How To Paint over Flex Seal? (Paintable & Non-Paintable)

You can paint over some Flex Seal types, but you can’t paint over some other types.

The Flex Seal products you can paint over include Flex Seal Spray, Glue, and Paste. These products aren’t designed to be the final coating, so you can apply paint over them.

The Flex-Seal products you can’t paint over include Flex Seal Liquid and Shot. These products form a waterproof coating that prevent paint penetration.

Is Flex Seal Paintable?

Some flex seal types are paintable while other types aren’t because they are designed to be the final coat.

You can paint over the following Flex seal types.

1. Flex Seal Spray.
2. Flex Seal Glue.
3. Flex Seal Paste.
4. Flex Seal Tape (You can only use flex seal spray over it).

You can’t paint over the following types.

1. Flex Seal Liquid.
2. Flex Seal Shot.

Flex Seal is a brand known for its rubber sealants and coating products that create a waterproof layer over different surfaces. Its products are used to seal painting surfaces, leaks, gaps, and cracks by preventing water penetration.

Since Flex Seal products create a waterproof layer (barrier) it’s harder to paint over them as paint can’t penetrate their coating. Some Flex Seal products are designed to be painted over, while some aren’t.

For instance, you can paint over Flex Seal glue as it’s designed to join cracked materials together but not be the final coating. It’s designed with pores so the paint can penetrate and adhere to it.

You can’t paint over Flex Seal Liquid or Shot as they are sealants used to seal different surfaces and are non-porous. They are designed to be the final coat and won’t absorb paint.

Related Read: Flex Seal Dry Time

What Paint Types To Apply over Flex Seal?

You can apply any paint type over a paintable Flex seal. The main paint types to use over Flex Seal are listed below.

Urethane

You can apply urethane paints (or sealers) over a paintable Flex seal. The urethane paint will protect the Flex seal from scratches, damages, or moisture.

Urethane paint forms a plastic-like waterproof coating when dry that protects everything under it.

Acrylic Latex

You can apply acrylic paint over a paintable Flex seal to change its color. Acrylic latex is a water-based paint known for its high paint pigment volume that changes the surface color shade.

Zinsser Primer

You can apply Zinsser primer over paintable Flex seal products before painting over them. The Zinsser primer has better adhesive qualities and will form a textured layer that paint can penetrate or adhere to.

How To Paint Over Paintable Flex Seal Products?

To paint over paintable Flex Seal products, do the following things.

1. Clean the Surface. You must clean the surface to remove dirt, dust, and debris that can prevent paint penetration. To clean the surface, use warm soapy water.
2. Use Sandpaper. Fine-grit sandpaper (220-grit) abrades the Flex seal, removes surface imperfections, and helps the paint penetrate and adhere better.
3. Remove Dust. After sanding, remove dust.
4. Apply Primer. A primer coating covers the Flex Seal product and creates a textured layer that the paint can penetrate and adhere to. The paint will adhere over the primer coating instead of the Flex Seal product.
5. Apply the Paint. Apply 2-3 paint coats with a paint sprayer, roller, or brush.
6. Seal the Finish. If needed apply two polyurethane or Flex Seal coating over the new paint finish to protect it.

Should You Paint Over a Non-Paintable Flex Seal?

You shouldn’t paint over non-paint Flex seal directly as the paint won’t adhere and can create a sticky or tacky finish. Since the paint can’t adhere, it remains wet or sticky for several days until it peels off or turns semi-solid.

Non-paintable Flex seals have silicone compounds that make their coating waterproof and prevent paint penetration. Since paints can’t penetrate a waterproof coating, they won’t adhere and will peel off.

However, you can paint over a non-paintable Flex seal if you can manually remove it or create tiny pores (holes) where paint can penetrate and adhere.

How To Paint Over Non-Paintable Flex Seal Products?

To paint over non-paintable Flex Seal products, do the following things.

1. Scrape the Flex Seal. Use a paint scraper or a sharp object to remove the Flex seal manually.
2. Use Sandpaper. A medium-grit sandpaper (100-grit) will remove the leftover Flex Seal from the surface. Use fine-grit sandpaper (220-grit) to even the surface and remove imperfections.
3. Clean the Surface. Use warm soapy water to clean the surface and remove dust.
4. Apply Primer.
5. Apply the Paint.

Scraping or manually removing non-paintable Flex Seal products is important as the paint won’t adhere to it.

Can You Change the Flex Seal Color?

You can change the Flex seal color by using a Flex seal color spray. The color spray is an aerosol sprayer that seals materials with a colored paste and is compatible with other Flex seal products. It comes with 12 color variations.

To change the Flex Seal color, do the following things.

1. Use a Flex Seal Color Spray.
2. Spray Two (2) Coats.
3. Allow it to naturally dry.

The sprayer seals the surface cracks and holes and adds a new color to it.

Can You Apply Wood Stain Over Flex Seal?

You can’t apply wood stain over flex seal as the stain must penetrate a surface to adhere. Since most Flex seal products don’t allow penetration, the wood stain won’t adhere to them.

Wood stains are designed for porous surfaces as they can penetrate the surface pores deeply and adhere to them. But, if a surface or coating doesn’t allow penetration, wood stain can’t adhere over it and will peel off if applied.

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