Concrete driveway paint guide for DIY

Thinking of DIY painting your driveway? When it comes to concrete driveway paint and DIY application, there’s a few things you’ll need to know first to make sure it looks great!

To freshen up your driveway on a budget, a thorough clean and fresh coat of paint will do wonders. A painted driveway can be finished in different colours, textures and patterns to suit your home and increase the curb appeal.

In this DIY driveway paint guide, we will explore:

• How much does driveway paint cost?
• The best paint for concrete driveway in Australia
• Driveway painting ideas
• Tools and materials needed for the job
• How to get your driveway surface ready to paint
• How to paint a driveway, and
• How to get quotes from professional concrete driveway painters.

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How much does driveway paint cost?

For DIY concrete driveway painting, you can expect concrete paint to cost about $14 to $20 per litre. Additionally, you’ll need a few painting tools for the job, such as trays and brushes.

You can find driveway paint in Bunnings or other local hardware stores. It’s a good idea to try a few samples to see exactly how they will look on your driveway when the paint is applied.

Also known as driveway sealing, there are a number of driveway paints or sealers that you can choose from when planning driveway painting. The spread rate for concrete sealer is about 80 to 100 square metres per 20 litres. Keep in mind, you will need two coats for your driveway.

Here is a price list estimate for different types of concrete sealer (20L drums):

• Water-based acrylic sealers: $150
• Solvent-based acrylic sealers: $180
• Epoxy driveway paint/sealer: $220
• Polyurethane sealers: $220

The total cost of driveway paint will largely depend on the size of your driveway. Now, let’s explore the best paint for driveway protection in the harsh Australian climate.

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Best driveway paint, Australia

Driveway painting is a fairly simple DIY project. You do need to use the correct driveway paint though, in order to offer your driveway protection from the elements. A coloured concrete sealer is the best paint for driveways, giving it a protective coating from the weather, stains, and moisture damage, while looking stylish.

If you’re looking for the best driveway paint on the market, find a paint that is able to withstand the elements and last up to five years before needing to paint and seal your driveway again.

Driveway painting ideas

Considering different driveway painting ideas? Concrete driveway paint colours come in a range of different shades to choose from, including earth-tones, browns, tans and sandy beige. You can achieve a near black driveway with grey and charcoal accents. Your darker, earthy colours will blend in to the surroundings, while also hiding dirt, oil stains and tyre marks. However, lighter colours reflect the heat while darker colours absorb it, making it hotter to walk on with bare feet.

Some homeowners match their driveway paint with the outdoor colour scheme of their house for a polished look. You can also opt for more decorative and complex designs on your driveway with stamped or stencilled concrete patterns, incorporating more than one colour. You may need to hire a professional for this job, and the costs will likely be higher.

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Tools and materials needed to paint a driveway

Here is a list of tools and materials you will need to DIY paint concrete driveway areas:

Tools:

• Outdoor broom
• Paint brush, stirrer and tray
• Paint roller extension arm
• Paint respirator
• Dust mask
• Safety glasses
• Rubber gloves

Materials:

• Driveway paint
• Mineral turpentine
• Etch primer
• Masking tape
• Bucket of water

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Preparing your concrete driveway surface to paint

Before you start painting the concrete driveway, you will need to clean and prime the area. Ensure any cracks in the concrete have been repaired first too. Move any vehicles or items on your driveway out of the way. Your car will need to be parked elsewhere for at least a week.

To begin, sweep your driveway thoroughly. After you’ve removed the dirt and debris, mix the etch primer into your bucket of water. Scrub the driveway with the mixture using the outdoor broom. The primer should sit on the surface of your driveway for at least 10 to 20 minutes before you hose it off. Some people prefer to use a pressure washer for this step for an effective clean.

Please be aware that it’s important to wear safety gear when handling etch primer because it is a very strong acid.

Next, you’ll need to mask up the edges surrounding your driveway with masking tape to protect them from the paint. The edges of your garage, drain pipes or gardens will all need to be covered with the masking tape to ensure a clean job.

How to paint a driveway

Want to know how to paint driveway concrete yourself? First you need to prepare your paint for the first coat by thinning it a little with the mineral turpentine. Driveway paint is very thick and made to handle cars driving on it, making it difficult to apply an even coat to a rough concrete surface.

It’s recommended to mix 100ml of turpentine to each litre of paint you use. You can use a paint respirator for your safety so you don’t breathe in any toxic fumes in the process.

How to paint the driveway smoothly

The best technique for how to paint the driveway evenly is to start by cutting in. This means painting your edges first and areas with any details, with a simple paint brush. For the rest of the surface you can use a paint roller.

Once the first driveway coating is complete, leave it for 16 hours to cure. Then you can apply the second coat. Don’t thin the driveway paint for this final coat. Once you’ve painted the driveway, leave this second coat to cure for seven days before you use it.

You can use this same method for painting concrete paths around your home.

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Getting professional concrete driveway painter quotes

Now you know how to paint a concrete driveway, you might decide you want help from a professional concrete painter. For those with less experience, we recommend only taking the DIY route for painting concrete driveway if you intend on using one colour. While there are stencil kits on the market, they can be very tricky to use. A painted concrete driveway will look amazing, but not with messy stencilling!

You can compare multiple free quotes from concrete resurfaces in your area with Yellow Pages. It could be worth doing a price comparison for plain, stencilled or stamped concrete. Add up your DIY costs as well to find out whether it might be affordable to hire an expert instead.

Want to find a concrete service in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth?