Floor painting

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.

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
• 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

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.

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.