Painting a basement is a great way to prepare the room for use, especially if you have children. If you have children or need extra space in your home, you might decide to remodel your basement. One way to expand the use of your basement is to paint and seal the floor. If you have a concrete floor, it’s not always the easiest thing to do. Many people think of painting the concrete floor as similar to painting the walls but that’s not actually the case. If you do not properly prepare your concrete floor and go through the proper steps, the paint will eventually start to fall apart. You will start to see cracks in the finish and then it will start to actually lift off the surface. Here are a few of the steps you can take to avoid common mistakes made while painting a basement.
Prepare the Floor
The first mistake many people make is inadequately preparing the floor. Concrete is a nonporous surface, which means it does not always absorb paint or stain very well. To ensure that you get a good seal on your floor, you need to clean it. You need to sweep and/or vacuum the floor to remove any loose dirt. Once you’ve removed all of the loose dirt, you need to wash your floor. You should use a strong cleaner that is designed to remove calcium, lime, rust, and oil. Cleaners that remove grease are often very powerful and abrasive chemicals. Therefore, you need to make sure you have the proper protective gear. You should have gloves, goggles, and a dust mask.
Once you’ve cleaned the floor thoroughly, you need to wash it with clean water. Let it dry and then vacuum it one last time. Once you’ve done all of that, your floor is ready to be painted.
Painting the Floor
You should choose between a paint and a stain for your floor. The differences are fairly significant. A paint will stick to the surface of the floor but generally, it won’t penetrate the concrete. A concrete stain is designed to be able to penetrate and actually alter the concrete itself.
One mistake many people make is painting the floors but failing to seal them. The paint sits on the surface of the concrete and you have to seal it to ensure that it is protected. If you don’t seal the paint, it will eventually start to flake up or be scraped away. Also, many people fail to seal or finish their concrete floors which actually creates a hazard.
Sealant
Whether you paint or stain the floor, it will be incredibly slippery. There are several kinds of sealant that actually contain some kind of sand or grit to increase traction. They’re often fairly tacky as well. However, many people forget to invest in a sealant, which makes their floors incredibly dangerous.
If you’re painting or staining your basement, you should make sure you clean the concrete thoroughly. You should then remember to seal it with a concrete sealant after you are done painting.
