Driveway painting: Everything you need to know

A fresh coat of paint can transform not only your driveway but the entire appearance of your home. Since your driveway is typically what visitors first see, make a good first impression by maintaining it.

Driveway painting is relatively simple, but you may not know how or where to start. With the right amount of preparation and the correct materials, you can get great results. Our guide will walk you through the best driveway paints to use and provide step-by-step instructions on how to paint your driveway.

The Best Driveway Paint

Want to paint your driveway but not sure which paint to choose? We’ve got you covered with our driveway painting tips and recommendations.

For a long-lasting finish, choose a heavy-duty driveway paint. A heavy-duty driveway paint is a great choice for durability, especially for driveways that face regular use and everyday wear. Epoxy paint is a great option as:

• It can be used on concrete, stone and brick.
• It’s highly resistant to wear from foot traffic and vehicles.

The Best Driveway Paint for Concrete

The best driveway paint for concrete will protect your driveway, whilst also giving it a fresh appearance. Some of our recommendations include:

• Concrete Floor Paint: Provides a resistant coating and can withstand weathering. 
• Two-Pack Epoxy Concrete Floor Paint: Can adhere to various surfaces and is suitable for high-traffic areas such as vehicle movement.  

How to Paint a Driveway

Plan

Before you set about painting your driveway, it’s important to plan carefully. Consider a few key factors so you can achieve the best results:

• Plan where you will park any cars that usually sit on your drive. Your driveway will need to stay clear until the job is fully done, for the best possible outcome. 
• Also, consider how you’ll enter and exit your home, as you will want to avoid walking across your driveway while your paint is drying.
• Check the weather forecast a few days before starting. Ideally, you want to choose a period with several days of dry weather for both painting and drying. Avoid times when rain or snow is expected, as this can interfere with the paint’s ability to adhere and dry.
• Purchase and prepare all the essential equipment needed to paint your driveway. Consider all the materials you will need for preparation, painting and cleaning. By gathering these ahead of time, you can avoid unnecessary trips back inside or to the store. 

Preparation

It’s beneficial to prepare your driveway so it’s in the best condition to start painting.

1. Like any other surface, make sure it’s clean beforehand. Sweep your driveway to remove any debris, leaves and dirt. For concrete driveways, use a pressure washer for a deeper clean. Then let it dry thoroughly before you begin painting. 
2. After cleaning, you may want to fill in any cracks or holes in your driveway with a concrete repair caulk. This will give you a smoother look once the paint has been applied. 
3. Use masking tape to mask any edges or surfaces you don’t want to paint. This will protect those areas and also give you a neater finish.

Prime

Applying a primer is optional for driveway painting. Priming isn't necessary, but if you decide to, we’d recommend using a single layer of a water-based primer. Ideally, apply with a roller, but a brush is fine too. 

Paint

Now, let’s get started. Follow these steps for painting your driveway:

1. Clean your brushes and rollers with white spirit or a paint thinner before you begin.
2. Start by painting where you’ve placed any masking tape. Paint around the edges and any detailed spots first with a paintbrush.
3. Use a paint roller for the rest of the surface and an even application. Begin with one layer of your selected paint. To avoid painting yourself into a corner, it’s best to start at the back and paint towards a place you can easily exit once you’ve finished.
4. Leave your driveway overnight to dry before adding on a second coat of paint, following the same process. 
5. Avoid walking across your driveway for at least 24 hours after it’s been freshly painted. 
6. Store any leftover paint away, ready for any future touch-ups.

Find the Best Driveway Paint With TA Paints

We hope this guide has been helpful and wish you luck with your driveway painting journey. Be sure to check out our selection of driveway paints and application tools to make your painting process even easier.

At TA Paint, we offer a wide range of high-quality paints, primers and coatings for various needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us for any further information and our friendly team will be happy to help.