How to Paint Wood Flooring

Gleaming wood floors can be a real asset to a home, adding a lovely, rich ambiance to a room. Unfortunately, their visual appeal lessens as they wear and the finish becomes dull or scratched. While refinishing them is an effective way to restore their luster, it's also an expensive one. Painting over the old finish is an easier and far less expensive way of giving your wood floors a facelift. Here's how to do it:

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mop and mild soap solution
• Primer
• Porch and floor paint
• Paint roller
• Angled paint brush
• Painter's tape

1. Pick the paint color and make sure the paint you buy is a porch and floor paint. This will ensure the paint can stand up to heavy foot traffic. Also choose a good quality primer and have the salesperson tint the primer to match the paint color.

2. Remove all furniture and rugs from the room and vacuum the floor to remove all loose debris. Thoroughly clean the floor with a mop and a mild, soapy solution to remove all dirt and grime. Allow the floor to dry completely.

3. Using painter's tape, mask off the baseboards where they meet the floor, to prevent the new floor color from getting on the baseboard trim. Do this around the entire perimeter of the room, unless you're going to be removing and/or replacing any of the baseboard trim sections. In that case, you'll be adding trim after the floor is painted so a little floor paint on the wall won't be an issue.

4. Pour the tinted primer into a paint container and using an angled brush, cut-in the outside of the entire floor, much like you would a regular wall. Then pour the primer into a paint tray and using your roller, apply a nice even coat to the rest of the floor. Allow it to dry. Wash the paint brush with soapy water, shake well and let it dry.

5. When the primer is dry, pour your paint into a container and cut-in the entire floor just as you did with the primer. Then, paint the rest of the floor with a paint roller and allow to dry. Follow the instructions on the paint can concerning the recommended time to wait before reapplying paint, and then add a second coat. It's important to wait until the first coat of paint is totally dry before repainting, in order to avoid a tacky paint finish that won't adhere well. Allow this coat to dry completely too, before replacing any furniture and rugs.

Tips & Warnings

• If your wood floor is badly worn and has gouges or splintered wood, it might be a good idea to rent an orbital sander and sand the floor smooth. Wear a protective dust mask and vacuum the dust from the floor before you apply primer and paint. Don't put the pain on too thick or it'll probably come up quickly after a little foot traffic; two or three thin coats will give you far better adhesion.
• Make sure to adhere to the recommended drying and curing times for the paint brand you buy. Many brands recommend not walking on a newly painted floor for 48 hours. Be particularly careful when replacing your furniture; sliding a heavy piece of furniture across a newly painted floor that hasn't had time to fully cure will likely result in paint lifting from the floor.

Resources

• Wood floor painting ideas
• Stenciling hardwood floors