If you’ve got a patio area in your home with paving slabs that have seen better days, then rest assured that there are a variety of ways that you can help restore them to their former glory.
For a quick fix, one of the first things that you can do to help rejuvenate your paving slabs is to give them a thorough clean. To do this, start off by giving your paving slabs a wash with some mild detergent and warm water.
With a sturdy scrubbing brush, dip it into the mild detergent and warm water, and begin scrubbing some of the areas of the paving slabs that look the most grubby.
Additionally, if there are any paint stains or similar that you’re struggling to remove, then you could dip a small amount of a mineral spirit onto those parts of the paving slab, and then gently scrub it away until the stain comes off.
On the flip side, another way that you could make your paving slabs look a lot better is by opting to lay decking over the entirety of your paving slabs. Besides helping to warm up your lacklustre concrete slabs, decking across the top of paving slabs will also help to boost the cohesiveness of your home, all the while boosting your curb appeal.
Alternatively, if you have concrete slabs, then you could also choose to cover up the paving with slate tiles which will totally transform the appearance of your paving slabs.
In addition to transforming the appearance of your paving slabs, another option you have to help transform the appearance of your slabs is by pulling focus away from them.
So, alongside some of the methods we have already mentioned above, you could also choose to install a firepit, retaining wall or even a raised flower bed. Not only will this help to cover up a large portion of your paving slabs area, but it will also help to add depth, dimension and a touch of character to your outdoor space.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to go to the hassle of sprucing up your paving slabs yourself, then you could also opt to hire a professional team or contractor to do the job for you. If you’re interested in going down this route, then you’ll be able to find a professional in your local area via your directory or even from a quick google search. Although, keep in mind that this could be quite expensive.
Can you paint outside paving slabs?
Interested in boosting the curb appeal of your home? If so, then painting your outdoor paving slabs is one of the best ways to help improve the overall appearance of your property.
In addition to this, painting is also super simple to do and also very cost effective, which makes it a great choice for those who are looking for a way to tidy up their outside paving slabs without breaking the bank in the process!
However, prior to picking up your paint roller, there are a few preparatory steps that you should take first. Let’s take a look at what you need to do below:
1. Clean the concrete:
First things first, you’re going to need to make sure that you thoroughly clean the surface of your paving slabs, otherwise, you might find that the paint is unable to properly adhere to the surface when the time comes to paint. When it comes to cleaning your paving slabs, there are two methods for you to choose from.
If you have a lot of surface area to cover, then we recommend that you opt to use a power washer, as not only will this be able to clean the entirety of your paving slabs with minimal effort required, but it will also allow you to mix in a concrete cleaner designed specifically for power washers. If you need a recommendation, then you won’t regret this one.
Alternatively, if you only have a small portion of paving to paint, then you could instead opt to take a scrubbing brush paired with warm water and detergent. This method will help to get rid of any surface debris, dirt, and oil, although do keep in mind that you may find that you struggle to get rid of especially tricky stains.
If this is the case for you, try not to worry too much about them, as you’re going to be covering them up with paint anyway! Instead, the main goal here is to get rid of any surface debris or grease that could potentially prevent the correct bonding of the paint.
2. Apply the primer:
Seeing as paving slabs are made of concrete, it means that they are going to be highly porous in nature, which in turn means that your slabs are going to need to be given some level of protection prior to applying the paint. This is where a primer comes into the mix!
If you didn’t already know, a paint primer is essentially a first layer that is able to help protect the surface from becoming damaged from the paint, all while helping to improve the adhesiveness of the paint.
Plus, like we said, seeing as concrete is a highly porous material by nature, it means that it is at a high risk of becoming moisture damaged from the paint if there isn’t a protective seal between the two.
3. Paint the slabs:
Now, for the fun bit! After you have given your primer enough time to dry and settle onto the surface of your paving slabs, the next thing you are going to need to do is to go in with the paint.
For the best results, we recommend that you opt to use exterior paint (this one is great) rather than interior paint, as exterior paints are specifically formulated for outdoor usage, which means that they will be much better at resisting exposure to external elements, including the rain and sun.
