how to paint a concrete floor- my best tips

Get my epoxy floor coating course here!

is your concrete floor starting to look beat up and old, but you don't want to pay the hefty price of hiring someone to come fix it?

I have a solution for you- learn how to paint your concrete floor and make it look brand new!

It may seem challenging at first, but by following the tips and using the supplies I have listed below, you will be able to successfully paint your concrete floor like a pro.

These are the same tips and supplies I use when I am hired to paint someone's concrete floor. Painting your concrete floor will make it look brand new and give it a unique finish.

By following these steps you will be able to do it yourself which will save you money. There's a lot of colors to choose from and if you're artistic you can really be creative and have fun with this project.

look at this before and after photo of a concrete floor i painted!

 After you're done reading this page, you'll be able to do this too! 

Although the task of painting the floor can take 2 or 3 days to complete, in the long run it is well worth the effort.

Here are some PRO  tips that I use when painting basement floors that you can use to get the job done all by yourself!

1. Check for moisture in the concrete

You should check to see if the floor is damp. If it is, then you have moisture related issues that will have to be addressed first.

Basement floor paint will not adhere to moist or wet concrete, it will blister and peel off shortly after you install it.

A quick way to test your concrete floor for moisture is to tape a piece of plastic to the concrete floor approximately 2 feet by 2 feet. Completely tape all 4 edges of plastic to the floor. 

Let the plastic sit for 24 hours and then remove it. If the concrete shows signs of moisture or is darker than the concrete around it, your floor has moisture issues. 

Click on WATERPROOFING BASEMENT FLOORS to see how to address moisture problems and get rid it.

2. Make sure the concrete is clean

Clean the basement floor by lightly grinding it or sanding it like we did in the video above. 

This also opens up the pores of the concrete so the basement floor paint will bond to the surface.

Vacuum the floor really well to make sure you've removed any dust, dirt, and debris left over from the grinding and sanding process.

After you've vacuumed, wipe the floor down with a microfiber mop thats been dampened with denatured alcohol. This will remove any remaining fine particles of dust.

Click on CONCRETE SURFACE PREPARATION for more tips on cleaning before painting.

Any previous coatings, paint, or sealers will also have to be removed before you begin to paint your floor.

Click on CLEANING GARAGE FLOORS for tips on how to remove coatings from concrete floors.

3. Fix any cracks or chips

If your basement floor has any cracks, they will have to be repaired before you can use a basement floor paint.

I use a very user friendly diy concrete crack repair kit that will fill and seal up any cracks in the concrete floor.

I have a video in the link below that'll show you how to repair a crack using the repair kit if you have any cracks in your floor.

Click on EPOXY CONCRETE REPAIR to learn how to fix cracks in a basement floor.

4. Choose the right floor paint

I like an epoxy floor paint when it comes to painting a basement floor. 2 part epoxy floor paints are much more durable and will last a lot longer than most big box store epoxy floor paints. 

I would stay away from the 1 part epoxy paints. They are not as durable and are more likely to peel up than the 2 part epoxy paints.

EPOXY GARAGE FLOOR PAINT can also be used on basement floors. It's very durable, easy to clean, and comes in many different colors.

A 2 part water based system would work just fine on a basement floor.

Using an epoxy floor paint consists of painting on a primer, then a color base coat, and finishing with a clear top coat.

5. Learn how to paint the floor

Like I said, don't just go to a big box store and buy the epoxy paint thinking it's as simple as they make it out to be.

There's a little learning curve to this kind of paint. Luckily I've written it all out for you in a step by step format. (Or better yet, watch my video above. It'll show you exactly how to do it.)

Click on HOW TO PAINT CONCRETE FLOORS to learn the steps in this process.

This is a general guide. Most epoxy paints are similar but always make sure to read their instructions before you open the container.

You can add decorative chips to the epoxy paint to get a granite or marble look. 

Adding decorative chips / flakes also makes the epoxy more durable and last longer. 

Painting your floor with epoxy can be a great way to get a professional looking floor that you can do all by yourself.

What is the best paint for concrete floors?

I recommend using RokRez garage floor coating products! Click here to check out their ultimate garage floor coating kit. They have an assortment of products to use and also include steps on how to paint your concrete floor using their products. Their coating is available in three colors: tan, gray, and dark gray. (Shown in the 3 pictures above)

How much does it cost to paint a concrete floor?

If you hire someone: In general, it will cost between $4 to $7 per square foot for a basic painted epoxy floor finish if you hire someone to come paint your concrete floor for you.

If you do it yourself (DIY): If you decide to paint your concrete floor, it will cost between $2 to $3 per square foot for a basic painted epoxy floor finish because you are only paying for the materials needed for the project and not paying for the labor and the travel needed for someone to come do it for you.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN FROM ME:

I created an epoxy floor coating course that teaches you all the steps it takes to successfully epoxy paint your concrete floor.

The course shows you each step (in video format) how to do it right. No guessing, No mistakes, No skipping a step. This will ensure you get the best results you can possibly achieve doing it yourself.

Check out my epoxy floor course here and save yourself a lot of money and time.

Supplies you will need

Go from painting a basement floor to basement floor

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