How to Paint a Concrete Driveway

Sweep your driveway thoroughly with a bristle broom. Patch any holes or scratches with concrete filler. Allow it to dry, then sand the surface until it is smooth.

Remove oil or grease stains by mixing ¼ cup of trisodium phosphate for every gallon of warm water in a bucket. Put on protective gloves as you work this solution into the stains with a bristle brush.

Rinse the driveway with a strong stream of water from a hose. Allow the concrete to dry for two days.

Wait for a cool day to begin painting your driveway, or get started early in the morning before the sun makes the concrete hot and the paint a little more difficult to work with. You might wish to apply one coat of a concrete bonding primer to your driveway. Similar to wall primer, it will grab the forthcoming paint to the surface and can produce a better result. Still, you may wish to skip this step if you're in a hurry.

Cut in the paint around the edges of your driveway with a wide paintbrush, just as you would do with ceilings, doorways and windows on a wall. This step will make the paint application a relative breeze.

Start at the top of your driveway and apply the paint in sections of about 2 or 3 feet, working left to right and then down. Keep a “wet edge” with the paint roller, just as you would if you were painting a wall.

Wait for the paint to dry and apply a second coat, if you wish, to deepen the color. Follow the directions on the paint can before walking or driving a car over your newly painted driveway.