Facade concrete paint for outdoor use: pros and cons

Repairing and finishing the facade of any building can take a lot of time. First of all, you need to decide on the choice of material, because the market offers many varieties of products from various manufacturers. It is necessary to make a purchase carefully, taking into account the characteristics of the coverage. If we are talking about a concrete facade, then there are several options for it, while it is important to pay attention to the surface features, and then the purchase will pay off.

The first requirement that is put forward for any finishing material is endurance to external influences and mechanical damage. Outdoor cladding is always exposed to temperature extremes, direct sunlight and high humidity during certain seasons. Therefore, it is important to choose a paint that will not only keep the surface presentable for many years, but will also be durable, reliable and will not deteriorate. The main indicator of facing materials is adhesiveness.

The task of covering the facade is to protect the surface from moisture, fungi and other unpleasant consequences of the influence of weather conditions. At the time of purchase, pay attention to the characteristics of the material.

A concrete facade has a number of advantages, but it is necessary to pay attention to some features that affect the choice of cladding. The base, as you know, is porous and rough, therefore it has the property of absorbing moisture and retaining it in the upper layer. Thus, by covering the facade with paint, you will protect it from the harmful effects of water and improve the appearance of the object.

Outdoor professionals know how demanding and capricious concrete walls are. The paint that you are going to purchase for finishing must have a high penetrating power for strong adhesion to the base material of the surface.

Most of the cladding materials on the market do an excellent job with dirt, as they do not absorb dust, so it is easy to care for the covered facade. To speed up the drying time, you need to consider the type of paint you have chosen. It is recommended to work in dry weather.

In a hardware store, you may be offered several material options. Dyes differ in a set of characteristics and advantages, which are recommended to be studied before buying in order to compare the pros and cons. The classification of a material depends on its composition.

Acrylic paints include polyacrylates and polymers, among which latex liners can be found. Such products cope with high humidity, are resistant to abrasion, but the main advantage is the absence of harmful impurities. The paint contains substances that increase its elasticity. As for the disadvantages, it is weak frost resistance, so it is not recommended to use it in certain regions.

The next type of coating is a water-epoxy material, which is considered universal, as it is suitable for various types of surfaces, in addition to concrete. This product has a high moisture resistance, but it is not able to maintain brightness during prolonged exposure to sunlight.Polymer paints have good performance in terms of wear resistance and they cope with temperature extremes. Such a composition dries for a long time and costs a little more, which is not such a big disadvantage with other advantages.

To cover a concrete facade, one layer will be enough if you use a vinyl material. It is offered in a wide range of colors and also has increased wear resistance. If we talk about resistance to the sun, then acrylic-silicone materials are in the greatest demand. They are suitable not only for outdoor use, but also for indoor use.

For the coating of building facades, paints that can be dissolved with water are suitable, and they must contain synthetic resins. There are flammable options on the market that need to be diluted with an organic solvent. Such cladding materials are not so popular. When choosing products for facade decoration, it is necessary to highlight materials that have a smooth or textured structure. You can choose matte or glossy paints, depending on the effect you want to achieve.

Concrete requires the use of a large amount of facing material, as it is porous. It all depends on the characteristics of the paint and its saturation, since the more it is, the less funds you will need. The consumption per m2 depends on what is included in the composition of the coating product that you have chosen. It is recommended to be guided by the following indicators per square of area:

• acrylic composition: 0.4 kg;
• polymer composition: 0.35-0.4 kg;
• oil composition: 150 g;
• water-epoxy composition: 0.25 kg;
• vinyl composition: 0.2-0.25 kg;
• acrylic-silicone composition: 0.1-0.3 kg.

Since it is necessary to clad a concrete facade, up to seven liters of material may be needed per square meter. As for the last coat, it all depends on the type of paint.

Before purchasing facade paint for outdoor use, pay attention to the following tips:

• When buying, consider the ability of the finishing material to provide a vapor barrier. Experts say that this is one of those indicators that you need to pay attention to in the first place.
• The consistency and density of the coloring composition is of great importance.
• Of course, we must not forget about moisture resistance, strength and fading duration.
• Use a small but important piece of advice - choose a paint that reflects light well, as fading will be minimized in this case.

The time it takes for the surface to dry depends on the type of paint you purchased. It should be borne in mind that facade work takes place in several stages, since two, and sometimes three, finishing layers will need to be applied to the surface. But it is necessary to wait each time until the previous one is completely dry. The inner layers are ready for re-painting in 2-5 hours, and the topcoat dries within 24 hours.

For buildings that are located in a region with difficult climatic conditions, it is better to use expensive compounds. Otherwise, you will soon have to update the cladding, and this is an additional expense. The cost of high quality façade paint can be quite high. But it must be remembered that it is not only about the appearance of the surface, but also about the protection of the material, since concrete tends to crack and crumble from temperature and weather conditions.

It is important to purchase a high-quality coloring composition that will cope with its task and extend the life of the facade. The paintwork must have a protective function against water, mechanical stress and fire.

Outdoor work requires not only professionalism and experience, but also the right material that will make the surface beautiful and protected. Therefore, use the information provided above to make a profitable and practical purchase, and the result will definitely meet your expectations. Good luck!

For an overview of Symphony facade paints, see the following video.