How to Floor Stencil

Floor stenciling came to America in the eighteenth century when homeowners used stencils to imitate rug designs and inlaid wood. The painted design was varnished to preserve it. Whereas the first stencils were made of heavy paper, stencils now are made of Mylar, which is valued for its sturdiness and durability. Mylar stencils can be purchased with pre-cut designs, or you can cut your own design from a solid sheet of Mylar.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sander
• Polyurethane
• Painter's tape
• Measuring tape
• Stencil
• Acrylic or latex paints
• Stencil brushes

Prepare the Floor

1. Sand the floor down to bare wood.

2. Vacuum the floor and then wipe it with a soft cloth so that no dust is remaining.

3. Apply one coat of polyurethane to seal the floor. Allow the floor time to dry according the manufacturer's instructions.

Measuring

4. Measure the area of the floor to be covered. Measure the width of the stencil opening. Use graph paper to lay out your design based on the measurements taken.

5. Locate the center of the floor if you will be stenciling the entire floor, as with a checkerboard pattern, or locate the center of the first wall if you will be stenciling only a border. Use your graph paper to determine how far from the wall you need to start.

6. Lay the stencil on the floor with one end at your center point. Use a few short strips of painter's tape (or masking tape) to secure the stencil to the floor.

Stenciling

7. Pour a small amount of paint onto a disposable high gloss plate or onto a plastic lid (like from a coffee container).

8. Dab the stencil brush into the paint and then dab the brush on a dry place of your plate or lid to remove the excess paint. The objective is to have very little paint on the brush.

9. Hold the stencil brush upright and dab it into the opening of the stencil, being careful not to press the bristles under the stencil. Use separate brushes if you are using more than one color.

10. Lift the stencil carefully while the paint is still wet, keeping the tape intact because it can be used several times before it loses its stickiness. Allow the painted area to dry before re-setting the stencil for the next strip. With light applications of paint, it will take very little time for the paint to dry. Wipe paint off the back of the stencil if needed.

Finishing

11. Allow the paint to dry at least 24 hours.

12. Apply a thin coat of polyurethane and allow it to dry at least 24 hours or according to manufacturer's instructions. Feel the surface for any indication of air bubbles (gritty feeling) and lightly sand if needed.

13. Apply one to two additional coats of polyurethane, sanding lightly between coats if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice using a stencil brush before beginning your floor artwork.

References

• Stenciling Your Hardwood Floors
• Wood Floor Stenciling
• Early American Stencil Art in the 18th and 19th-Centuries