What to think about when buying floor paint
Floors are a funny old thing to paint. You can’t just throw down some sheets and go at it like a living room wall or just give it a simple dusting before priming. There is a lot to consider when you’re looking to paint a floor; from the paint type needed to the surface you’re working with, to what you need the paint to do.
You can avoid making simple mistakes, and potentially ruining a floor, by knowing what to look at when buying floor paint. Here are some things you’ll want to think and look out for when shopping around.
Where it is going
Obviously, floor paint is going on the floor, but where exactly is your floor? (Don’t worry, this isn’t some sort of psychology question).
Some paints are formulated for use indoors only, while others excel at braving the elements outdoors. Is your floor paint going to be somewhere where there aren’t many footsteps, or does it need applying to a high-traffic area where people will be walking on throughout the seasons? And on top of that, does your floor expect to see spills from time to time, be that from food or chemicals?
These are all location factors to consider. You really do need to understand where this paint is going to know how much protection you need.
What it is going on
For me, this is the most important, and easiest factor, to help determine what type of floor paint you need. Every floor has different properties that need addressing before you start painting.
Imagine this scenario: you are walking with an open can of paint. You drop it on the floor. Would you rather it gets spilled on your kitchen floor which is nicely tiled or your concrete driveway? You might instantly think that concrete is going to be the worst scenario, but it could depend on how each surface has already been treated and what paint you’re using.
If you’re going to be painting over concrete, wood, asphalt, or cement, regular floor paint or epoxy floor paint should work fine. I haven’t included metal in that list, as it does not work well with epoxy floor paint, so avoid that if you can.
If it needs a specific function
Is your floor paint trying to warn someone of a problem? Is it there to stop people slipping? Or is it there to look nice and glossy? Just like picking a colour, floor paints are formulated differently based on the function you need.
Typical properties you will want to check for on any can of paint would include:
- Oil resistant
- Low VOC (especially if painting indoors)
- Slip-resistant
- Stops dust
- Provides a matt or gloss finish
While some properties are there for function, something like finish would be considered a key form factor. An example of this would be the use of gloss floor paint for car showrooms and shopping centres.
How much you need
If you ever pay too little paint for a wall, you can afford yourself a little leeway with leaving off that last coat for a few days. You can’t really do the same with a floor, especially in a busy area. The level of coverage will depend on all the factors I’ve already mentioned in this article (e.g. concrete may need more than wood, the metal may need more than plastic) as well as how many coats you need.
When you work out the floor's size and how much paint you’ll need, always remember to double that number for the second coat. You’d be surprised just how much paint is needed for that final coat.
Get to prepping your floor
Thanks for reading this article on floor paint and what to consider when you buy some. Just remember always to have your floor prepped first, and never start the job without knowing if a surface needs to be primed or a full undercoat before one drop of floor paint is used.
And if you’re looking for a good deal on floor paint right now, I highly recommend visiting https://www.thepaintshed.com/specialist-paint/floor. They have great deals from brands like Coo-Var and Crown at trade prices.
