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Floor painting

The Old House Web

Note: The following information is provided by The Paint Quality Institute, an educational resource sponsored by Rohm and Haas Company, for consumers, professional painters and sales people on paint and paint-related coatings.

Bare wood to be painted

sandingSurface Preparation

  • Treat any mildew with a 3:1 water/household bleach mixture, leaving it on for 20 minutes and adding more as it dries; wear eye and skin protection; rinse thoroughly
  • Dull any glossy areas of wood ("mill glaze") by sanding with medium (#120) grit garnet paper; wear eye protection, dust mask and work gloves
  • Fill any gouges or splits with wood filler; let dry and sand flush
  • Remove any dirt by scrubbing with detergent and water; rinse thoroughly; let dry out
  • Sand smooth, any rough areas with medium (#120) grit garnet paper; wear eye protection, dust mask and work gloves; then vacuum clean the entire area

Priming

  • Apply a latex or oil-based wood primer recommended for use on interior floors
  • If using a latex paint, apply either latex or oil-based primer
  • If using an oil-based or polyurethane paint, apply an oil-based primer

Painting

  • For a satin finish, use a quality latex floor paint
  • For a semi-gloss or gloss finish, use a latex, alkyd or polyurethane floor paint
Wood floors / painted/ to be painted

Surface preparation

Note: If lead is suspected in the paint, read aboutreducing lead paint hazards before proceeding.

  • Treat any mildew with a 3:1 water/household bleach mixture, leaving it on for 20 minutes and adding more as it dries; wear eye and skin protection; rinse thoroughly.
  • Remove cracking, loose or poorly adhering paint by scraping; wear eye protection, cloth work gloves, and a dust mask.
  • Feather sand edges of remaining paint; wear eye protection and dust mask.
  • Scuff sand glossy areas with medium grit (#120) garnet paper; wear eye protection and dust mask.
  • Remove all dirt by scrubbing with detergent and warm water, rinse thoroughly; pay special attention to kitchen areas (accumulated airborne cooking oils).

Priming

  • Apply wood primer that is recommended for floors -- latex primer for latex floor paint, alkyd primer for latex or alkyd or polyurethane floor paint.

Painting

  • For a satin finish, use a quality latex floor paint.
  • For a semi-gloss or gloss finish, use a latex, alkyd or polyurethane floor paint.
Floors / stained and-or clear coated / to be painted

Surface Preparation

  • Treat any mildew with a 3:1 water/household bleach mixture, leaving it on for 20 minutes and adding more as it dries; wear eye and skin protection; rinse thoroughly.
  • Scuff sand glossy areas with medium grit (#120) garnet paper; wear eye protection and dust mask.
  • Remove cracking, loose or poorly adhering paint by scraping; wear eye protection, cloth work gloves, and a dust mask.
  • Feather sand edges of remaining paint; wear eye protection and dust mask.
  • Remove all dirt by scrubbing with detergent and warm water, rinse thoroughly; pay special attention to kitchen areas (accumulated airborne cooking oils).

Priming

  • Apply wood primer that is recommended for floors: latex primer for latex floor paint, alkyd primer for latex or alkyd or polyurethane floor paint

Painting

  • For a satin finish, use a quality latex floor paint
  • For a semi-gloss or gloss finish, use a latex, alkyd or polyurethane floor paint

For decoraing ideas on painting wood floors, click here.

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