[Catsonthebed]

Ripped up the nasty old carpet (it really was the ugly-est carpet in all of the UK, we called it 'Phsycodelic Vomit'), have chipped up the old lino tiles and now down to concrete (very well insulated). Am going to take on the daunting task of painting the bloody thing with a wheelchaired DH and 4 cats as helpers. Sound fun? Yup. I've painted floors before but in the US and they were wooden. Anyone have any experience doing this? Would love some feed back! Thanks in advance for any help, which is greatly appreciated.

[Guyzer]

http://books.google.ca/books?id=vag0...um=5&ct=result

[blues_harp28]

Good link by Guyzer.
Just to add, after sweeping the dust from the floor use Unibond PVA Sealer diluted 4 parts water to one part Unibond.
This will help to seal the floor and also make a good base for the floor paint.
http://www.makingdiyeasier.co.uk/unibond/pva.html

[Guyzer]

To be honest I must admit that I have painted right over bare concrete without prepping in a basement once. The only thing I had to do was repaint the heavily trafficked areas every second or third year because it wore through. It never did flake off. Keep in mind that concrete was at least 10 years old before I slapped the first coat on so that time may have helped. Once the paint is dry it sure makes the floor easy to keep clean.

[Catsonthebed]

Aren't you guys brilliant! I will use these tips. The whole thing is rather frightening and I'm putting it off the best I can, but now with your incouragement, it doesn't look so bad! Thanks a million!! Katie

[Guyzer]

Hi Katie...........
Please keep this in mind. Many paints are flammable so do not apply if you have a source of ignition in the area cuz you could blow yourself to kingdom come. IE: Furnace, gas hot water tank etc. Turn off any pilot lights if you have them.
Hot tip... I used a latex based concrete paint to avoid any potential of a kaaaa-boom. Besides not risking an explosion they flash off faster and your house won't smell like a chemical factory for two weeks.

[IMP49]

Just a thought here, but if you have some nice looking unsealed concrete, you may want to consider a concrete stain. You can come up with some good looking results. Just google concrete stains for some links.

[avie]

This is great news and tips. I am going to do my concrete kitchen floor with a template Stencil of flagstone and brick edge. Over the base color as the grout. Got it at a craft store.

I previously covered an old dinged linoleum floor with ripped brown grocery bags.(Leave edged raw and overlap some). Painted them down with diluted white glue then covered with sealer sprinkled with some sand. It look great. Between suede and flagstone. (Make sure you rip section from not written on bags. Public not not look well on the floor.)

[Catsonthebed]

Originally Posted by avie

This is great news and tips. I am going to do my concrete kitchen floor with a template Stencil of flagstone and brick edge. Over the base color as the grout. Got it at a craft store.

I previously covered an old dinged linoleum floor with ripped brown grocery bags.(Leave edged raw and overlap some). Painted them down with diluted white glue then covered with sealer sprinkled with some sand. It look great. Between suede and flagstone. (Make sure you rip section from not written on bags. Public not not look well on the floor.)

Good luck to you, it sounds like it will be stunning! Unfortunately something like that would not last in my house, the erosion that a wheelchair tire causes is surprising!!! Beautiful yes, practical NO.
My biggest problem now that the paint 'type' has been sorted is that I'm doing this tiny hallway and second bed room with 4 cats and a 'Wheelie' husband (concret has been previously covered with lino and I don't think stain would have much of an effect. Bummer.). We can keep the cats in the garage and garden for as long need be, but how to manuver around wet paint in a chair (NOT) or with crutches for a few feet. Logistics is everything!!! I may say to hell with it and go with tile. I don't know, haven't figured it out. Good luck to us both!

[blues_harp28]

Hi Catsonthebed either way it sounds as if you have a hard job to do.

If you decide to paint it would be best to use a paint roller and tray, also use a extention handle that you can use standing up.
Then start paintng from opposite the doorway and work back towards the door.
Use the roller for gloss not emulsion as that will be easier to use.
Good luck either way.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Paint-and-De...t/paintrollpad
Roller extention pole.
http://www.wickes.co.uk/bin/venda?ex...=Roller+handle

[avie]

I gave on tile because you cannot walk on for a day and it is slippery and expensive.. I have the animal problem as well as their hair everywhere. If I paint I will leave a walking strip and then fill in. I found several new type of paint that is tough. Mixed with sealer in it and or epoxy. Check out products for porches etc. There are also products that dry quicker when humid. Meaning they are not oil base. It is like an colored epoxy rolled on then vynal ?chips scattered in and then top coat rolled on. Saw it last week on This old house or some thing similar. (Process used for a garage. I saw gallons in a discount store for similar product.)

Onward with the adventure!

Whatever you do it is rewarding and cleaner.

[Catsonthebed]

GREAT TIPS EVERYBODY!! I'll let you know how it turns out. I just look at it every morning and just shake my head and find something else to do. DH's parents are coming over from Ireland the end of August, so I want to have everything still in a huge mess so they won't want/can't to stay with us! Wicked of me I know, but I just can't handle having them here. Let the SIL who lives in town deal with them! Thanks again, you guys are brilliant!