Can You Paint Over Concrete Sealer? (How to Guide)

If you want to make your concrete sealer look more impressive, then paint it to make it more durable and protect the surface of the concrete. 

Have you ever wondered to think, can you paint over concrete sealer? You can paint by rubbing the surface and removing the surface fold of the sealant to make the concrete more durable.

In this article, you will know how to paint over a concrete sealer:

Can You Paint Over Concrete Sealer?

It is acceptable to paint over concrete sealer. But you have to ensure the cleaning, sanding, and priming of the top layer of the sealer before applying paint to it. So at first, clean all the seals with a degreaser, scrub them, wash them with pressure, and rinse them properly. Next, use a sealer layer and wait until drying. Then apply paint over the concrete sealer. 

How Many Types of Concrete Sealers Can You Paint?

There are various types of concrete sealers, but a few of them you can paint. Let’s see which sealers you can paint:

Acrylic concrete sealer

It won’t be easy if you want to paint the acrylic concrete sealer. This is because it has a shiny and elastic base. So, if you want to put a painting over this sealer, it will not stick unless you strip the sealer.

This acrylic concrete sealer has a flexible and rubbery texture that fills the pores in the concrete and can’t allow adhering to painting on the concrete surface.

Instead of oil-based paints, use enamel paints over this sealer as it is suitable for acrylic concrete sealers. 

Water-based concrete sealer

You can easily paint over water-based concrete sealer as it allows to adhere the paint. The water-based concrete sealer has a low amount of silicon-based materials, solvents, oils, and resinous compounds. 

But you have to scuff the concrete sealer before painting to stick the paint over the concrete sealer. So make sure to choose fine-grit sandpapers to rub the concrete sealer properly.

You can use the sealer instead of the concrete primer. The water-based concrete sealer is more potent and long-lasting, suitable for painting and repelling any stain and moisture.

Penetrating concrete sealer

It’s better to avoid using penetrating concrete sealers. No paint can adhere to this type of concrete sealer. You can only paint it if you remove the entire coating to paint the concrete.

Should You Seal Your Concrete Before Painting?

Before painting the concrete, make sure to seal it. It isn’t easy to fill the interior before painting. Sealing before painting will protect the concrete from mold growth and prevents moisture. 

So, follow the manufacturer’s directions, apply the coats according to the instructions and use a masonry sealer. 

How to Paint Over Concrete Sealer?

To paint over concrete sealer, you must properly evaluate and prepare the concrete surface. For example, to allow the concrete surface to stick the paint correctly.

You may need the materials below to change the texture of the concrete sealer to allow the painting.

What you will need-

• Medium Grit Sandpaper
• Fine Grit Sandpaper
• Chemical Paint Stripper
• The Required Paint
• Rags
• Paint Primer For Concrete
• A Sealant (optional)

Painting procedure-

Step 1: Evaluate the concrete surface

You must first evaluate the concrete surface, and whether the concrete is coated or sealed. It is a challenging task to paint over coated or sealed concrete. So, it’s better to remove the entire coat or seal before painting. 

You can’t paint polished concrete, so make sure to rough the concrete surface before applying paint over it. 

Step 2: Make the concrete sealer dry

To adhere to the painting, make sure to remove the concrete sealer. To remove the sealer, you have to ensure that the sealer is dry. Otherwise, it will be difficult to remove.

Do some tests to ensure whether the sealer is dry or not. For example, you can use your nail to make a nail tip on the sealer. If you can make the tip, then it is not dried yet. Or else, you can also test it with water, whether the sealer is absorbing the water or not. 

Step 3: Remove the concrete sealer

It’s best to remove the sealer to stick the painting over the concrete sealer. You can remove the old sealer from the concrete in two ways-

• Mechanical method
• Chemical method

If you want to remove the sealer mechanically, you may need some tools to grind, sand, and blast the concrete away. However, this procedure may cause damage and noise as well. 

You can use a chemical-based paint stripper as it helps to soften the coating, and you can easily remove the entire layer of the concrete sealer.

