Los Angeles Concrete: Staining and Painting

Concrete is one of the most versatile and well-liked building materials on the market. It's incredibly durable, extremely strong, and, unlike natural stones with similar qualities, concrete can be poured. Unfortunately, concrete is also one of the least visually appealing materials out there when left untreated. L.A. is home to quite a bit of this wondrous, yet often bland, material. If you want the concrete parts of your property to have a bit more personality and fit in a little better with the rest of Los Angeles, concrete staining or painting might be the answer for you.

Concrete Paint vs. Concrete Stain in Los Angeles
These are two of the most common techniques used to make concrete appeal to the eye as well as to the wallet. Painting concrete is probably the fastest and most direct way to enhance its appearance, but there are some drawbacks to this operation. For one thing, not every paint will adhere to concrete for very long, and others will only stick to concrete that has been properly prepared. While spray-paint seems to hold up pretty well, the kind of paint most people would want on their homes tends to fall a bit short.

One way to avoid the chipping, peeling, and overall shabbiness of painting on concrete is to use an epoxy coating. Often seen on commercial garage floors, epoxy coating, though not really paint, comes in a wide variety of colors and can be applied like paint. It is possible to do this job yourself, but beware: Epoxy coating is much more difficult than it might appear. The best results are often achieved by professional crews with the experience and equipment to do the job right.

Another way to spruce up concrete is to stain it. In Los Angeles, concrete stain is found in houses, condos, and businesses across the city. Unlike paint or epoxy coating, concrete stain actually creates a chemical reaction that changes the color of the concrete itself. There's no need to worry about it peeling or chipping, unless that chip is deep enough to penetrate well under the surface to the concrete that hasn't been altered by the stain.

This operation requires a large amount of prep work, especially if the concrete is older. In Los Angeles, concrete staining is often done after the surface has been ground and polished smooth. This technique is being used more and more in newer construction, as a floor made of concrete will hold up better and is often more cost effective than other flooring types; after the staining process is complete, the result is an elegant and interesting floor that will literally last a lifetime. A word of caution: the surface of concrete is permanently altered when it is stained. Choose a color you like, cause it's going to be there for a while.

Prices of Los Angeles Concrete Staining and Painting
Painting concrete yourself is a relatively simple operation, and it won't cost much. Painting a concrete porch or patio can often be done for less than $100, if you're willing to do the job yourself. Epoxy coating is more expensive. A single car garage can often be professionally epoxy coated for between $1,000 and $2,000, and very few are displeased with the look and performance of their new floor covering.

As for concrete stain, Los Angeles residents probably won't be able to do the job themselves. Grinding and polishing concrete calls for a professional crew. Often the job costs between $2,000 and $3,000, but the effect is one that is not only impressive, but incredibly unique, as well.