IN THIS POST
– Installing tiles
– Painting the floor
– Staining concrete
– Using epoxy paint
– Laying down pavers
A boring old concrete porch can bring down the value and aesthetic of your entire house. After all, it is one of the first things people notice about your residence before even making their way indoors. However, despite being an important feature of a house, porches are rarely maintained or taken care of. As a result, you’d find most of the older houses in Pakistan featuring a drab-looking concrete front porch with cracks and stains all over it.
In case you are one of those homeowners, the question you should be asking yourself right now is how can I make my concrete porch look better?
Luckily, there are quite a few budget-friendly ways to spruce up a concrete porch. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of most popular concrete front porch ideas that can help you transform the look of your entire place.
DIY Concrete Porch Ideas to Boost Its Appeal
Here are a few ways you can make a concrete porch look better and improve your curb appeal.
- Installing tiles
- Painting the floor
- Staining concrete
- Using epoxy paint
- Laying down pavers
So what do these easy porch design ideas actually entail? Let’s find out.
Installing Tiles
Tiling a floor is easier than most people realize. Also, you can save money by going the DIY route and taking on the project yourself. Even if you are new to the world of DIY home improvement projects, you won’t have much trouble finding your way around tiling a concrete porch as long as you have all the tools and materials at hand and carefully follow each instruction.
Porcelain tiles are generally considered ideal for an outdoor setting, owing to their strength, low-porosity, resistance to discolouration and overall durability. They also don’t crack during harsh weather conditions, making them one of the perfect options for a concrete front porch makeover.
If you are going to tile your concrete porch yourself, make sure to thoroughly clean the dust and debris on the surface by washing it. Depending on the condition of your floor, you can either install the tiles directly or use cement backer boards. Usually, backer boards are used when the surface has visible cracks, which can lead to cracks in tiles.
Another way to deal with the cracks is by fixing them with cement or concrete, whichever is readily available. As for the installation, you’ll only need thinset mortar, spacers, notched trowel and grout to get the job done. Our in-depth tutorial on how to tile your bathroom floor can help you in this regard since the process of tiling your concrete porch isn’t much different from tilting a bathroom floor.
For more information on the different types of flooring tiles in Pakistan and their rates, you can check out our detailed guide on the topic.
Painting the Floor
There are a lot of creative ways you can use paint to cover ugly concrete and give your porch an instant facelift without spending a lot of money.
For starters, you can use a stencil and some paint to artfully decorate your concrete patio to make it look like a patterned rug. If a faux rug is out of the question, you can also consider buying a patterned rubber paint roller to create a faux brick or stone look.
However, if you believe you don’t have a flair for creativity or can’t invest a lot of time into this project, you can simply use a can of paint and a large paint roller to transform a concrete porch and boost its appeal. This is easily one of the most popular as well as the most affordable concrete porch ideas you can find.
Before you start, wash the concrete floor with a degreasing solution and make sure it’s completely dry and free of dust. If you are suspecting any underlying water damage issue, hire an expert to fix it before it gets worse. Once the floor is dry and has no hints of seepage, you can fill in any crack and sand the surface, if needed. Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of all the residue and debris.
The next step requires you to apply a primer using a paint roller. It is suggested you apply two coats of primer to your concrete porch, though the second coat must be applied only when the first one has dried off. Then, use a paint roller to cover the floor with low-lustre enamel paint. You may need to apply two to three coats for the desired results, but make sure to let the surface dry completely between each application.
Once you are satisfied with your handiwork, apply two to three coats of a waterproofing sealer and let the area dry for at least a day.
Staining Concrete
Next in our list of concrete front porch ideas is staining.
For those who might not know, concrete staining involves covering the surface with a chemical solution of hydrochloric acid, soluble metallic salts and water. Since concrete is highly porous, this mixture penetrates the surface and permanently stains the grey material. One of the main reasons why homeowners use this method to give a concrete porch a facelift is because of its durability. However, it is important to mention that stained concrete is not a good option for high-traffic areas as it is susceptible to scratches.
In order to stain your concrete porch steps, you need to pressure wash the surface and fix any cracks, if present. Also, it’s recommended to cover up the lower part of your walls with plastic to protect the paint. Once the floor is completely dry and free of debris, you can apply the stain with the help of a garden sprayer. Make sure to wear good quality work boots, thick rubber gloves and a face mask if you are going to do it yourself. This chemical stain is usually available at the hardware stores. All you have to do is add water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Starting from the corner of your porch, spray the mixture on the concrete floor without splashing it on yourself or on the walls. Be generous, but make sure there aren’t any puddles of chemicals on your floor. When you’re done, let the floor dry completely before washing off the residue. Let the surface dry and repeat the staining process.
The last step is to apply a coat of water-based sealer using a roller brush. It’s better to apply two coats of sealer for a better result.
Using Epoxy Paint
When it comes to interesting and creative concrete porch ideas, epoxy flooring in Pakistan is also gaining popularity.
Epoxy is a high-gloss, reflective floor coating material comprising polymer resins and epoxy glue, which bond together to create a rigid plastic-like surface. Although it has always been widely used in schools, hospitals, shopping malls, warehouses and parking lots, epoxy flooring is also used for patios and porches. It is relatively expensive from regular paint, but you shouldn’t mind spending a few extra bucks considering how epoxy is much more durable, moisture-resistant, scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, and has an extremely smooth texture. Whether you opt for epoxy flooring or coating, it will completely transform and spruce up your boring old concrete front porch to improve your curb appeal.
If you are planning to update a concrete porch, you can start off by cleaning the surface with a mop and letting it dry completely. All cracks and chips need to be fixed as well. If you notice that the water is beading on the surface instead of absorbing, this means the concrete has been coated with a sealant or grease. In this case, epoxy paint won’t adhere to the surface as it won’t be able to bond with the concrete for a flawless application.
It’s better to hire a professional to install epoxy flooring in your porch, because the material sets and hardens almost as soon as it is applied, which means you don’t have enough time to correct your mistakes, in case you make any. Also, if you are opting for specific floor design, it’s better to leave the job to the expert to make sure the end result is aesthetically pleasing and adds value to your house.
The ideal temperature for the epoxy application is from 10 to 30 degrees Centigrade.
Laying Down Pavers
Last but not least, pavers have been an ideal choice to cover ugly concrete porches in Pakistan, as they can improve your curb appeal and make your home look elegant. They are also easy to clean and install. Most people prefer using concrete pavers in their porches. They are made of dry gravel, cement, sand, and a colouring agent.
While installing pavers is one of the top concrete front porch ideas to boost its appeal, you need to keep in mind that this process is a little costly and time-consuming. Therefore, it is better to acquire the help of an expert for this home improvement project so that you don’t end up with a bigger mess in the end.
Pavers are also widely used in landscaping by homeowners who want to make their front yards look beautiful and well-maintained. If you want to add that wow factor to the exterior of your house to improve your curb appeal, here are 8 amazing landscaping ideas you should definitely check out.
Meanwhile, you can also take a look at some creative patio design ideas that will make your home look luxurious and expensive while providing you with a great place to relax and enjoy some evening tea.
For more home improvement projects, DIY guides and ideas for attractive front porch, stay connected to Zameen Blog – your best source for all construction and real estate-related updates. You can send us your questions and queries on blog@zameen.com.
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