The Easy Way To Paint A Concrete Floor
All the homeowners who like to indulge in some kind of a DIY project or the other are keen to know how to go ahead with the painting of a concrete floor. Painting of concrete floor has a dual purpose. In the first place it goes to increase the life of your floor by providing protection from normal wear and tear. And, it adds color to the otherwise dull and drab concrete.
Whatever treatment you might like to give your floor, its preparation is of paramount importance. You can ill afford to overlook preparation, lest the results be highly unsatisfactory. Preparation, of course calls for use of proper tools. Painting of concrete though very interesting project is quite time consuming and one should be prepared for that.
Before going ahead, you would do well to take certain measures. You need to ensure that the room you decide to paint is well ventilated. Ventilation not only helps the process of drying up of paint, but also is also vital for the safety of your eyes and lungs that may get affected otherwise. Having thus prepared yourself, it’s time to prepare the floor to be painted. It has to be cleaned thoroughly. If need be, use de-greaser to get rid of stains. Likewise, small holes on the floor need to be filled up.
On the face of it, painting of floors may look a simple job, but it is not really so. For instance, the floor has to be free of all curing compounds, which may not facilitate proper adherence of paint on the floor. Another precaution that one must take is to remove any moisture content on the floor. At the end of it all, the texture of the floor should give the feel of a medium sand paper. If it is harder, the paint may not stick to it and acid etching has to be done.
Here are some basics. Buy sufficient volume of paint, as you are required to apply many coats. You’ll also need a primer and a sealer. Make sure to stir the paint before using it. You’ll also need a paintbrush and a roller for application of paint. The application of paint is much easier and not so tiring with a roller. The brush may be used for applying paint around the edges or areas around poles, and vents or other such objects that have been embedded in the floor. It is helpful to first paint such areas.
Painting of concrete floors needs the right kind of paint. Epoxy-based paints are great. However, if you like to save the floor from chemical spills, as in the case of a garage, it would be good to consider glossy finishing. Further, you have to opt for a color that best suits the present color of walls, unless you decide to repaint those as well.
Now, let’s come to the tricks and techniques for getting the best results. You should start by working in four-foot sections and don’t start from a corner. Use long and smooth strokes. However, before you start applying the paint, make sure that the primer is absolutely dry. Similarly, while applying the sealer, see that the paint has dried up completely.
There is no doubt that painting of concrete floors in the basement, garage or another area of your home is very time consuming but you should not ignore the fact that such an effort adds value to your place. Having painted the floor, it’s desirable to be covering it mats or rugs, especially the areas susceptible to stains and leaks. Such coverings provide a protective cover to the paint. A painted concrete floor certainly imparts good looks to it while adding to the value of your property.
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3 Responses to “The Easy Way To Paint A Concrete Floor”
Great info on epoxy concrete floor coating, you can get epoxy paint anywhere, in stores or online. Best bet is to get it Factory direct – its usually cheaper with good quality, depending on the brand.
By Concrete Floor Coatings on Feb 24, 2010
I must comment that this was a really good blog! I have been doing concrete floor finishes for a long time, but I learned a couple of things!
By Edgar Anne on Jun 12, 2010
Question – Can you put an epoxy primer and paint (such as Rustoleums) on top of a basement floor that has already been painted? We have a concrete basement floor with one layer of cut back adhsevie covered with a thin layer of paint. We can’t remove the paint without exposing the adhesive and are looking at epoxy as an option to cover and seal the previous layers. Thanks for any advice!
By Jen on Jul 8, 2010