Can I paint my cement porch or other suggestions?

I was just out on my porch staining my bench and I noticed I have a lot of rust stains, other discolorations on my porch.





I'd love to brick pave it some day to match the back, but we are tight on money right now (who isn't).





Can I paint my porch? If so should I treat it first? How would you suggest I do it?Can I paint my cement porch or other suggestions?
Painting concrete requires a lot of prep. You may want to consider staining. I'm enclosing links to explain each method. Hope this helps.





http://www.buzzle.com/articles/painting-鈥?/a>





http://www.askthebuilder.com/B219_Concre鈥?/a>Can I paint my cement porch or other suggestions?
The harware store has paint especially made for painting on concrete.





Wash it down with a product called TSP or muriatic acid (although follow the directions and use caution with either product) to remove grease and dirt and slightly rough the surface.





You could use an epoxy paint specially made for concrete, or prime it with a stone primer and then paint with concrete paint. It's getting a little late in the year though, depending where you are you may have to be aware of temperature and humidity for outdoor painting.
Yes, you can. And you don't need a pro as long as you do your research.


First, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned. Ideally, pressure washed. Then, you need to use a concrete etching solution. Then you clean off and neutralize the etcher. Then you need to prime so you get good adhesion. Then you just use a paint that's made for concrete. I'm sure the stuff the pros use is more durable than what's available to the public, but if you want to change to pavers later on anyway, doing it yourself will save the labor costs and look good for a while. I don't really know the durability, sorry. But the etching adn priming will make a huge difference. If you skip those steps, the paint will chip off.
Yes. I would hire a professional since you don't even know it's possible to do so...meaning you might really mess it up.
buy a good masonry paint and read the can...drylock is one brand name...