Best Paint to Choose to Paint Floors
Painting the floor of your home is a great way to fix damage and renew the look of your floor. The best paint to choose to paint floors will depend on the type of floor and the space it is in. Nearly any type of floor can be painted, including wood, ceramic tile, concrete, and vinyl. The following will help you understand some of the different paints you can use for your flooring type.
Painting Wood Flooring
Natural wood flooring and decking that has not been previously painted should be stained. Use a penetrating stain for this application. If the wood is exposed to the weather, make sure the stain has a weatherproofing additive or water sealer to prevent the wood from warping. Pressure treated lumber needs to be finished to protect it. Additionally, horizontal surfaces really take a beating from the sun. UV protection is available in some products. Keep in mind that wood surfaces will need to be refinished every few years. Also painted wood is very slick, so consider adding a non-skid aggregate or placing a runner on the steps and at the entrance.
Paint can also be used on wood floors. Make sure the paint is either a two-part epoxy paint or at least epoxy reinforced. Floors take a beating and need a paint coating with extra durability.
Painting Tile or Vinyl Floors
If you are painting a ceramic tile floor, the key is to get the tile as clean as possible. You should use a slightly abrasive cleaner and then plan to apply a shellac or oil based primer. You can use either a semi-gloss or alkyd (oil-based) paint for your ceramic tile. After several days of curing, make sure you apply several coats water-based urethane floor finish. Vinyl tile is a little different. You must remove the sealant on the vinyl in preparation or the paint will not stick. The best paint for vinyl tile is oil-based enamel paint. You will also want to seal the tile after you are finished. Make sure your clear finish is compatible with the paint you purchased.
Painting Cement Floors
Cracking and chipping are two of the most common problems with painting cement floors. If you choose to seal the floor with paint you should choose one that suits your needs and will last for a long time. The best paint for a cement floor - either basement or garage - is a two-part epoxy floor paint. Epoxy paint will seal the cement and withstand impact and abrasion to prevent the cracking and chipping. True epoxies are two-part meaning that they dry via a chemical process. Once you mix the catalyst into the resin, you have a limited amount of time before the paint hardens regardless of whether the lid is on or not. Sealing the flooring will also help to prevent the accumulation of dust on the floors and make the garage look better. It will also prevent oil and other spills from absorbing into the floor making clean up much easier. The prevention of these leaks will keep your cement looking great and can even increase the value of your home if you are going to sell it. If you choose to use a paint that is not an epoxy it may seal the floor, but it will be far less durable and not last as long. The paint will start to chip and peel, and will not give your floor the look you want, nor will it provide the preventative care you are looking for. If needed, a coarse additive similar to sand can be added to make the surface less slick. Epoxies also often come with a fleck aggregate that can be thrown over the final coat before it dries. This is helpful in areas where the floor might get wet and people might fall. Newer concrete floors also have a water barrier that makes them look great painted and will resist peeling.
Staining Cement Floors
Staining a cement floor is an alternative to using an epoxy solution. The stain can last for years and serve to solve many of the same problems that an epoxy would serve. The acid in chemical stains opens the top surface of the concrete, allowing metallic salts to reach the free lime deposits. Water from the stain solution then fuels the reaction, usually for about a month after the stain has been applied.
Preparing the Floor to Paint
The floor should be removed of all paint. There are a couple of different ways of doing this: Using a chemical to assist in stripping the floor or surface and scraping it up for removal. If you are using chemicals you should use gloves. The chemicals should not come in contact with your skin as it can cause irritations and potentially burn your skin. Using a floor sander to clear the entire floor is often faster and easier than using a chemical, however the residue left after sanding has to be cleaned up. This dust is also very fine and may be dangerous if inhaled, so take precautions to avoid this. If the area is not painted, then the floor should be cleared of obstacles and should then be pressure washed to remove any chemicals that would be left. You should only paint in an area that is very well ventilated and use protective masks. The masks can keep vapors and dust out of your nose and mouth.
