Should I Paint That? Painting Concrete Floors
If you live in a home with an unfinished basement, chances are that every time you walk downstairs, you have to encounter your concrete floors. Or heading out into your garage every day you see the smooth concrete of your garage floor. If you’re trying to think of some ways to liven things up a bit, it might have crossed your mind to paint it. Painting your concrete is much cheaper and easier than trying to install another kind of flooring over top of the concrete and, if it’s done well, you can end up with a nice result that won’t be an eyesore. It’s important, however, to make sure that you follow some simple steps to prepare and finish the job to make sure that everything comes out just right. Here’s a quick how-to on painting your concrete floors.
As always, with any project, proper preparation of the materials is key. It’s very important, when painting concrete, to make sure that you are working with a clean and dry surface. First, you want to make sure to remove any residue, old paint splatters, rust, adhesives, or anything that is sticking to your floors. A sharp chisel scraper attached to an extension pole will simplify the job a bit but it’s a matter of scraping across the entire floor to remove anything unwanted. Buildup or debris left on the floor will show up in the finished product if not properly removed so take your time on this step.
Then, it’s a matter of thoroughly cleaning the surface. You will want to wet the floors down and then add a concrete degreaser and get to scrubbing. Location is a big factor in how you approach this step, as indoors vs outdoor floors require different considerations. If you are outside, in your garage for instance, you can simply spray the floors down with a hose, scrub the degreaser in with a stiff push broom, and then rinse again with the hose. Indoors, it’s a little more complicated and you will want to have a wet/dry vacuum to clean up the excess water on the floors as you go, making sure to thoroughly rinse away the degreaser. Once cleaned, your floors have to dry completely before you can proceed. Wet floors will only leave you with a messy finished product.
Lastly, before you finally apply that coat of paint, you will want to make sure that you repair any cracks and remove any crumbled concrete. Brush cracks with a stiff wire brush to clear away and vacuum up any broken down debris and then use a concrete filler on the cracks. Smooth the concrete filler into the cracks with a putty knife and, once it has dried completely. Sand it down with medium-grit sandpaper.
Once the floors are dry (no cutting corners here, completely dry floors are vital to a successful finished product), it’s time for paint and primer. The most important things to consider here are the type of paint and primer you are using. First of all, for your actual paint, you will want to use epoxy paint that will be durable and attractive in the finished project. With that in mind, it’s very important to pick a primer that goes with the epoxy paint. Just remember to paint yourself towards the exit and not into a corner!
Finally, once your epoxy coat is dry, it’s time to seal the paint. There are sealants for indoor or for outdoor use so make sure you pick the right one for the location of your project and also look for one that will be compatible with the epoxy paint you have used. Being careful to select the right materials for the task is a crucial element of having a long-lasting, attractive finished product.
If you follow these instructions carefully, you should have a picture-perfect concrete floor, ready for anything. Of course, not everyone is up to the task of taking on a project like this themselves. If you want to revamp your home but need a hand, make sure you contact PaintPositive to help with all of your painting needs. We are experts in painting in the Northeast Ohio area and we are ready to help transform your space into perfect. Book your free consultation on our website today.
