How to Refinish an Existing Concrete Floor

Add a colorful, glossy sheen to your drab, concrete floor by refinishing it with the appropriate paint. Before you attempt to tackle this sort of do-it-yourself project, consider a fundamental point: Concrete floors are poorly suited for adhesion and will reject new finishes unless they are properly conditioned. Unfortunately, concrete is far too durable for the same friction-based abrasion methods professionals use to prepare vinyl, plastic and fiberglass for paint. There are several types of acids suitable for etching or abrading concrete, and one of them is citric acid. Pretreat your concrete floor with a citric-acid-based etching solution before you begin the application process, or chipping and shedding will eventually result.

Things You'll Need

• Water-based degreaser
• Coarse plastic brush
• Mop
• Bucket
• Protective eyewear
• Respirator
• Citric-acid-based concrete etching powder
• 5-gallon bucket
• Wooden stir sticks
• Floor squeegee
• Acrylic floor paint
• Roller frame
• Shed-free roller cover
• Roller extension pole
• 2-part epoxy paint

Instructions

1. Scrub the existing concrete floor with a water-based degreaser, using a coarse brush. Rinse the floor, using a mop. Allow the floor to dry for a minimum of four to six hours.

2. Wear protective eyewear and a respirator. Pour 2 gallons of tap water into an empty, clean, plastic 5-gallon bucket. Slowly stir the citric-acid-based concrete etching powder into the water, using a wooden stir stick. Stir the solution for three minutes.

3. Spread the citric acid etching solution over the concrete floor, using a squeegee. Wait approximately 15 minutes, then rinse the floor using the mop. Allow the floor to dry for a minimum of four to six hours.

4. Apply acrylic floor paint to the etched concrete floor, using a roller fitted with a shed-free cover. Begin in the far left corner of the room and work moving in reverse toward the exit point. Wait six hours before stepping onto the concrete.

Tips & Warnings

• You may use a two-part epoxy paint on concrete floors.

• You must etch the concrete floors before you paint them, or the finish will eventually chip.

• Ordinary latex paint will not remain durable on surfaces that lie underfoot.