Can You Paint Concrete Garden Posts?

When it comes to painting, just about any surface can be elevated with a brush of fresh paint, and that goes for concrete, too.

So long as your concrete garden posts are in good condition, there’s no reason why you won’t be able to paint them in your color of choice and bid farewell to the dull appearance of the concrete forever.

However, before you put on your overalls and grab a paint bucket, there are a few steps you should take that will help to make sure that painting your concrete garden posts will be a success. So, prior to painting, consider doing the following:

Check moisture levels:

Before you paint, it’s important to keep in mind that concrete is an extremely porous material. Due to this, it means that it can be prone to harboring water and moisture, especially exterior concrete such as your garden posts.

For this reason, you should check the levels of moisture in your concrete posts by using a concrete moisture detector that will be able to instantly alert you to the current moisture level present within your garden posts.

Additionally, if you don’t want to go to the trouble of purchasing a concrete moisture detector if you do not already have one, then another method you could try out is to lay a plastic sheet directly onto the concrete surface of your posts (keeping in mind that you may need to secure it down as your posts are upright).

If you can see some little moisture droplets forming on the inside of the sheet, then it means that there is moisture within your concrete.

It’s to be expected that your concrete garden posts will have some levels of moisture inside them, however, if there is too much moisture you might need to give your concrete a few days to dry out before painting.

If you have used a moisture detector, then moisture levels that are 85% and under are acceptable for painting.

Prepare the concrete

So, after you’ve double-checked the moisture levels and your concrete garden posts are good to go, the next step you should take prior to painting is to give them a good clean.

By ridding the surface of your concrete garden slabs of oil, dirt, and other surfactants, you will help to ensure that the finished paint job is smooth, professional-looking, and able to properly bond to the concrete.

How you could clean your concrete garden posts is entirely up to you, although many people like to take a power washer that will not only thoroughly clean the surface of the concrete but will also be able to blast out any dirt and debris within the deeper layers of the concrete.

However, you don’t have to use a power washer to effectively prepare your garden concrete posts, as you could also choose to simply take a wet sponge and some dishwasher detergent.

Can I paint my concrete garden posts?

If you’re sick of the appearance of your concrete garden posts, painting them is actually pretty easy!

So long as you have a spare set of clothes that you don’t mind getting paint-splattered and a free afternoon in your calendar, you’ll have freshly painted garden posts in no time at all! Read on for some step-by-step instructions:

1. Prepare your garden posts ready for painting by giving them a thorough surface clean. During this stage, you can also carry out a moisture check.
2. With a concrete primer, coat your garden posts with 1-2 coats with either a brush or roller.
3. Apply your chosen concrete paint product immediately after, making sure to sand in-between layers to increase bonding properties.
4. Allow to dry, and then apply the topcoat.

Before painting, try to keep an eye on the weather and avoid painting on an extremely hot or rainy day. Additionally, you should also consider what type of paint you would like to use on your concrete garden posts.

Many people choose to use concrete paint, which will be able to completely cover the surface of the concrete in one uniform color.

However, it’s becoming increasingly more popular for homeowners to use concrete stain, which is a type of paint product that will be able to penetrate into the deeper layers of the concrete and react with the minerals to create unique and beautiful tones.

Out of the two, concrete stain is the most durable, although the color can be unpredictable.

Does fence paint work on concrete?

As fence paint is specifically formulated to go on wood, there is a chance that it will not be able to effectively bond to the hard and durable surface of the concrete.

For this reason, it’s always best to stick with masonry paint or concrete paint, as this will not only ensure that the paint is able to properly adhere to the porous surface of concrete, but that there will be a lower chance of peeling or bubbling occurring within the final finish of the paint job.