Can I paint a concrete floor?

[Gloriana]

I know I can, but do I need a special paint or something? Can I just use the same kind for walls? Thanks for any help!

[zodiac66]

Yes, you will need a special paint for it. Concrete floor paint (http://www.ugl.com/dryconcflr.html)

That is floor paint, but I am sure they have paint for any blocks you have for walls.

[Freet]

No, you shouldn't use a water based paint for a concrete floor. You need to use an oil based latex or something similar.

Check this link:

http://www.ugl.com/dryconcflr.html

[superdave]

http://www.ugl.com/dryconcflr.html

haha...jinx

[zodiac66]

Excuse me..but I think I posted the linky first :).

See, all you men just copy off us ladies.

[superdave]

Excuse me..but I think I posted the linky first :).

See, all you men just copy off us ladies.
that's why the guy in green got jinxed

[Jigga-Scrooge]

i would recommend http://www.ugl.com/dryconcflr.html

[ogogo on ice]

I also beleive you could buy a concrete-primer and then paint over it with a sturdy (resistant) paint. At least thats what I've picked up from my work.

[plasmo]

I just grabbed whatever paint was on the shelf (most likely latex house paint) and painted our concrete basement floor years ago. The paint's still there and looks fine.

Special paint? Pfft. They're just trying to get more money out of you.

True story: I was at a rock and sand place when some guy came in and asked for special rock to put around his house for decoration. They got a Bobcat and grabbed some rock from a pile. Another guy came in a little while after that and asked for the cheapest stuff they had to fill some holes. The Bobcat went to the same pile. I asked the owner what the difference was; he said the price. Yeah, I know this sounds like a joke, but it's true.

Oh, and don't forget about when the guy came to fix our dryer and said a certain part would cost $100. I told him to wait a second, took the part from him, looked it up on the internet, and found that that model generally goes for $15-$20 at any hardware store.

Of course, there are special coverings for concrete. You can either hire a place to do it for you or get one of those do-it-yourself kits (which probably works about as well as the do-it-yourself ink-refill kits for printers). But that's mainly for people who want a really professional-looking floor (say, in a garage for show cars).

[Steel_Avatar]

Plasmo: It might be a question of indoor versus outdoor :) I doubt that your basement gets much exposure to the elements ;)

[HAMC8112]

One answer possible: epoxy paint!

[Johnny]

No, you shouldn't use a water based paint for a concrete floor. You need to use an oil based latex or something similar.

Mmmm I do love the taste of ignorance

Paint is built up of 3 components

The first is the pigment

The 2nd binds the pigment together and protects the surface (oil or latex for example)

The 3rd disolves the 2nd and dissapears as paint dries.

For example a paint can use water to disolve it and then use either oil or latex to bind it. Or different kinds of chemicals that I cant recall the english names for. To disolve it.

The most common is a paint bound with latex and then disoved with water or bound with oil and disolved with chemicals that are bad for your health.

Then there is paint bound with oil and disolved in water. Healthier than a chemical disolved paint but it dries faster and is not as resistant but it is easier to clean off yourself.

For concrete the best paint is a 2 component epoxy that you mix on site and then paint with.

The downside is that epoxy is very toxic and you need you have special training and a full body hazard suit with duct tape to seal off openings at the gloves and boots. If you do not use a suit then the paint will poison you. Not to mention geting it on your skin can cause serious damage.

There is however a safer water based epoxy but its difficult to use and its not as resistant as chemical based.

Also sometimes if not mixed properly water based epoxy could just never dry at all no matter how long you wait.

However if this is just a regular inside floor like say a hallway then you can use a simple water based paint suited for the surface.

Just make sure to vaccum and mop the floor before painting it.

[Gloriana]

Mmmm I do love the taste of ignorance

Paint is built up of 3 components

The first is the pigment

The 2nd binds the pigment together and protects the surface (oil or latex for example)

The 3rd disolves the 2nd and dissapears as paint dries.

For example a paint can use water to disolve it and then use either oil or latex to bind it. Or different kinds of chemicals that I cant recall the english names for. To disolve it.

The most common is a paint bound with latex and then disoved with water or bound with oil and disolved with chemicals that are bad for your health.

Then there is paint bound with oil and disolved in water. Healthier than a chemical disolved paint but it dries faster and is not as resistant but it is easier to clean off yourself.

For concrete the best paint is a 2 component epoxy that you mix on site and then paint with.

The downside is that epoxy is very toxic and you need you have special training and a full body hazard suit with duct tape to seal off openings at the gloves and boots. If you do not use a suit then the paint will poison you. Not to mention geting it on your skin can cause serious damage.

There is however a safer water based epoxy but its difficult to use and its not as resistant as chemical based.

Also sometimes if not mixed properly water based epoxy could just never dry at all no matter how long you wait.

However if this is just a regular inside floor like say a hallway then you can use a simple water based paint suited for the surface.

Just make sure to vaccum and mop the floor before painting it.Thanks to all of you for such great info!

[Sir EvilFreeSmeg]

There are several ways to go about this.
1. Buy special concrete floor paint.
2. Buy everyday paint and mix in sand for traction.
3. Stain the concrete :thumbsup:

Everyday paint (latex would be your best choice) mixed with sand is going to be the least expensive solution. It won't wear as well as the special paint but unless the area is high traffic or harsh abuse area it'll last for years anyway. That's the route I'd go.

[nrabbit]

well yes latex paint is good, however i prefer permanent markers. A lot cheaper!

[MixedVariety]

Clean the floor first with TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) first, if you can. It's cheap and does an excellent job of degreasing.

Johnny, you are right that certain precautions should be taken with epoxy paint. Wearing a space suit is a bit bizarre, though. You should definitely have adequate ventilation, and wear an organic vapor respirator, goggles and have all your skin covered. Covered, not sealed. Epoxy hardener reacts with water, among other things, and can give you a bad rash if you get it on your skin, because it reacts and bonds with the moisture on your skin. And of course, ingestion is poisonous. But dang, it really does make an excellent floor coating if it's mixed right; self-levelling and all that, the stuff's like enamel, and hard as a rock. Add sand, though, or you'll be crashing into walls if your tires are wet.

Edit: Wait, Halloween's over; wrong avatar. Something a bit more benign and friendly....

[Ididmephistosmom]

arent painting floors alittle challenging? :D

[bigD72]

Lead based paint would be your best bet.

Make sure to start by the door and work yourself into a corner for best results, and that little bit of imperfection that shows a true amateur did the work by hand.