One of the best things about wood floors is the fact that they’re so versatile. When you tire of their current finish or want to change the overall feel of the room, you can simply sand them down and either stain or paint them a different color. A stain is great for changing the overall tone of the wood while allowing the grain to show through. However, sometimes a coat of paint is just what your home needs.
Painting a wooden floor is a multi-step process that must be done correctly, lest you end up with a finish that chips and scratches easily. From choosing the right kind of paint to prepping the floors prior to getting started, everything that you need to know can be found here.
Keep reading to learn more.
Why Paint a Wood Floor?
When it comes to refinishing a wood floor, you have several choices, including paint. Why choose to paint your wood floor over staining it or applying a new clear coat?
Well, there are several reasons, including:
- Your Floorboards Don’t Match: If you have an older home complete with floors that have been patched together over the years, then you more than likely have different shades and types of wood all over the place. The stain won’t make them look cohesive and all one color, but paint will.
- Your Floors Are Damaged: Boards that are filled with gouges, holes, and cracks need to be repaired, but even then, the repair work may show through if you simply stain them. Thankfully, paint is opaque enough to cover everything, effectively hiding any blemishes.
- You Want Your Floors to be a Specific Color: Sometimes, stain just doesn’t cut it. Not when you want a floor that’s very white, very dark, or a color not usually found in nature, such as blue or green. If the vision that you have for your home doesn’t include a natural shade of wood, then paint is the solution to reach for.
There are many other reasons to paint a wood floor beyond these three. In the end, it doesn’t matter why you paint them so much as how you complete the process. After all, you want your newly painted finish to last for a long time without scuffing, chipping, or cracking.
Getting Started
Once you’ve decided to paint your wood floor, it’s time to jump right in. This doesn’t mean that you should clear all of the furniture out of the room, grab a gallon of paint, and begin applying it.
Instead, you need to do everything methodically if you want the best possible outcome. That includes choosing the right paint and having all of the right supplies on hand. You also need to prep the floors so that the paint will adhere.
Choosing the Right Paint
With so many different types of paint on the market, how do you pick the right one? There’s more to this than just selecting the color that you like; the paint also needs to stand up to people and pets walking on it, which means that simple wall paint usually won’t work. You need something stronger than that.
The best paints to use on your wood floor are those, no surprise, made for floors. Look for porch and floor paint with either a latex or oil-based enamel base. Yes, generally, porch and floor paint is made for outdoor use, but you can use it indoors, as it’s designed to hold up well.
Keep in mind that if you choose an oil-based enamel paint, you’ll need to have special solvents on hand to clean the brushes and rollers since it isn’t as easy to clean as latex paints are. And, in addition to the paint, you’ll need a primer. Choose one that goes well with the type of paint and you decide. You shouldn’t mix latex primer with oil-based enamel or vice versa.
What Supplies Do You Need To Paint Wood Floors?
Once you’ve chosen your paint type and colors, as well as your primer, it’s time to gather the rest of your supplies. You’ll need a bucket, mop, and wood floor cleaner, along with painting supplies.
Make sure to pick up some:
- Paint stirrers
- Brushes
- Paint rollers
- A paint tray or two
- Sanding supplies
- Blue painter’s tape
Also, don’t forget those necessary protective items, such as masks, if you choose to go with enamel paint. You’ll also need masks for the sanding process.
Prepping Your Floors
Next, you need to prep the floors. If you leave them full of dirt, dust, and debris, then the paint won’t stick. The same is true if you fail to remove the existing stain and finish. It might be too slick for the paint to properly adhere.
Start by removing all of the furniture and additional items, like paintings and curtains. If dust from sanding might stick to and damage the object, then remove it entirely. This part of the process is messy. Then, sand the floor completely so that the entire outer finish is removed.
You should be left with bare wood when you’re done. 100-grit sandpaper will work well. Note that you may need to rent an orbital floor sander if you have a large patch of floor to clear.
After sanding, clean the floors with a wood floor cleaner, using the mop and bucket. The goal is to remove any remaining dirt and debris, as well as the dust left behind by the sanding. Sweep the floor with a broom and dustpan, and then clean the floor thoroughly.
Wait for the floor to dry completely (this may take a few hours) before moving on to the next step. Otherwise, the primer may not adhere properly, making the whole process more tedious than it needs to be.
The Painting Process
The fun begins once the prep work is done. Yes, now it’s time to apply the paint to your wood floor and watch your overall vision unfold. The painting process begins with applying a good primer, and then, once that dries, using a paint roller or brush to apply the paint. Make sure to allow every layer to dry before adding another.
Another thing to note is safety. You’ll need plenty of ventilation and airflow while priming and painting your floors, especially if you’ve chosen an oil-based enamel paint. Open the windows and wear a mask, if necessary, to avoid breathing in the paint fumes. They can make you sick, so be as careful as possible.
Priming Your Floors
Before you begin, there may be some secrets to painting your floor successfully that you’ll want to know. Use a roller or brush to apply the primer. Start in the outermost corner and work towards the exit, otherwise, you may find yourself stuck in the room.
Apply a thin layer of primer to the entire floor before allowing it to dry. You may have to use more than one coat in order to prepare the surface for the paint.
Once that first layer dries, if you notice any spots that seem thinner than the others, allowing more of the wood grain to show through, you can apply the primer in those areas alone. However, you may find yourself putting more than one whole layer down.
It all depends on the final color that you’ve chosen for your floors (darker colors cover more, so they may only need one coat of primer) and how dark the wood is to begin with. For example, if you chose a lighter paint color for a darker wood floor, then you’ll need more than one coat of primer to get the results that you want.
Applying the Paint
After the primer dries entirely, it’s time to get that paint out. Start in one corner, much like you did for the primer, and apply thin coats to the entire floor. You’ll probably need more than one coat of paint, depending on your desired results. So, allow the paint to dry completely before starting on that next coat.
Once your floor dries to your desired color, it’s time to move on to the next step: applying a protective layer to keep the paint in good shape.
Adding Those Finishing Touches
When it comes to picking a topcoat or sealer for your newly painted floor, you have several decisions to make. If you want the floor to be matte, then go for a flat finish. On the other hand, you can pick a floor sealer that’s shiny, giving the finished product a lovely sheen. It all comes down to your preferences.
Another thing to keep in mind is the type of paint that you used. You want a sealer that won’t disagree with your paint. An acrylic polyurethane is very universal, so a clear version of it that’s designed for floors will work well. Apply your sealer or topcoat much as you did your paint.
Painting Your Wood Floors is a Win-Win
As you can see, painting your wood floor with the help of Hardwood Bargains can be time-consuming, but the end result is well worth the wait. While it is work-intensive and full of important steps that need to be given consideration, in the end, your newly painted floor will be the gorgeous masterpiece you’ve been envisioning.
Sources:
How to Paint a Wood Floor | Bob Vila