Natural wood flooring and decking that has not been previously painted should be stained. Use a penetrating stain for this application. If the wood is exposed to the weather, make sure the stain has a weatherproofing additive or water sealer to prevent the wood from warping. Pressure treated lumber needs to be finished to protect it. Additionally, horizontal surfaces really take a beating from the sun. UV protection is available in some products. Keep in mind that wood surfaces will need to be refinished every few years. Also painted wood is very slick, so consider adding a non-skid aggregate or placing a runner on the steps and at the entrance.
Paint can also be used on wood floors. Make sure the paint is either a two-part epoxy paint or at least epoxy reinforced. Floors take a beating and need a paint coating with extra durability.
Painting Tile or Vinyl Floors
If you are painting a ceramic tile floor, the key is to get the tile as clean as possible. You should use a slightly abrasive cleaner and then plan to apply a shellac or oil based primer. You can use either a semi-gloss or alkyd (oil-based) paint for your ceramic tile. After several days of curing, make sure you apply several coats water-based urethane floor finish. Vinyl tile is a little different. You must remove the sealant on the vinyl in preparation or the paint will not stick. The best paint for vinyl tile is oil-based enamel paint. You will also want to seal the tile after you are finished. Make sure your clear finish is compatible with the paint you purchased.
Painting Cement Floors
Cracking and chipping are two of the most common problems with painting cement floors. If you choose to seal the floor with paint you should choose one that suits your needs and will last for a long time. The best paint for a cement floor - either basement or garage - is a two-part epoxy floor paint. Epoxy paint will seal the cement and withstand impact and abrasion to prevent the cracking and chipping. True epoxies are two-part meaning that they dry via a chemical process. Once you mix the catalyst into the resin, you have a limited amount of time before the paint hardens regardless of whether the lid is on or not. Sealing the flooring will also help to prevent the accumulation of dust on the floors and make the garage look better. It will also prevent oil and other spills from absorbing into the floor making clean up much easier. The prevention of these leaks will keep your cement looking great and can even increase the value of your home if you are going to sell it. If you choose to use a paint that is not an epoxy it may seal the floor, but it will be far less durable and not last as long. The paint will start to chip and peel, and will not give your floor the look you want, nor will it provide the preventative care you are looking for. If needed, a coarse additive similar to sand can be added to make the surface less slick. Epoxies also often come with a fleck aggregate that can be thrown over the final coat before it dries. This is helpful in areas where the floor might get wet and people might fall. Newer concrete floors also have a water barrier that makes them look great painted and will resist peeling.
Staining Cement Floors
Staining a cement floor is an alternative to using an epoxy solution. The stain can last for years and serve to solve many of the same problems that an epoxy would serve. The acid in chemical stains opens the top surface of the concrete, allowing metallic salts to reach the free lime deposits. Water from the stain solution then fuels the reaction, usually for about a month after the stain has been applied.
Preparing the Floor to Paint
The floor should be removed of all paint. There are a couple of different ways of doing this: Using a chemical to assist in stripping the floor or surface and scraping it up for removal. If you are using chemicals you should use gloves. The chemicals should not come in contact with your skin as it can cause irritations and potentially burn your skin. Using a floor sander to clear the entire floor is often faster and easier than using a chemical, however the residue left after sanding has to be cleaned up. This dust is also very fine and may be dangerous if inhaled, so take precautions to avoid this. If the area is not painted, then the floor should be cleared of obstacles and should then be pressure washed to remove any chemicals that would be left. You should only paint in an area that is very well ventilated and use protective masks. The masks can keep vapors and dust out of your nose and mouth.
Sealing any surface can keep it in shape and prevent it from getting ruined and looking bad, thus protecting your investment. This simple task can add value and good looks to your property. Consult a professional painting contractor or the personnel at your local paint supply or hardware store for help selecting the best product for your needs.
The proper preparation and application of a floor requires a lot of labor. If you want to save yourself the effort and ensure it gets done right, it may be wise to consult a professional painting contractor. Be sure to check out our directory of qualified painting contractors in your area. All you have to do is add your info into the yellow search box at the top of the page.