Exposed concrete in car parks, plant rooms and undercroft areas takes staining, dust and slow structural movement that a standard emulsion was never designed to handle. Getting the preparation and coating type right here is about longevity as much as appearance.
New concrete continues to cure and release moisture for a long time after it looks and feels dry, and coating it too early traps that moisture behind the film. Testing rather than assuming is the only reliable way to know when a soffit is ready.
White powdery efflorescence and old water staining both need addressing before coating, since painting directly over them either traps the salts to reappear later or simply seals the stain in permanently under a fresh finish.
Structural movement joints in soffits and columns must remain flexible after coating, so they are treated separately with an appropriate flexible sealant rather than bridged over with the same rigid coating used on the surrounding concrete.
It depends on curing conditions and thickness, so we test moisture content rather than working to a single fixed timescale.
That is efflorescence, salts carried to the surface by moisture. It needs brushing off and the moisture source understood before coating goes ahead.
No — they are detailed separately with a flexible sealant so the joint keeps working after the surrounding concrete is coated.
Send details of the structure and its age and we will advise on testing before any coating specification.
Concrete soffits and columns need moisture testing and joint detailing, not just a coat of paint over the surface.
Speak to a Hampshire commercial decorating contractor that turns up, communicates clearly and delivers a finish that lasts.
