How to Enamel Concrete

Clean the floor with a solution of soluble sugar soap and water as directed by the manufacturer. Use a stiff bristle broom and scrub vigorously to loosen surface contaminants.

Hose the floor down thoroughly and inspect the surface. If traces of oil and grease are left, follow up by scrubbing once more with an industrial strength degreasing agent and then removing all traces of detergent by sluicing the floor down with a garden hose fitted with a trigger spray. Allow two days of warm weather drying time before proceeding.

Run your hand over the surface. If it is smooth, it must be etched with a solution of muriatic acid and water. Wear long pants, a fully sleeved shirt, gumboots, rubber gloves, and eye protection. Keep a garden hose and baking soda handy to act as a neutralizing agent in the event of accidental spills. Ensure that the area is well-ventilated, and proceed as described in Steps 4 and 5.

Pour 10 pints of water into a plastic bucket. Stir the water with a plastic spatula while slowly adding one pint of muriatic acid. Always pour acid into water, never water into acid. Pour the prepared mixture into a plastic watering can.

Work on a 10- to 15-square-foot area at a time and sprinkle the solution onto the surface evenly; you will notice an immediate bubbling reaction. Scrub the area with the stiff bristle broom. As soon as the bubbling stops, hose the area down thoroughly with a garden hose fitted with a high-pressure trigger spray before proceeding onto the next section. Once the entire floor is etched to the texture of 120- to 180-grit sandpaper, allow two days drying time before proceeding.

Clean of all powdered residue from the surface with a powerful vacuum cleaner. Once the surface is clean, stick a strip of packaging tape onto random section of the floor, peel the tape off, and inspect the surface for any traces of residue sticking to the tape. Vacuum once more if necessary.

Thin the first coat of alkyd enamel paint down with 1 pint of mineral spirits per gallon of paint and stir thoroughly. Apply the first coat in the morning while the concrete is cool. Start by using a paint brush to cut into corners and around railing posts and fittings, and then clean the brush immediately with mineral spirits.

Follow up by applying an even coat of thinned enamel over the entire surface with a good quality long-handle paint roller. Clean the roller after applying the first coat, and allow the paint to dry overnight.

Apply a second and third coat with undiluted paint early in the morning, and allow adequate drying time between coats. Keep stirring the paint during application to ensure full coverage and wrap the roller in a plastic bag between coats to prevent it from drying out.

Allow five days for the paint to cure before subjecting the surface to heavy traffic.