Can I paint my garage and/or patio floor with chalk paint?

Paula Hess
by Paula Hess

Hello y’all and thank you for your input.... I am seriously wanting to chalk paint both my garage floor and patio floor (which is about to become a screened in porch). I want to do a stencil on them. Both floors are made of cement. And both floors are in good shape (no cracks; very few oil spots and if there are oil spots, they are in one small area). I’ve read very good reports about Annie Sloan Chalk Pint and I would use this brand, I think. My DH is very skeptical about using chalk paint for these projects as he feels as though the paint would come off on our shoes and mark up the floors in the house. Nothing I’ve read leads me to believe this is true. He wants me to use a paint product made for concrete/cement. My concern with the concrete paint is that it will flake, peel and/or chip off and when it comes time to redo it.. it will be very difficult to make it look good at that point. I’m also concerned that the concrete paint won’t last long. I feel as though the chalk paint will last a long time and when it does start to wear, it will wear subtlety and gracefully. Am I wrong? How long would the chalk paint last? How long would the concrete paint last? And I’m assuming I need to put a lacquer on either type of paint...true? Thank you for sharing your wisdom!


  24 answers
  • Annie Annie on Nov 29, 2020

    Hi this info might be of help to you

    https://www.property24.com/articles/how-to-paint-your-floors-with-chalk-paint/27661#:~:text=If%20you're%20painting%20onto,clean%20surface%20with%20chalk%20paint.&text=Using%20a%20roller%20for%20semi,to%20dry%20thoroughly%20in%20between.

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Nov 29, 2020

    Hi Paula, no it won't come off on your shoes I don't think but I also don't think it will last as long as a masonry paint. However, you could cover it with a good clear masonry sealer and probably have a good long lasting result :) Prep work is key as well, make sure those floors are REALLY clean and totally dry before you start. I would consider sand blasting or at least power spraying them and then waiting a couple of days before starting.

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Nov 29, 2020

    I wouldn't use chalk paint for floor or walls because it is easy to get scuffed up and it will not hold up to the wear and tear of walking on the floor -https://www.property24.com/articles/how-to-paint-your-floors-with-chalk-paint/27661



  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Nov 29, 2020

    There are special paints for porches and garage floors made to withstand the elements. That’s the best paint for this I think. Cheaper too!

  • We painted our concrete patio outside and it's held up really well. We used a Benjamin Moore paint. https://www.exquisitelyunremarkable.com/2018/08/how-to-paint-concrete-patio-makeover.html

  • 17335038 17335038 on Nov 29, 2020

    From personal experience using a epoxy product designed for concrete garage floors, I would not suggest using any other paint. IMO it will not last or look attractive, and will just be money and time wasted.

    Painting a garage floor is a two step process. Success depends on proper preparation and following instructions carefully.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdolrDw4GUs

  • Sharon Sharon on Nov 29, 2020

    I would use concrete paint for the garage floor, or one of those epoxy kits from Rustoleum if you want something fancier. Then if the patio floor is a wooden subfloor go with Porch and Patio paint. These products hold up better, chalk paint wasn't meant for flooring application that will hold up. https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=floor+and+porch+paint&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8


  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Nov 29, 2020

    I wouldn’t recommend for high traffic areas.

  • Mogie Mogie on Nov 30, 2020

    The basic answer is yes; the 'however' is that if you already have peeling, there may be moisture moving through your cement. Since you'll likely have to seal it, you may run into the same problem again. I would test a bad spot, and see how it behaves.

    Chalk paint is acrylic, water, and plaster of paris. Thus it will need a sealant on top to protect. I would clean the old cement of any peel, then apply the chalk paint. Remember to wait a day before applying the next layer(s). You will then apply a wax sealant on top after the paint dries.

  • Lindsay Aratari Lindsay Aratari on Nov 30, 2020

    You could, but it may chip over time if it is a high traffic area! Here is how I stenciled our floors: https://www.aratariathome.com/blog/painted-tile-tutorial-entry-way-makeover-part-2

  • I personally wouldn't do it. Use a concrete paint for long lasting results

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Nov 30, 2020

    i would not use chalk paint for outside but for sure use flat outside black paint

  • You can smear on ketchup, leave it for a Few minutes and rinse and buff off. They will shine!

