PainterHow

Trying to do DIY things at home for the first time is quite an exhausting task. Speaking from my own experience, I was trying to figure out how to paint a concrete basement floor. Honestly, it felt like a milestone, then I started experimenting with my concrete basement floor, and now I’m here to help you guys. 

A week ago, I was like all of you, searching insanely for the right procedure. But now I have come up with the best procedure. So, to paint a concrete floor, you first have to check the floor completely. After that, you can easily select the suitable paint for it. All you have to do is follow my instructions, and boom, you are ready to paint your basement floor. 

Best Concrete Floor Paint:

Selecting the most suitable paint for the concrete floor is very important. It saves you a lot of money and time. I have tested various paints for concrete painting and have found that the best paints for concrete floors are epoxy paints. One component is a resin, while the other is a hardener. Another important factor is they do not require any primers.

Other paints available in the market are water-based, so that clearly indicates they are not water-resistant. However, epoxy paints are anti-corrosive, highly adhesive, water-resistant, and provide an airtight seal on the applied surface. In comparison, other paints allow water to pass through them, which is not good for concrete flooring. Thus, I declare epoxy paints as the best for painting concrete floors. 

Safety Precautions:

Before doing any DIY work, like painting a concrete basement floor, you first have to take all the safety measures. Wear safety gloves, a jacket, pants, and a face shield. After this, check that all the windows (if any) in the basement are open. Another thing that you should do is turn on the fans. This will help you in creating an atmosphere conducive to preventing any kind of accident. Water-based paints are inflammable, so they are not dangerous. While oil-based paints and epoxy paints have flammable ingredients. Ensure that there is no kind of burning equipment in the basement that catches flames or fumes. 

Painting Utensils and Supplies Needed:

The Procedure Of Painting A Concrete Basement Floor?

The following is the procedure for painting a concrete basement floor, along with some extra suggestions for even and high-quality painting:

1. Checking The Concrete Floor:

The basement floor is the nearest floor to the ground. So, there are many chances that your basement floor will remain wet. This wet floor can also cause high humidity levels in the basement, which in turn can affect the paint on the floor. So, before you start painting the floor, first check that all the groundwater systems are working well. Ensure the sewerage pipes are in good condition and no water is seeping through the concrete floor. 

You can check if water is flooding the floor by using a plastic sheet and masking tape. Take an average-sized square plastic sheet, place it on the floor, and put masking tape around its boundary. Now, wait for at least one night. If after one night the floor of the sheet shows any dark areas or is wet, then the chances are that water is seeping into it from somewhere.

Thus, first, make sure that your basement floor is in good condition. Moreover, check the temperature of the basement. If the humidity is high, try to make the temperature suitable for painting. You can use a fan or a dehumidifier. 

2. Preparing The Floor:

Painting any kind of material requires a smooth and clear surface. Rough painting surfaces are more likely to get damaged easily or have the paint easily removed from them. Concrete flooring often has cracks and holes in it. Also, sometimes there are uneven patches or pinched nails on the floor. So, to make it sleek and smooth, you first have to prepare the floor. 

3. Cleaning The Surface:

Paint will trap dirt and stains on the concrete floor. So, clean the surface thoroughly. If you see any dirt patch, clean it off using a wire brush. After this, clean the whole basement floor using a vacuum cleaner. Now put some good quality concrete cleaner on and leave it for some time. Take a scrubbing brush and scrub the whole surface. Rinse the floor with water until no cleaner is left on the floor. Let the floor dry completely before proceeding further.

4. Applying The Primer:

Many paints that are available on the market, like epoxy paints, do not require any primer. While some paints require a primer coat to give a better outlook. So if you aren’t using epoxy paint, you should use a primer. For applying the primer

5. Painting The Area:

Before you finally start painting the floor, apply masking tape along the walls or parts you don’t want to paint. After this, prepare the paint by following the instructions on it. If you are using water-based paint, mix water according to the given guidelines. However, if you are using epoxy paints, mix the resin and hardener in limited portions. Now  take some paint in a paint tray and start painting with a paintbrush from the edges, next to the walls or adjacent to the boundary. When you have finished painting the edges, take a paint roller with an extension rod and start applying the first coat of paint. After applying the first coat, please wait for it to dry completely. Then apply the second coat of paint as per your choice or the instructions provided. 

Conclusion: