Floor paint gives the opportunity to consolidate the resistance of the current support. Painting also makes it possible to embellish and enhance interior or exterior floors, whether they are made of wood, tiles or cement. It can also be used for garage, cellar and staircase floors. The technique, the steps of the preparation of the painting as well as the way of painting the floor differ from those of the wall. Painting especially for the floor is used very little because tiling is often favoured. However, it has many advantages over traditional floor coverings such as tiles. Painting the floor is common if you follow exactly all the steps of the preparation and do not neglect the quality of the paint. For this reason, it is important to consult professionals before buying the products.
The different types of floor paints
There are different types of floor paints. Concrete or cement floor paint provides the means to actively protect the exterior floor. Epoxy paint is a resin-based paint that is applied to the cement floor on a screed or even on exterior or interior tiles. It can be applied as an undercoat and contains a self-smoothing and resistant power to mask various irregularities. It gives an ornamental mirror appearance after application. This paint is resistant to daily cleaning and hot car tyres and can also be applied to slab cement and screeds. Outdoor floor paint fights against storms, rain and cold. The paint for the terrace is also resistant to the sun, UV rays and strong heat. The interior floor paint gives the possibility to preserve the state of the ground. The colour of the paint is very varied and suitable for interior decoration.
The steps of the floor preparation
The floor paint must be chosen carefully, as it is more delicate than the wall paint. About new cement, it must be dry before painting. Therefore, you must wait 3 to 4 weeks, otherwise there is a threat of paint peeling or a lack of adhesion. For a tile paint, the tiles must be clean and in good condition. Epoxy tile paint is used to make the anti-slip coating resistant to moisture, dirt and daily cleaning. The paint is immediately applied to the tiles and will give an amber and shiny appearance. The removal of traces such as glue or mortar is essential before any painting work with a wire brush or spatula. Liquid floor degreaser is used to thoroughly clean the floor. Filling cracks and crevices is also important. Repair mortar is recommended to homogenize the fillings and increase the strength of the work.
How do I paint the floor?
Painting can be applied over existing paint, provided that the surface is well degreased, sanded and dusted beforehand. The best way to paint the floor is to use special flooring materials such as a brush, roller or spray gun. The roller is equipped with a nozzle that allows the integration of a long handle. The success of the installation remains in the preparation of the substrate. A lot of precautions must be taken such as mural painting. The dilution of the paint is required in prayer coat. This protects the hanging of the exterior floor paint. In return, for the following layers, the paint applied is ready to use, which means that dilution is not necessary. For the floor paint, three layers are necessarily fundamental. The first layer is thinned and uses undercoat. The second layer, also called top coat, is pure. And a third layer is recommended in order to reinforce parts or areas with heavy traffic.