As a professional concrete and driveway resurfacing contractor with over 10 years of experience, I cannot stress enough the dramatic transformation concrete driveway painting or an epoxy coating can provide to worn old concrete driveways. Many homeowners often assume the only remedy is to completely replace the concrete – which most cannot afford. I’m here to provide my expert guidance that resurfacing through painting is in fact an incredibly effective and affordable facelift.
Over my years in business, I’ve seen cracked, oil-stained and altogether unappealing driveways become positively striking showpieces after a proper cleaning, prep, and application of specialty concrete paint blended with an epoxy.
Supplies Needed for DIY Concrete Driveway Painting
Before we dive into the process, you’ll need to get your hands on the necessary supplies for your concrete driveway painting project.
Concrete Paint or Sealer
This is the most essential supply for the job. Don’t even think about using regular old house paint though! Be sure to use heavy-duty concrete sealer paint instead. It contains special latex acrylics designed to bond and withstand expansion and contraction of driveway surfaces over time.
Paint Brushes and Rollers
Stock up on angled brushes in a few sizes to cut in around landscaping and corners along with some long-handled rollers for easy painting of the main surface.
Pressure Washer
One of the most important steps is giving your driveway a deep clean beforehand using a solid pressure washer. This lets the paint adhere better. If you don’t have your own, ask around to borrow from family and friends or rent one from a home improvement store
Concrete Degreaser (Optional)
If you have pesky oil spots that pressure washing alone can’t tackle, pick up a concrete degreaser as well. Just don’t get it on your skin!
Crack Filler
Fill in any cracks and holes with concrete caulk designed for driveways and patios to create a smooth, consistent base for the paint
And that’s the bulk of what you need supply-wise! Having the right tools makes the concrete driveway painting process infinitely easier. Now let’s get to prepping this driveway for its makeover
1. Prepare the Concrete Driveway for Painting
The very first step is assessing the driveway and making sure it’s actually suitable and ready for a fresh coat of paint. You’ll want to
Remove Debris
Grab a stiff broom and sweep off any loose leaves, rocks, dirt and other junk sitting on the concrete. You’d be amazed how a thorough sweep job alone can make it look cleaner! Pro tip: use a leaf blower to get debris out of cracks and crevices.
Pressure Wash
Next, break out the pressure washer you rented and give the slab a thorough blast. This deep clean is clutch for getting up ground-in grime and reveals the full extent of stains. Be sure to get way up in those cracks
Degrease Oil Stains (Optional)
If you have any pesky oil spots left after power washing, grab that concrete degreaser and scrub away. Just mix it with water first and lather it on. Rinse thoroughly
Fill Cracks
Inspect the slab and fill any cracks, holes and divots with concrete crack filler using a caulk gun. Smooth with a putty knife. Let it fully cure before painting
Taking the time to properly clean and repair means your paint job will look so much sharper in the end without fighting against existing dirt, damage and textures
2. Paint the Concrete Driveway’s Edges
Alright, the prep work is done and the driveway surface is cleaned, repaired and ready for paint!
Now comes the fun part. Go ahead and crack open that first fresh can of concrete paint or epoxy (ahh just smell that new paint smell!) and pour some into a tray.
Before slapping a roller full of paint all over the main slab, it’s smart to start around the perimeter and edges with an angled brush instead. Cutting in by hand allows you to get really crisp, clean paint lines along the driveway borders, fences, landscaping beds and anywhere else tricky to access with a roller.
Take your time using the brush to cut a super straight edge about 6 inches in from the sides, leaving the middle blank for now. This creates a nice painted “barrier” to prevent splatter on surfaces you don’t intend to paint later when using the roller. Use painter’s tape if you’re worried about overspray on vegetation.
Patience with the brush pays off big time down the road I promise! Just throw on a podcast or some tunes to make the edge work go faster
3. Apply First Coat to the Concrete
Woo! The messy brushwork is done. Now we get to the fast and fun part – rolling on that first fresh layer of colourful epoxy to the rest of the slab.
Start at your driveway entrance and use long, even strokes with the paint roller to apply the coating, working in small sections. I went with three-foot square sections. Cover a three-foot strip from side to side first, then move down the driveway by that same width and paint another strip right next to it, slightly overlapping the edges.
This ensures proper coverage so you don’t miss any spots. Take care when moving the roller to avoid drips. A good technique is to load up the roller with paint near the section you’re working on rather than carrying a fully loaded roller across the entire driveway. No one likes playing hopscotch over liquid paint puddles
Make sure to work the paint into the texture of the concrete, which helps it grab hold rather than just sitting on the surface. If you have a sloped driveway, consider working side to side rather than top to bottom to avoid leaving thick paint to run and pool at the bottom.
Once the first coat is looking good, step back and admire your work! Just be aware that the true color won’t show until it dries fully. Let it cure 24-48 hours before walking on it again. Then you can assess if a second coat is needed
4. Apply Second Coat to the Concrete
Okay, go grab a cup of coffee and relax while that first coat dries – you’ve earned it! Then swing back by to evaluate if a second coat is needed. Get nice and close to inspect. Are there still patches showing through? Does the colour appear rich and opaque like you envisioned? If yes, then one coat was perfectly sufficient. Love when that happens.
But if certain spots seem thin or the tone is paler than expected, it’s time to mix up another batch for a second layer. The good news is that the second coat goes on even faster since the first coat has effectively primed it.
Follow the same application method as before, working in those same three-foot sections. Roll on the paint, being very careful not to press so hard that you scrape off areas of existing paint. Overlap the edges just slightly between sections to create uniformity across the whole slab.
You may even choose to roll in a perpendicular direction versus how you rolled the first layer, which helps smooth out minor inconsistencies in application.
Alright, step back again…looking Sharp!! Now just kick back for those paint fumes to dissipate while your driveway transforms before your eyes. So satisfying.
Driving Home That Fresh New Look
Well how about that – you just gave your tired old driveway a total renovation for barely any money down! Pretty sweet deal if you ask me.
While waiting out that last coat to finish curing before driveway test drives, grab a beer and give yourself a pat on the back. You saved that slab from the crushers and bought yourself years more useful life out of the concrete you already paid for once upon a time. You may have even added value to your home in the process.
Now, I can’t lie – maintaining a painted driveway vs bare concrete does take a little more care and effort over time to keep it looking tip top in your neighbourhood. Be prepared to reapply fresh coats every couple years as the paint fades or shows wear. Pressure wash it regularly to prevent buildup. And try to catch oil leaks quickly before they have a chance to really set in.
But with proper prep and using those pro quality epoxy paints, you WILL get years of enjoyment from your decorative, durable new concrete driveway. I’m telling you, every time you come home and pull into that bad boy, you’re gonna feel good. Especially knowing what a big difference a couple weekends of elbow grease made.
Let me know if you have any other questions! Paint on!