What Is The Best Exterior Paint For Stamped Concrete Patios?
You spent good money to have a fancy patio. It has a patterned, stamped concrete surface. Nice! Using the best floor paint available, you want to keep it looking fabulous for years. But what is the best protective sealant or paint on stamped concrete? Great question!
I started my concrete business in 1984. We only had a few options for decorative finishes. Most jobs were plain gray floor paint for concrete. Nowadays, homeowners can choose from endless paint roller designs. These designs make concrete look like brick, stone, wood, or other textures. They also have patterns.
After 40 years, I’ve transformed thousands of concrete surfaces. I always recommend a solid primer for clients. They want to protect and improve their investment in decorative stamped concrete. The two-part polyurethanes bond tightly. They make a challenging, bouncy type of paint shield. It lasts over a decade. You can use on concrete to block weathering, discoloration, and wear.
An exciting industry fact: modern polyurethane chemistry allows custom colors and finishes. They can be glossy, satin, or matte. This is without hurting performance, as old paints did. Prepare the surface well and apply multiple coats as directed. Then, you’ll be thrilled with the long-lasting wet look. It brings out the best in decorative concrete.
Why Seal or Use Concrete Paint For Stamped Concrete Patio
Plain slab concrete is super durable. In contrast, unprotected decorative concrete is more porous and prone to damage. Weather, foot traffic, spills, and lawn furniture can blemish stamped concrete. No bueno if you paid extra for the decorative concrete upgrade without protecting it!
Sealing and painting protect the concrete. They keep it looking fresh and prevent expensive repairs later. It is like applying a clear coat to a new car’s paint job. It locks in the beauty!
What Type of Concrete Floor Coatings Can Be Used?
- Clear sealers
- Tinted sealants
- High-performance epoxy paint or polyurethane coatings
- Anti-slip coatings
- Concrete stains
- Concrete paint
I’ll overview the pros and cons of each below. We have tried them all over the past four decades on customer jobs!
Clear Concrete Sealers
Clear surface coats are the most common type used on stamped concrete. They soak into the surface. They act like an invisible shield. They protect from moisture damage and discoloration.
Pros
- Allow the decorative concrete texture and color to show through
- Enhance color vibrancy
- Available in various gloss levels from matte to very shiny
- Last 3-5 years before needing to reapply. This time is like the life of existing paint on concrete in high-traffic areas.
Cons
- No added color or hidden imperfections
- Need frequent reapplication to maintain protection
You just spent money on a fancy concrete stamped deck. A clear high-gloss sealer will enhance the design and protect the concrete. We usually apply 2-3 coats to ensure complete coverage.
However, clear surface coats must be reapplied every 3 to 5 years to maintain performance. That means the hassle of emptying Home Depot furniture off the patio paint and hiring a crew to re-coat.
Tinted Concrete Sealers
Tinted acrylic latex paint sealants offer light color in addition to protection. These are translucent, meaning the concrete texture shows through the tint.
Popular options are light brown, tan, gray, and terra cotta translucent tints. These earthy tones enhance the look of stamped concrete. They do so with little change to their original appearance.
Pros
- Enhance color while allowing the texture to show through
- Last 3-5 years before needing to reapply
- Available in matte or glossy finish
Cons
- No significant change in appearance
- Need frequent reapplication to maintain performance
Tinted sealants add color. They still show the decorative concrete. They’re like how good acrylic paint shows on existing paint. They give a nice boost to stamped patterns like slate, stone, and brick. The color sinks into the concrete, so it looks very natural.
But, like clear surface coats, the tint will fade like old paint. It will need to be reapplied every couple of years.
Epoxy and Polyurethane Concrete Coatings
For a super-durable and decorative garage floor coating, resins and polyurethanes are excellent options. These high-performance paints bond to the concrete. They provide a colorful, protective barrier that lasts for many years.
Pros
- Very long lifespan – 10+ years before needing to be reapplied, much like the durability of quality oil-based paint.
- Enhance, change, or completely hide the underlying concrete appearance
- Protect from moisture, discoloration, chemicals, etc.
- Available in any color and various finishes like gloss, satin, matte
Cons
- Hide the decorative concrete texture
- Risk of peeling or hot tire pickup without proper prep and application
Thermosetting polymers and polyurethanes have a significant advantage. They provide excellent protection for a very long time between re-coats – up to 10+ years! Plus, you can get very creative with colors and finishes.
The downside is that they hide the decorative concrete pattern underneath. So, if you spend a lot on a fancy stamped concrete terrace, coating it with resin paint defeats the purpose.
These thick coatings also risk hot tire pickup or peeling. This happens if the concrete isn’t prepped or the coating isn’t made for vehicles.
Anti-Slip Concrete Coatings
Stamped concrete can get very slick when wet. Kids running around by the pool or during rainstorms is an accident waiting to happen!
Adding grip to concrete helps prevent painful and dangerous slips and falls. For patios, use an anti-slip additive with clear coats and paints.
Popular options are:
- SharkGrip – finely ground polymer grip additive
- SlipDoctors – angular quartz sand particles
These additives mix right into the coating before application. They leave a textured finish that offers excellent traction, even when wet!
Concrete Stains
For a simple change of color, concrete dyes are easy to apply. These are translucent acid-based dyes that penetrate and soak into the concrete surface.
They come in many colors and can lightly shift the concrete hue for a subtle makeover. Popular options are desert tan, brick red, charcoal, and navy blue.
Results and longevity vary greatly based on the concrete surface and porosity. They hold up best on very porous concrete. With denser surfaces like stamped concrete, stains tend to fade faster.
Pros
- Simple color change for concrete
- Economical option for large areas
- Allows texture to show through faintly
Cons
- Fades faster than other options, often within one year
- Color variation is likely due to porosity differences
- Acid-base carries safety concerns
With the low cost of staining large areas, it can be tempting to use this option. But, staining stamped concrete often disappoints. The color lacks vibrancy and longevity compared to other options.
Concrete Paint
For a significant change, the best concrete paint offers many colors. It also has excellent strength. Modern floor-coating concrete primer paint uses advanced thermosetting polymer and urethane resins. They allow custom colors and can withstand heavy use.
Pros
- Completely change the concrete color
- Excellent bond and durability
- Creative color options – even metallic and speckled finishes, akin to the versatility of spray paint.
Cons
- Hides decorative concrete texture
- Dark colors risk hot tire pickup
- Requires proper surface prep
Painting concrete is undoubtedly a concept that has been introduced previously. But the modern coat of paint is much better. It beats the old water-based latex driveway enamels!
They look great. They include finishes like faux brick, stone patterns, and speckled terrazzo. They also include metallic paints. They also last for decades. They have stood tough, echoing the resilience of the best floor-coating paint. But painting over stamped concrete ruins its purpose and beauty.
Which Best Paint Option is Best for Decorative Concrete?
There are many good coating options for concrete. Choosing the best one can feel overwhelming!
Let me simplify things. If you want to showcase stamped concrete texture, use a clear or tinted sealant to protect it.
They are the best paint to use options. They offer great strength and many color options. They do this without hiding the pattern texture.
Here is my ranking of the best clear protective coatings for stamped concrete:
- High-Performance Polyurethane
- High-Performance Resins
- Multi-Surface Waterborne Acrylic
The two-part polyurethane and epoxy systems provide excellent protection. They last over ten years. That’s huge compared to needing to reseal every couple of years!
Waterborne acrylics are easier for DIY application and cleanup. However, the protection and durability are lower. They are lower compared to thermosetting polymers and polyurethanes. So, it’s crucial to choose the best applying paint for long-term results.
No matter what new paint coating you choose, always prepare the surface well. Apply multiple coats as the manufacturer recommends for the best results.
Real-Life Exterior Concrete Masonry Paint Example
Here is a great example. It shows how to transform a plain concrete deck. You use a clear polyurethane coating.
The homeowners had a large stamped terrace installed when they built the house in 2000. It featured an attractive red brick design.
Over the next 15 years, the uncovered concrete dulled and faded. This was from exposure to sun, rain, snow, and heavy use. It badly needed help, similar to walls that require a new coat of acrylic paint.
They hired us to restore the outdoor stamped concrete patio’s original beauty. We prepped the surface with deep cleaning and etching it for coating.
We patched some damaged spots. Then, we applied three coats of high-gloss clear polyurethane to the exterior concrete.
The results were fantastic! The clear coating enriched the color and made the brick pattern pop again. Rather than a full re-stamp, this simple coating restored the patio for a fraction of the cost.
The polyurethane has held up wonderfully over five years now. The homeowners are very pleased with the long-lasting results!
The Takeaway
- Stamped concrete needs a protective coating to prevent fading, discoloration, and other damage.
- Clear and tinted sealants allow the texture to show through. But, they need frequent reapplication.
- Resins and polyurethane coatings have been protected and colored for over ten years! They’ve provided excellent protection and custom colors.
- To get the best results, prepare the concrete well. Then, apply the product as the manufacturer recommends.
This overview gives you the confidence to choose the best outdoor concrete porch and patio paint. It will keep your stamped patio looking great for decades. This stuff is costly to install, so protect that investment!
Have any other questions? Reach out, and let’s chat! I have over 40 years of experience in concrete coatings and restoration. I’m happy to help with professional advice. I can also provide quotes for your next exterior or interior concrete project.
Our Locations:
Nashua, NH
North Hampton, NH
Concord, NH