Painted Backyard Concrete - Failing after 2.5 years?

[The Critic]

The prior owner of my house painted the backyard cement with a Behr cement paint in the spring/summer of 2018. The paint was already starting to wear in some spots but after my first-time pressure washing it, the painted cement now looks like it is ready for a repaint. A few photos are attached.

My questions are:
1) Is it normal for cement paint to last 2.5 years? The backyard faces north towards open field.

2) Is a Whisper Washer UC and a 3800psi/3.5gpm pressure washer too harsh for painted cement? This is the combination I used for pressure washing.

3) The previous owner left me 2 gallons of Behr cement paint. Should I use this for the repaint or is there a more durable product available? Is there anything I can do to make the next paint job last longer?

 

[skyactiv]

It's a real shame someone decided to paint it in the first place.
I would let the paint fail and remove it.

Also look into nature stone. My parents have a summer house on Lake Erie with Nature Stone on the patio and it has held up for years and looks good. https://www.naturestone.com/

 

[demarpaint]

Unfortunately depending on how it was prepared prior is crucial. I've seen painted concrete last a very long time, and fail in short order. Are there any paint chips around that you can inspect the back of? Typically poorly prepped surfaces, or concrete with a high lime content fails in short order. By looking at the back of the paint chips you can tell if it was dirt, mold, or poorly mixed concrete [or all of the above] that caused the failure. Painting on a hot day in direct sunlight is another formula for disaster. As far as correcting it, I would do a light power wash, allow it to dry and re-coat it. Or leave it alone and let nature take its course, it isn't that bad yet. Aside from that there isn't much you can do unless you can get all of the paint off, to raw concrete, [nearly impossible] then apply a concrete stain. In other words, you are going to be re-coating it a lot, and the more paint you apply the more likely it is going to fail again. I always steer customers away from painting concrete, and suggest they stain it. There's less chance of failure with concrete stain, and it looks very much like paint, but lasts a lot longer. Sorry but I know you didn't want to hear that!.

 

[Slick3914]

As soon as you mentioned Behr, that is one issue. Proper prep is also key with concrete

 

[Donald]

Why do people paint concrete? The pictures do not look bad. I would leave it alone. Let it come off on its own. Then stain it or leave it natural concrete looking.

 

[slo town]

Painted concrete never lasts. I don't care how much you prep it or what product you use. Concrete is like a sponge and absorbs moisture from underneath from the ground side. Long term, nothing sticks to that. Acid-based stains are a better alternative, but it's too late for that now.

Scott

 

[ABN_CBT_ENGR]

Painted concrete never lasts. I don't care how much you prep it or what product you use. Concrete is like a sponge and absorbs moisture from underneath from the ground side. Long term, nothing sticks to that. Acid-based stains are a better alternative, but it's too late for that now.

Ultimately, there's the final answer

 

[PimTac]

Dittos on the stone idea. Pavers or other type of stone will perform much better than concrete.

I would also check that wood post/posts. That doesn’t look proper where it meets the concrete and will be a problem down the road.