly cleaned with bleach over a long period.
When you apply a sealant to your pavers, it gives them a clean, wet look with a glossy finish, depending on the finish of the sealant you use. It will not alter the color of the paver but will instead highlight the hue of the material and enhance the color of the pavers.
Simply put, black stains on flagstones are caused by certain types of mold and mildew. These fungi find their way onto the stones either from their spores landing on the stones or from simply extending onto the stones from patches of mold or mildew right beside them—a pretty common occurrence for garden pavers.
Although it can be tempting to skip this step after several rounds of painting, sealing is crucial to a long-lasting finish, and is the best way to make a patio look more expensive. 'After the paint has dried completely, seal the patio with a concrete sealer to protect the paint and extend its lifespan,' says Zak.
The most common cause of flaking paint on a concrete patio is lack of proper cleaning inhibiting the bonding process. Excessive moisture can also cause flaking to occur, especially in those concrete slabs that are installed at ground level without a proper moisture barrier.
Winter freezing/thawing cycles could create cracks and flaking, and UV rays may whitewash the surface. Sealing your patio will help prevent this, deter stains and revive appearance with the color of your choice.
A dish soap, like Dawn, is a safe place to start. The surfactants in dish soaps are designed to remove oil and grease, they're gentle enough to be used without issue on your pavers. In a bowl or bucket, mix the soap with water and pour it onto the stain and agitate. Rinse and repeat if needed.
The pressure washer in combination with a dirt cutter is an excellent option. This removes not only weeds and moss from the surface, but also from indentations. Keeping up with this type of cleaning means that there is less time for weeds to grow. It also helps to maintain the beauty of the paving stones' surface.
After pressure cleaning, sometimes sand is blasted out of place. Re-sanding is recommended where necessary.