How to Paint a Concrete Subfloor in the Home

Use a paintbrush to paint a border around the floor.

Painting a concrete floor in the home will seal the concrete as well as add a splash of color to the room. Painting a concrete floor is similar to painting any other type of floor, except that concrete absorbs quite a bit of paint as you work. This means that you'll need to buy more paint than you think you'll need and you may need to apply a third coat.

Things You'll Need

• Concrete paint
• Paint tray
• 4-inch paintbrush
• Paint roller
• Extension handle

Instructions

1. Open all the windows in the room. Stir the paint and pour some of it into a paint tray.

2. Paint a border around the edges of the room with a 4-inch-wide paintbrush.

3. Apply paint to the rest of the floor with a paint roller, filling in the border. Begin in the corner farthest from the room's exit and work toward the door.

4. Allow the paint to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. This is generally one hour for acrylic- and water-based paints, and eight to 24 hours for oil-based paints.

5. Paint a second coat, beginning with a border and filling it in once the first coat is dry. When the second coat is dry, examine the floor to determine if a third coat is necessary. If the paint colors are not as saturated as you would like, apply a third coat of paint.

References

• Dan Vandervort's Home Tips: Garage Floor Paints & Finishes
• Be Jane: Paint 101