Can You Stain Concrete Pavers? (Find Out Now!)

Changing up the look of your patio is a great way to liven up the outdoor area surrounding your home. You don’t even have to spend big to make significant changes. Focusing on elements such as your patio pavers can bring forth the changes you’re seeking.

So, what can you do alter the appearance of your concrete pavers? Is staining them an option for you to consider?

Staining concrete pavers is indeed an option and you will get great results if they haven’t been sealed yet. If they have been sealed already, you will first have to remove the sealer before applying the concrete stain. The stain itself can be easily applied if you have a paint roller and tray on hand.

Improving the dull and lifeless look of your concrete pavers is necessary if you want to transform your yard. Find out if staining those concrete pavers will help by reading on.

Elevating the look of your yard doesn’t necessarily mean paying for expensive new fixtures or making room for more plants. Working on the smaller elements of your yard can still make a huge difference.

For instance, changing the appearance of your concrete pavers is something worth considering if you’re going for a patio redesign. We’re not talking about carving or cutting your concrete pavers. Instead, you should think about altering their color.

Staining your concrete pavers is an option if you want to change how they look. The process of staining a concrete paver is not that complicated. However, there are certain factors that can prevent the stain from producing the intended result.

Before you start staining your concrete pavers, you should first check if they are sealed. The presence of the sealant will get in the way. Upon being applied, the stain will not look right because the sealant stopped it from being fully absorbed by the concrete.

The process of checking whether a concrete paver has been sealed is pretty easy. All you really need is a container with some water.

Pick up the container full of water and pour some of the liquid onto the concrete. Set the container down after pouring the water then check on the pavers.

If the concrete pavers have been sealed, a significant amount of the water you poured will stay on the surface. They may cluster into some beads because the concrete has not absorbed them.

If the concrete pavers have not been sealed, the water is likely going to be absorbed quickly. You will notice the concrete darken due to the addition of moisture.

Unsealed concrete pavers are great to work with from a staining standpoint. The stains will look great on them. However, homeowners who have sealed concrete pavers have more work to do before they can proceed to staining.

In order to remove the sealer, you first have to know which type you’re dealing with. Two types of sealers are often used for concrete pavers. Those are solvent-based sealers and water-based sealers.

Get a solvent-based stripper and apply a small amount of that on to one of the pavers. Let it sit for about 30 seconds. After that, use your finger to check how the substance feels.

The concrete feeling sticky to the touch means a solvent-based sealer was used. A lack of stickiness tells you that the concrete was sealed by a water-based sealer.

You may be trying to create a pattern using your concrete pavers. To do so properly, some pavers need to be colored while others need to stay the same.

Grab a tarp and use that to cover the concrete pavers that you don’t want to stain. If you’re targeting individual pavers, you may want to use small pieces of plastic or old newspapers to cover them.

Homeowners can also choose to create multi-colored pavers. You can do that by using painter’s tape to divide the paver into distinct portions. Cover one portion first while you work on the other side.

It’s now time to stain the concrete pavers. Start by pouring some of the concrete stain into the paint tray.

Next, take your roller and dip it into the tray. Let some of the excess stain drip back into the tray. That will make it easier to control the spread of the stain over the paver.

You can now go ahead and start rolling the stain onto the concrete surface. Work carefully to avoid staining a surface accidentally. Also make sure to cover as much of your target surface as possible.

Related Questions

What Are the Different Types of Pavers?

Pavers can vary in terms of their material composition. They may be made from concrete, clay, brick, rubber, and even plastic.Homeowners who want the prettiest pavers may want to look at the natural stone pavers. Those items are typically made from bluestone, cobblestone, flagstone, granite, limestone, and travertine. The rustic look of natural stone pavers is also something that many homeowners find appealing.

Can You Pressure Wash Concrete Pavers?

Pressure washing your concrete pavers is not a good idea. The pressurized water can destroy the seal and leave the concrete exposed. The pavers will be cleaned, but they will become vulnerable too and you don’t want that.Aside from pressure washers, you should also avoid using acidic cleaners on your concrete pavers. The acidic cleaners can also damage the seal so it’s best to avoid them.