How to Paint Interior Concrete

Interior concrete, like drywall, offers a blank canvas with endless possibilities. Painting interior concrete is one of the most cost-effective ways to dramatically transform your space, whether it's a basement, garage or living area. Protect your concrete from stains and wear and personalize your space with color that complements your decor in this simple tutorial.

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Best Paint for Interior Concrete

Whether it's flooring or walls, concrete doesn't have to be dull and gray. Painting concrete surfaces adds color and helps to hide imperfections and previous stains while creating a cleaner, more finished look that elevates the entire room. When painting concrete, it's important to choose a paint that will adhere to concrete, resist fading and stand up to routine use. A few Sherwin-Williams formulas that work well with concrete include:


Though using an exterior concrete stain in your home may be tempting, we wouldn't recommend it. Exterior paints tend to have higher VOCs than interior stains and can pose significant health issues to you and your family.

Solid Concrete Stain vs Concrete Paint

When refreshing your concrete surfaces, you must choose between solid concrete stain and concrete paint—two seemingly similar products with distinct differences and advantages.

Solid concrete stain combines the properties of traditional stains and paints—it penetrates the concrete while providing more opaque coverage than traditional acid stains. This water-based acrylic product offers consistent, uniform color while still allowing subtle concrete texture to show through. Solid stains resist fading, provide excellent UV protection and are more durable than paint in high-traffic areas. Solid stains offer more colors than reactive stains but won't completely mask major imperfections like cracks or patches.

Concrete paint, by contrast, forms an opaque coating on the surface. Its main advantages include complete coverage of imperfections, unlimited color options, and various finish choices from flat to high gloss. Paint allows precise color matching to your decor and can brighten spaces with limited natural light. The trade-off is maintenance—painted concrete may chip or show wear patterns over time, requiring occasional touch-ups.

STEP 1

Preparation

To ensure proper adherence, start by deep cleaning your concrete surface with a dish soap and warm water mixture to remove all dirt, grease, and debris. For tougher stains, apply TSP to the affected areas.

STEP 1a

Inspect for and Repair Imperfections

After cleaning, inspect your concrete for cracks, chips or holes. Address any damage with a quality concrete patch or filler and allow it to cure completely according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Tip: Don't skip the moisture test. This overlooked step is critical to a long-lasting project. If the concrete isn't dry enough for paint, trapped moisture can cause paint to bubble and peel, ruining all your hard work. Use a moisture meter to ensure your concrete is dry enough for painting. The moisture content should be no higher than 5%.

STEP 2

Prime

A good primer creates the perfect surface for paint adhesion and helps prevent future issues. Apply a quality concrete primer evenly across the entire surface and allow it to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

STEP 3

Paint

Begin the painting process by masking adjacent areas with painter's tape to protect any areas you don't want painted. Start your painting by "cutting in" around the edges with a synthetic bristle brush (polyester or nylon-polyester blend) for precise control. Natural bristles tend to absorb water from water-based paints, making synthetic bristles the superior choice for concrete applications.

Careful edgework will ensure clean lines where your concrete meets other surfaces. Once the edges are complete, use a ½- to ¾-inch nap roller to apply paint to larger areas, working in manageable sections to maintain a wet edge and avoid lap marks. If you're painting a floor, use a roller extension pole and save your back.

You'll need to apply 2-3 coats for optimal coverage and durability. Allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next. Remember that multiple thin coats always outperform one thick coat, so resist the urge to apply a thick coat of paint to speed up the process. Rushing this step can lead to peeling, bubbling or an uneven finish that diminishes the quality of your work. Take your time and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for drying times between coats.

Tip: Take the guesswork out of your project with Sherwin-Williams' online paint calculator—simply enter your room dimensions to get an estimate of how much paint you'll need to finish your project without making any unexpected trips.

STEP 4

Apply the Finishing Touches

After applying your final coat, carefully remove the painter's tape at a 45-degree angle to ensure clean lines without pulling up any fresh paint. If you've painted your concrete floors, wait 24-48 hours before allowing light foot traffic, and up to a week before placing furniture or heavy items on the surface. Consider applying a clear protective topcoat for high-traffic areas like basement floors or garage surfaces. This additional layer can add years to your paint job by providing an extra barrier against wear and tear.

Tip: If you prefer the look of concrete but need some form of protection to prevent damage, stains and other signs of wear, skipping the paint and going straight to a concrete sealer might be right for you. Just don't skip the preparation steps to ensure a lasting seal.

What You'll Need

Project Supplies

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