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 A fresh coat of ceiling paint can brighten a room
making it look bigger, while a little color on the walls can
transform a room into an oasis the whole family will love.
Paint can also do wonders for the service under your feet. A little
paint on the worn out wood, boring concrete, or faded vinyl flooring
can reflect a touch of personality pretty inexpensively.
Of course, painting a floor is not always a quick fix and if not
done properly won’t last long. But, if you’re willing to do the
research and roll up your sleeves, painting the floor leaves you
with limitless possibilities for adding beauty to your home.
There are a few things to consider before you decide to paint a
floor:
1. How long will it take to paint the floor? Painting a floor is not
a quick project. The prep work alone can take hours, even days.
Cleaning, sanding, and repairing damaged flooring may take awhile,
but will be totally worth it once the floor is ready to paint.
Several thin layers of paint applied every couple of hours will make
for a better finish than a heavy coat applied once or twice.
2. Is the area a high traffic area? High traffic areas may need a
little extra TLC before painting. Consult your paint dealer, there
maybe clear top coatings that provided added protection. For some
painting high traffic areas is not a good idea because no matter how
careful you are, wear and tear will break down the paint and
maintenance will be necessary to keep the floors looking nice.
3. What is the best design for painting the floor? If the walls are
a light color, paint the floor a light color to make the room look
larger. Don’t, however, shy away from dark colors on the floor.
Choosing a darker color than the wall can add drama to the room. Use
painters tape or stencils to create checkerboards, patterns,
borders, stripes, or painted rugs.
4. What is the best paint to use on the floors? Be sure to consider
the surface of the floor, as not all paint is suitable for all
floors.
For wood floors, the best type of paint to use is a latex or acrylic
enamel wood paint. Plan to seal the paint for an essential layer of
protection (follow manufacturers recommendations.)
For high traffic areas an oil-based paint might stand up to foot
traffic better than other paint.
Concrete floors should be prepped with a floor primer so the paint
has something to bond to. Epoxy paint is the most durable. While not
necessarily green on the environmental scale, epoxy will withstand
significant amounts of abuse. The best paint for a vinyl floor is
water-based 100 percent acrylic paint.
5. What is the best way to take care of painted floors? Use water
based products on the painted floors but do not saturate the floor
with water (again follow manufacturers instructions.) Wipe up small
spills as soon as possible with non abrasive cleaners. Some polishes
and cleaners are harsh on any floor, leaving a residue that is hard
to remove. These abrasive cleaners may strip the paint from the
floor. Do not use a wax floor cleaner. Even with gentle cleaning, an
occasional touch up of paint may be necessary to keep the floor
looking fresh.
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 6. What supplies do I need to paint the floors?
Youtube video -
https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=3ySlCW-T498
When you decide you’re ready to paint the floor, the decorative
possibilities are only limited by your imagination. The hardest part
is sectioning off the patterns with painters tape, dampen the
painters tape after it is in place to seal edges, and exercise
patience in letting the paint dry completely before moving on to the
next section.
A painted medallion can enhance the beauty of the floor without
covering the whole floor. An interwoven design on a concrete floor
or a large brick design can make the floor look less cold and more
inviting. A rug on a porch or staircase may not work very well, but
painting a rug can be long lasting. Cover scratched floors with a
large floral design. Large-scale geometric designs make a small
space look bigger. Consider a geometric design on a wood floor:
Youtube video -
https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=BrHp3s1ldP4
Or, how about stenciling a concrete floor:
Youtube video -
https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=F_WMxsatzhg
And, don’t forget you can paint a vinyl floor too:
Youtube video -
https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=lLW-LqemOl0
Painting can be tricky but, if you’re feeling patient, ready to
work. and have the creative juices flowing, the possibilities for
painting a floor, whether wood, concrete, or vinyl are limitless.
For a maximum remodel with minimal resources, you can’t beat paint!
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