Things You'll Need:
- primed, hemmed canvas floorcloth blank
- painter's plastic sheeting
- 1 quart of exterior latex paint for each color needed
- 4" paint brush
- smaller brushes for details
- 1 gallon of water based polyurethane
- pencil
- ruler
- eraser,colored pencils or crayons
- graph paper
- tape measure
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Step 1
Decide on the size floorcloth you'll need for your porch. It could go wall to wall or be an area rug under a few chairs and a table. Order a prepared canvas floorcloth blank in your desired size. (These blanks are preshrunk, hemmed and primed, and made of very heavyweight canvas. This will save you several days of back-breaking work.)Decide on a suitable pattern and colors for your floorcloth. Bright, bold colors work well on a summer porch. A simple checkerboard pattern can be stunning. Add some flowers or another pattern for interest.Draw your design on graph paper to a scale which matches your floorcloth's size. Color it in with crayons or colored pencils.
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Step 2
Cover your work area with plastic sheeting. Unroll your floorcloth and allow it to lay flat. This step can be quickened by using a warm iron to press the edges down. be careful not to iron the plastic. Paint the entire floorcloth in your background color (for the image above, this would be yellow). Use the 4" brush and make sure the paint completely covers the canvas surface.Allow the paint to dry. Draw your pattern on using a pencil and ruler if needed.
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Step 3
Paint the remaining details. Bigger elements should be painted first; smaller details painted last. Allow the floorcloth to dry overnite. With an eraser, go back over and erase any stray pencil lines. Stir the polyurethane thoroughly. Paint the polyurethane on in long, smooth strokes using the 4" brush. Do not use a roller. Bubbles may form in the poly surface. Allow it to dry and apply at least three more coats of poly. If your floorcloth will be exposed to a lot of rain, you should poly the back of the floorcloth as well.
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Step 4
Allow your floorcloth to dry for at least two days before you expose it to traffic and furniture. To move it roll it on a tube and unroll it in its new location. Never fold your floorcloth as creases can form which are next to impossible to remove.To clean it, sweep daily and wash with warm water and mild cleaner, as needed. Store your floorcloth rolled on a tube, painted side out in a dry place.