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Dec 01, 2020

    Hi Paula, chalk paint is wonderful stuff, but it won't last in high traffic areas. I would look for hard wearing floor paint and use that instead

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Dec 01, 2020

    Hello there,

    I would go with The Floor and Tile paint as Chalk paint was and is used for for light wear items suck as furniture. Best wishes.

  • K. Rupp K. Rupp on Dec 01, 2020

    NO!!!! on the chalk paint. You will waste a lot of time and not be happy with the result. You need concrete paint. Here are a couple of my posts on how we painted our concrete patio. This type of paint seeps into the concrete and won't just chip off or come off like a regular paint. You want a very good concrete paint and this is what we used:


    First we power-washed and used some oil remover for concrete:


    https://karupp-did.net/power-washer/


    Then concrete painted:


    https://karupp-did.net/patio_painted/

    • See 1 previous
    • K. Rupp K. Rupp on Dec 02, 2020

      Hi Paula, With that particular concrete paint, you don't need to seal it. It will last a while. It can get dirty through the winter but the next spring season we just wash and scrub it with a solution mixed with bleach and it looks nice. We haven't yet repainted it and it's gone through a few seasons of winter. Now it could use a re-paint job but it still has NOT been chipping off all over...... It's more dirty. We used a lighter color so that was bound to happen. I am really happy with the paint and the next time we paint, I will definitely be using the same exact brand since it has been so good. So that says something. I have seen how cheaper deck paints and concrete paints can peel up. My parents used 'Deck Over' on their deck one year and by the next season, the entire deck was peeling in certain spots. So it is definitely worth the money in this situation to spend it on the more expensive product. So that being said...when we repaint, I am going to go with a little darker color. As for your idea with the Stenciling.....OH YES!! you can get the Sherwin Williams concrete paint in any of their awesome colors so just pick out whatever colors you want for your stencil and have it mixed with the concrete paint. The only thing that might be a pain is that I don't think you can get concrete paint in smaller cans. So if you use multiple colors you might have to get each color in gallon size. You will have to check on that. If that is the case then maybe think about sticking to a 2 colored stencil then. Good luck! I hope this info helps you in your project. Follow the directions in my post and you will be so happy with the results. Thanks for the complement too......Come stop by my blog anytime;)

  • Chas' Crazy Creations Chas' Crazy Creations on Dec 01, 2020

    I would not recommend chalk paint for a floor, but rather a floor/cement paint like Kilz. You can find it in a variety of colors and at your local hardware store.

  • Most likely chalk paint won't hold up in these circumstances. You're better off finding paint made specifically for concrete and these types of conditions. Ultimately paint is paint, it won't last forever no matter how well it's sealed. The base coat is the most important.

  • Homeroad Homeroad on Dec 04, 2020

    I would use a chalk paint with a sealer in it because regular chalk paint will absorb stains unless you seal it with a good floor sealer. I like Fusion Mineral Paint for all my projects and it works on floors too. A sealer is always a good idea for high traffic areas.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Dec 14, 2020

    If you wanted to use chalk paint you should use a sealer but I would recommend using paint that is specifically made for the floor

  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Jan 04, 2021

    I don't believe a chalk paint would be durable on the floor. Use a "porch & deck" paint instead. You should be able to match colors if needed.

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Jul 24, 2021

    Hi Paula, I wouldn't use calk paint on a high-use/traffic area. It doesn't wear well.

  • Chalk paint is not made for floors. It will not wear well at all. Ask in your home improvement store for floor paint.

  • Mogie Mogie on Apr 03, 2023

    Use concrete paint it is made for this. You will need to do an excellent job of cleaning the surface before painting no matter what you use. I would pressure wash the cement first, allow it to dry at least on entire day and then proceed with cement paint.