Apply two coats of this chemical-based paint-stripper on the sealer and wait for a while to work magically. Don’t forget to use safety gear while removing the concrete sealer.

Use 150-grit sandpapers or sanding sheets for abrading the concrete sealer quickly. 

Step 4: Sanding the concrete surface

Start sanding the concrete surface with 220-grit sandpaper after removing the concrete sealer. It will smoothen the concrete surface. 

Step 5: Appy the concrete primer

After removing the entire concrete sealer, you have to give smooth finishing to the concrete surface by using a primer. So, use two coats of primer and apply the second coat after drying the first coat. Use this primer with a paintbrush for fine finishing on the concrete surface.

Step 6: Apply the paint

For outdoor concrete surfaces, choose epoxy paint as it is solid and durable. Outdoor concretes are used more frequently for garage floors, car parking, and heavy traffic.

You can choose any paint for applying to indoor concrete. For indoor purposes, you can select enamel paint. To increase the painting adhesion, you can wipe a little bit between coating with sandpaper.

Apply three coatings on the concrete surface but dry each coat before putting another coat. However, you can use masonry paint for the best result. 

Step 7: A sealant

If you want to make your paint more durable, then seal the paint. It is an optional step, and it will not need if you use epoxy resin on the concrete. 

Step 8: Make it dry

Leave the painted concrete surface for three days before using it to dry the painted concrete surface properly. 

Check out the video to understand more clearly how to paint over the concrete sealer-

When Can You Paint Over the Concrete Sealer?

You can paint the concrete sealer after at least 8 hours of applying the prime sealer. Next, apply paint over the concrete sealer after drying the sealer thoroughly. This drying process may need 4 to 24 hours.

If you put a painting over the concrete surface without drying the sealer, the paint will not adhere to the concrete to the moisture, giving it a sticky finishing.

To adhere to the paint correctly, you need to wait for the drying of the concrete sealer. In addition, you have to do the prep work such as cleaning, rubbing, and priming the concrete on the dried concrete sealer before painting. 

So, to do the prep work accurately, dry the concrete sealer first.

Why Does the Paint Not Stick to Sealed Concrete?

The paint will not stick to the sealed concrete for the following reasons-

1. Don’t use the concrete sealers that hold solvents, silicon-based compounds, oils, and resins. These elements will not allow sticking the paint on the concrete sealer.
2. Don’t apply the paint directly over the sealed concrete.
3. If you don’t do the prep work on the concrete sealer, the painting will not stick properly.
4. Don’t paint until drying the moisture of the concrete sealer.
5. Remove the sealer at first to adhere to the paint properly.
6. Do the priming cautiously to provide a smooth texture before painting the concrete sealer.

How Long Does the Sealer Last on Concrete?

If you put epoxy sealer on the outdoor concrete, it will last five to ten years, depending on the usage. The reactive penetrating sealers will stay the most over the concrete sealer.

Conclusion

If you still don’t understand, can you paint over the concrete sealer, how to paint a concrete sealer? Then in this article, you will learn how to do it-

• It is possible to paint over concrete sealer. 
• But you have to ensure the cleaning, sanding, and priming of the top layer of the sealer before applying paint to it.  
• At first, clean all the seals with a degreaser, scrub them, wash them with pressure, and rinse them properly. 
• Use a sealer layer and wait until drying. 
• Then apply paint over the concrete sealer.

Finally, now you know how to paint over the concrete sealer. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What paint can you use on sealed concrete?

Masonry paint is considered suitable for concrete painting as it holds a binder that is good for concrete. Another name for masonry paint is elastomeric paint. 

Does power washing remove concrete sealers?

Yes, power washing works very well in removing the concrete sealer.

What paint is best for your concrete?

Epoxy paint is considered the best for your concrete as it is solid and durable. Also, you can choose latex paint, and acrylic paint as these paints last well on concrete walls. 

Can you use regular paint on concrete?

Yes, you can use ordinary latex paint on the indoor concrete walls.