How To Paint Floors

Looking to transform a room on a budget? Is your building needing a refresh for 2020? Painting a floor can dramatically impact the look and feel of a space, and there’s no better time to do it than over the holiday season. With a little preparation and our step-by-step guide, you can have a new look for the new year.

Painting floors, it’s a messy business but someone’s got to do it. Whether you're tackling a DIY project or a last-minute client, successfully painting a floor comes down to preparation. Taking the time at the beginning to prep your surface will prevent slip ups later on. 

Step One: Test Your Surface

Check if your floor is suitable to paint. If you have good existing floorboards that aren’t nice enough to varnish or stain, paint can be a wonderful way to give them a new lease of life. Existing hardwood floors are easily painted, but it’s recommended you do a surface test first. Certain interior flooring such as concrete requires a latex or oil-based floor paint, while laminate floors like linoleum, vinyl flooring etc. might not accept paint at all. For this reason, using a sample slat or painting a small section in advance, and watching for any reactions, is recommended. Lastly, if your floor has an existing finish, a compatibility test needs to be carried out, in the case of lifting, wrinkling etc. the previous finish will need to be removed.

Step Two: Preparation

After you’ve completed all relevant tests, it’s time to start preparing your area and surface for paint. Whatever area of the home or building you’re painting, first ensure that it is well ventilated. Good ventilation will protect you from fume inhalation and will cut down your drying time.

For best results, it’s necessary to prep your surface. Start by scuffing your hardwood, painted or laminated floor with grit paper, to ensure maximum adherence. Follow by vacuuming up any dust and removing any contaminates with TSP (trisodium phosphate) and water. Caution is advised for any floors painted prior to 1970, in the case of the paint containing lead, a process of safe removal is required.

Step Three: Pick Your Paint

Now that your surface is prepped and you’ve allowed adequate drying time, it’s time to pick your paint. The Paint Shed stocks a variety of floor paint including Macpherson, Coo-Var, Armstead Trade and Dulux Trade, with a broad array of shades available. When choosing the shade, it’s important to bear in mind the size of the room and your desired look and feel. Light colours tend to reflect more light, so they are perfect for making a small room appear larger. While darker colours can create a cosy and comforting feel in larger rooms. Shop the The Paint Shed today for a wide selection of each.

Step Four: Paint

Before painting it’s important to check whether a primer is necessary. While some floor paints are considered to be self priming, others require a priming layer. Allow adequate drying time if a primer is needed. After that, all you need to do now is clear your surface of any obstructions and you’re ready to paint. For best results, use a roller affixed to an extension pole, gliding the paint consistently in one direction.Try to apply quickly for a smooth, clean finish.To load the roller first dampen it, then use a thinner if required. Load the tray halfway with paint and saturate the roller by rolling it up and down the pan. Try not to overload the roller with paint, and line your tray with a roller tray liner for easy clean up. 

Once your finished, take some time to properly clean your brushes and rollers. With adequate cleaning, good painting tools can be reused many times. Store your equipment and any leftover paint in a safe room temperature environment for future use. Finally, don’t forget to celebrate! You’ve done it, you’ve successfully transformed your room.