Painting Concrete Floors
by Pamela Cole Harris
Description: Tips on painting concrete floors in your home.
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The first time I saw a painted concrete floor, I was amazed! It
was beautiful! It is the perfect solution for an inexpensive
floor that will last and last. If you want to try this
money-saving technique in your home, here's how (but I warn
you, this is not a one-weekend project!)
1. If your floor is inside the house, do a little checking
before you decide to paint your floor. Is the concrete damp?
Are there puddles? (If so, then you have a larger problem than
an ugly floor!) If so, contact a professional to take care of
the water seepage problem. Let the concrete dry thoroughly
before painting (this may take a l-o-n-n-n-n-n-n-g time!)
2. Thoroughly clean the concrete. If there is any grease on the
floor (what have you been DOING in this room?), you must
remove it before painting or the paint won't stick. To
remove grease, put down cat litter to absorb the majority
of oil, then scrub again with Goof Off. Then mix up a bucket
of TSP and scrub the floor, rinsing several times, until your
mop is clean (I didn't say this would be easy, did I?). Wait
at least three days for the floor to dry.
3. Sand off any paint (have you done this before?) or bumpy
stuff (such as glue or paint residue) with a hand sander and
80-grit sandpaper. Vacuum well. Go over the floor with a tack
cloth (a sticky cheesecloth available at any hardware or home
improvement store).
4. Use Cement Fixall to repair any cracks and holes, then let
it dry completely.
5. Now we begin the painting process. Roll on two coats of Kilz
primer and stain blocker. Let dry between coats.
6. Use a roller or a paint compressor, if you have one, to paint
on at least two coats of a good latex flat paint. (Don't
settle for the cheap stuff for this project!)
7. Now for the creative stuff! Use your imagination to come up
with geometric shapes, the look of faux tile, faux stone, or
even a faux yellow brick road! Let dry completely!
8. Roll on two coats of Breakthrough sealer with a 1/4" nap
roller. You will need a respirator mask for this (cough!
cough!). Let dry.
Now you have a beautiful concrete floor - indestructible and
colorful! I just have one more tip - lay some nice soft rugs
around, especially in the wintertime! Your floor may be
marvelous, but it will be cold on those tender toes!
Pamela Cole Harris is an editor, writer and eco-decorator
with over 35 years experience. Her website,
http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com is full of her unique
decorating ideas and "how-to"s. Her new book, "100+ Wildly
Imaginative Ideas for Creating Your Own Coffee Table - a
Handbook for the Creatively Deficient Decorator " is available
through her website or at http://www.lulu.com/pamelacoleharris.
Related articles:
Softening Your Walls with Color Wash
Decorating Walls With Stencils
Decorating with Sponge Painting
