You might be an experienced 'do it yourselfer', so you could be tempted to paint your concrete driveway yourself, but do you know what to expect?

Here's what you need to know before painting a driveway.

How much does painting a driveway cost?

If you are planning to paint your driveway yourself, you can expect to pay around $14 to $20 per litre for concrete paint. Add to this the cost of the tools required for your painting project. Your driveway paint should also seal the concrete against water. You can also add your favourite colour and apply a texture as well.

Having your driveway painted by a professional will cost from $30 to $200 per square metre, depending on the type of paint and finish you want. Location and any access difficulties can add to your costs. More complex designs using stencilled concrete or stamped concrete to create patterns and textures will cost more.

Preparation for painting a driveway

Before you begin painting, ensure you find a place where you can park your vehicles for a week or more. Concrete paint requires a week to set, so you should also be sure the weather is going to be fine for the duration of the curing process. Make sure to also take into account any additional features or whether you're using coloured concrete, as this may impact your timeline. 

After you've found a place to park your vehicles, you should cordon off the area you're going to be working in to make sure no one accidentally drives or walks on your driveway. Once that's done, you can get started.

Step by Step Instructions for Painting a driveway.

Clean the driveway

Fix up any minor cracks in the concrete and sweep or pressure clean the driveway to leave a clean surface for painting.

Prime the surface

Mix etch primer as instructed in a bucket of water and scrub the driveway thoroughly using a stiff broom. Wash off the primer after 10 minutes.

Mask the edges

Mask your driveway around the edges and anywhere else you don't want driveway paint to go.

Prepare the first coat

Driveway paint is very thick and the first coat should be thin enough to fill the rough concrete surface. Thin the first coat of driveway paint with turpentine, using 100ml per 1L of paint.

Cut in the edges

Begin by painting the edges ('cutting in') and details of the driveway using a paint brush.

Apply the first coat

Use a roller to apply paint evenly over the rest of the driveway. Leave the paint to cure for at least 16 hours.

Paint the second coat

Apply a second coat of driveway paint. Do not thin this coat. Give the second coat a full week to cure before you start using your driveway.

Should you hire a driveway paint professional?

Of course, our answer is always YES!

Concrete driveway paint today can be very long wearing. Unless you are an expert, you should only use it if you will be happy with a single colour. You could use a stencil kit, but they can be difficult to do yourself and it's very easy to make mistakes. Because stencilling involves using different colours, it will take longer for you to finish the job too.

If you have decided to take on the DIY job, ask yourself if you are really capable and will you be happy with just a single colour.

Getting a quote from a concrete resurfacer costs nothing!

If you think you might prefer a more decorative surface or you want guaranteed results, then hiring a professional concrete painter is definitely the best option.

When discussing your project with a driveway repainting expert, ask for plain colour and stencilled or stamped concrete to help you make your price comparison.

When comparing a professional quote to a DIY project, make sure to price in your DIY supplies and factor in the time it will take you to do a DIY job.

We assure you, when you weigh up everything, you will see why leaving the job to the experts is a smart idea.