A lot of homeowners dream of installing hardwood floors in their homes because of their timeless beauty. They look amazing, until they get scratches, nicks, stains. Although hardwood floors can last for several decades, they can look unattractive overtime. Homeowners who would like to do away with the labor and expenses that come with refinishing the floor ends up painting them. Plus, it will help seal up the rickety floor, fill in the cracks, and hide the scars and pitches.
Painting on hardwood floor isn’t easy. This project requires careful planning, especially if the floor has a finish on it. A little preparation is needed if you want the paint to stick.
Here are some tips for painting your hardwood floor.
Prep the surface
Prepping the floor is a must to remove the finish and improve the condition of the flooring. If you don’t do this now, you may see the imperfections on every coat. Sanding is done not just to smooth out the surface, but also to rough it up enough so that the primer will adhere to the surface. Use 150-grit sandpaper for sanding the floor. Then, apply an oil-based primer to seal the surface up tight.
Clean the floor
Thorough sweeping, vacuuming, and damp mopping are needed to get rid of dirt, dust and grime. Also, make sure that the floor is completely dry before you start painting. The primer and paint is likely to bubble up if there is moisture in the floor.
Choose paint color
Light colors are great on wood floors. They reflect more natural light than darker colors. However, we recommend against painting the floors white or black. This will be a risky move. Black can add drama to your living space, but dust and dirt will be very evident. White, on the other hand, will show every dark speck the drops on the floor. Stick with neutral colors to a pale gray for a similar, more practical effect.
Start painting
Paint the entire floor with a base coat. You can use a paint brush or a roller for painting. Some prefer the roller because it’s faster. Others opt for the paint brush because it gives a smoother finish. Wait for at least 24 hours before applying a second coat. This is to ensure that the paint is completely dry. If another coat is needed, leave it overnight before you start painting again.
Stencil painted floors
One of the advantages of painting on wood floors is that it gives you the freedom to do what you want. You can choose a color you want, add patterns etc. There is no end to the creativity. Some people use a combination of colors to create a pattern like stripes, geometric patterns or checkerboards.
You can purchase a clear piece of stencil plastic at the craft store. In case you can’t find the design you have in mind, you can also create one at home.
