How to Paint a Cement Driveway

Sweep the driveway to remove all surface debris. Wet down the grass and shrubbery that are immediately adjacent. The objective is to saturate the soil so that lawns and shrubs cannot absorb chemically mixed run-off from the preparations necessary to paint. When soil is saturated it acts like a water shield against these contaminates.

Cover shrubbery and flower beds with plastic sheeting to protect them from over spray. Weigh down the corners of the sheeting with rocks or bricks to keep them in place.

Power wash the driveway with a driveway cleanser and a power washer machine. You can usually rent power washers from local hardware stores. Use a good driveway cleanser to remove stains from the driveway. Wash from the garage door down the driveway washing all of the grit and debris into the gutter drainage system. Use a biodegradable cleanser.

Apply concentrated cleanser to bad spots and scrub the spots vigorously with a nylon bristle brush. Use a driveway degreaser and a broom if you have large oil stains. Most degreasers are poured directly on the spots and then broomed vigorously. The granules absorb the oils and the broom is used to remove the granules. Power wash the spots again after removing the degreaser until the entire driveway is clean, with no chemical residues.

Fill a garden sprayer with concrete etching solution and water. Use the ratio recommended by the manufacturer for your product. Wear safety glasses and gloves. Spray the driveway from the garage door to the end of the driveway. Etching solution allows the paint to adhere to the concrete better. Allow the cement driveway to dry completely (overnight).

Roll on a one-part acrylic/epoxy resin paint designed specifically for cement driveways, concrete garage floors and patios. Use a heavy 1/2-inch nap roller if your driveway is rough and smaller naps for smoother surfaces. Apply, starting at the top of the driveway, working in small sections. Keep a wet edge to prevent lap lines. A wet edge means that the paint does not dry out before you overlap the next row. Lap lines are lines created by allowing the paint to dry before overlapping paint is applied.

Dry your driveway for 24 hours before walking on it and 1-week before driving on it. If lap lines are visible a second coat can be applied 24-hours after the first coat.