The outdoor step of a house is not the most exciting aspect of any home, however, that does not mean that it should be ignored, indeed if it is ignored and left in poor repair it can bring the whole appearance of the house into question. But by painting the steps, the look of the dull, boring, unpainted concrete surface can be enhanced. It is both the easiest and the cheapest way of improving its visual appeal. The paint will give a refreshing look but it will also help to protect the concrete surface from regular wear and tear.
For this easy painting job some materials will be needed. These include masking tape, concrete paint, a heavy duty paint stripper, a paint brush which has firm bristles and a paint roller.
The first thing to do is clean the surface of the step where the paint will be applied. It has to be cleaned thoroughly to get rid of the dirt, grease and debris because all of these will prevent the proper adhesion of the paint. If the step has some old paint on it then this will have to be removed completely, this can be done very easily with the help of a heavy duty paint stripper.
Next job is the preparation of the step surface which starts with any concrete step repair. Look for cracks, bumps or holes on the step. Any uneven bumps on the step will have to be sanded down. When this is all done, sweep off all the debris from the step. Any cracks and holes found will have to be smoothed up with some patching material. Allow all the repaired areas to fully dry before starting with the job of painting. Then cover up all of the adjoining areas of the step so no paint will get onto them.
When the concrete surface is clean and dry, it is time for a coat of primer which is done to ensure better adhesion of the paint is achieved. (Use a concrete or masonry primer). After applying the primer, leave enough time for drying before starting to paint. Times can vary so read the instructions on the tin.
Now it is time to paint the steps. When choosing a concrete paint, the texture is very important. A smooth finish is going to make the steps quite slippery during wet weather so it should be avoided. For this reason, the ideal paint will require a suitable additive such as something to make it non-slip; this will improve the grip when it is raining. Paint the edges and corners with a brush and for the rest of the surface, use a paint roller. To get the best results, apply a few thin coats of paint onto the surface. Only apply a fresh coat of paint when the previous one has fully dried. A single coat of concrete coat paint will normally take up to four hours to dry but if it is a layered coat, the drying time will be double. Never leave any open door unattended while doing this job as an opportunist thief may mean a claim on the household insurance.