How to Paint Concrete Statuary

Throughout the years, concrete statuary can become weathered and worn. An excellent way to revamp your piece is to paint it. A few coats of paint will add several more years to your beloved statuary, and allow you to gain more pleasure from it. The main thing to remember is that you should consider your yard and the way you are using your concrete statuary to determine the colors of paint you will need.

Water hose

Canned air

Flat exterior latex paint

Water

Metal mixing bowl

Measuring cup

Stirrer

Craft paint

Paintbrushes

Exterior latex non-yellowing concrete sealer

Clean your concrete statuary thoroughly with a water hose. The hose needs to have a sprayer attachment, so that you can get into all the cracks and crevices. The statue needs to be completely clean for the paint to adhere properly. Allow your concrete statuary to air dry.

Spray the concrete statuary with canned air after the statue has dried. Again, make sure that you spray the canned air down into the cracks and crevices. This removes any dust that has settled during the drying process.

Place your concrete statuary on a stable working surface in a well-ventilated area. If you are working inside, open the windows and turn on a fan.

Prepare your painting mixture. Work with small amounts of the paint at a time. Pour one cup of flat exterior latex paint into a metal mixing bowl, then add ? cup of water into the mixing bowl. Stir the paint and water thoroughly so that there are no streaks of paleness showing. The color needs to be uniform. Paint the mixture onto your thoroughly cleaned and dried concrete statuary. Apply a light coat of the paint to the entire statue for the basecoat. Allow the basecoat of paint to dry for four hours, and then apply another light layer of the paint mixture to the statue. Make more of the painting mixture as required.

Paint the details of the statue in the colors of your choice. Again, you will need to dilute the paint. Combine ? cup of the paint of your color and add 1/8 cup of water to the paint. Mix it thoroughly and paint it onto the concrete statue. You have to do this for each color that you are using. Paint your details in using smaller paintbrushes so that you do not overlap the bounds of the area you are working in. Allow the paint to dry for at least 4 hours before painting a different color in the adjoining area. When you have completed painting all of the details, allow 24 hours for the last color of paint to dry completely. This additional drying time is necessary for the next step.

Seal your concrete statuary with an exterior latex non-yellowing concrete sealer. This helps the colors last longer when out in the weather. Using a clean paintbrush, apply an ample layer of the sealer to the statue. Do not seal the bottom of the statue, as the concrete needs to breathe. Allow the sealer to dry for 24 hours. Place your newly painted concrete statuary on a well drained surface -- not the dirt. Putting your statue on the dirt will allow the concrete to absorb the moisture from the ground and cause the paint to peel and flake off. Place your statue on gravel or a concrete steeping stone and then cover the area around the statue if you don't want the base piece to be seen.