A freshly painted driveway not only looks great, but also adds durability and protection to your concrete. White Knight Ultra Pave® is designed to make the job achievable for DIYers, with products tailored for different surfaces and conditions. Follow this step-by-step guide to get the best results.
Step 1: Choose Your Colour
White Knight Ultra Pave® can be tinted into thousands of colours to suit your home.
- Explore popular colours on the White Knight website.
- Pick a shade from the Taubmans colour wall.
- Or, create your own with the Coloursmith app.
Note: Colours requiring a neutral base aren’t available in the Ultra Pave range.
Step 2: Prepare Your Surface
Good preparation is the key to a long-lasting finish.
- Clean thoroughly: Remove dirt, moss, grease, and other contaminants.
- Remove oil stains: Hot water, detergent, and a stiff brush works for fresh stains. Use a degreaser for stubborn marks.
- Repair damaged concrete: Replace or fix unsound areas, and remove loose concrete with scraping, grinding, wire brushing, sanding, or high-pressure water blasting.
- New concrete: Allow 4–12 weeks curing before painting.
- Previously painted surfaces: Strip away any loose or flaking paint.
- Etching: Bare, smooth concrete must be etched to help paint grip. After etching, wash with strong detergent, rinse well, and allow the surface to dry completely.
Step 3: Pick the Right Ultra Pave® Product
Ultra Pave® comes in different formulations depending on where you’re painting:
- Quick Dry – Fast drying acrylic (water clean-up), ideal for paths, patios, courtyards, steps, and quick-turnaround projects.
- Heavy Duty – Oil-based, tough and scuff-resistant (turps clean-up), perfect for garage floors, non-sloping driveways, and carports.
- Garage Floor Primer + Quick Dry – For garage floors where hot tyre resistance is critical.
- Clear Sealer – A protective wet-look finish for stamped or stenciled concrete and pebblecrete.
For extra safety, add Ultra Pave® Topcoat Grip Additive to improve slip resistance.
Step 4: Etch the Surface
Etching helps paint adhere properly:
- Dissolve 1 tub of Ultra Pave Concrete Etcher into 10L of clean water.
- Pour over the surface with a plastic watering can.
- Scrub in with a stiff bristle broom.
- Rinse thoroughly and let dry.
Step 5: Paint and Grip – Application Guide
The steps vary depending on your surface:
Paths, Patios, Courtyards, Concrete Steps (Quick Dry)
- Stir paint well.
- Thin first coat with 20% water.
- Cut in edges with a brush, roll the rest.
- Wait 2 hours, then apply second coat.
- Mix Grip Additive into second coat if desired.
- Allow 7 days before heavy traffic.
Garage Floors, Non-Sloping Driveways, Carports (Heavy Duty)
- Stir paint well.
- Thin first coat with 10% mineral turpentine.
- Apply with brush/roller.
- Wait 16 hours before second coat.
- Add Grip Additive to second coat if desired.
- Allow 7 days before heavy traffic.
Garage Floors – Quick Dry System (with Primer)
- Apply 1 coat of Ultra Pave Garage Floor Primer.
- Wait 2 hours, then apply first coat of Quick Dry.
- Apply second coat after another 2 hours.
- Add Grip Additive to second coat if desired.
- Allow 7 days before heavy traffic.
Touch Ups & Previously Painted Surfaces
- Use Heavy Duty (semi-gloss, oil-based, 16 hours between coats) or Quick Dry (satin, water-based, 2 hours between coats).
- Always finish with Grip Additive in the second coat if you want slip resistance.
Stamped/Stenciled Concrete or Pebblecrete (Clear Sealer)
- Stir sealer thoroughly.
- Thin first coat with 20–30% White Knight Rust Guard® Solvent.
- Apply with brush and roller.
- Wait 2 hours, then apply second coat.
- Allow 72 hours before heavy traffic.
Step 6: Aftercare & FAQs
- Traffic/parking: Wait 7 days before heavy use (or 72 hours for Clear Sealer).
- Why etch? It creates a rough surface for paint to bond—pressure washing alone isn’t enough.
- Do I always need primer? Only required when using Quick Dry on garage floors.
- Quick Dry vs Heavy Duty: Quick Dry is water-based (satin), Heavy Duty is oil-based (semi-gloss).
- Dark colours: Available in bases like Medium Grey, which can be tinted to Monument® or Woodland Grey®.
- Sealer: Only needed on stamped/stenciled concrete or pebblecrete.
Final Tips
- Always check the weather before you start—avoid damp or rainy conditions.
- Follow pack instructions carefully for mixing, safety, and clean-up.
- Plan ahead—once you start, the job works best when done in one go.
With the right prep and White Knight Ultra Pave®, your driveway will look fresh, durable, and ready to handle daily life.