The better to paint a wooden floor with your own hands

A wooden floor can last for more than a dozen years if properly cared for. It must be protected from moisture, insect damage, severe mechanical stress. To do this, you can paint the base with wood floor paint. However, the finishing material must be chosen correctly.

Varieties of paints for wood floors

Each type of wood finishing material has unique properties. The choice depends on the operating conditions of the base, decorative preferences.

Acrylic paint

The composition of acrylic paint for wood flooring contains water-solvent, copolymers, binding components: acrylates. After it hardens, an elastic, durable film forms on the surface of the base. It does not have a pungent smell, so it is allowed to use it in children's rooms, living rooms. Acrylic paint dries quickly, is not afraid of detergents.

The composition creates an additional protective layer from the effects of water and direct sunlight. It is characterized by a good level of adhesion to the wood base, even if the previous paint coat has not been removed. Apply it in 2-3 layers. At temperature drops, the coating does not crack, as it is elastic. However, it will not be able to cover deep irregularities.

Acrylic paint is abrasion resistant. It is used in heated and unheated rooms. An additional advantage is the wide range of colors.

Alkyd paint

The composition contains alkyd resins. After its application, a glossy, matte or semi-matt finish is formed on the surface. The advantage is the variety of shades, as well as the presence of anti-fungal components. This paint for wooden floors can be used in rooms with high humidity. The coating does not crack when exposed to ultraviolet rays, household chemicals.

The disadvantage of the product is a pungent chemical smell during application. The paint is flammable, has a low level of vapor permeability. It will not protect the wood from harsh chemicals. The service life of the coating is 6-8 years. The layer dries completely within 24 hours. No special preparation of the base is required.

Rubber paint

The rubber paint contains polymer components that provide wear resistance and waterproofing of the base. The coating does not crack or peel off, as it has good adhesion and elasticity. The color of the coating remains bright for a long time due to the content of special pigments.

The rubber paint gives an original smooth surface without leaving any gaps or crevices between the boards. Regardless of the type of wood, only 1-2 paint coats are required for high-quality floor decoration. Such a finish is used to decorate the floor indoors, as well as on open verandas, terraces, in gazebos.

Rubber paint is resistant to temperature extremes, moisture and ultraviolet radiation. The material consumption is small. It retains its technical properties at temperatures from -50 to +60 ° C. The service life of the coating reaches 10 years. Even when applied, the composition does not emit an unpleasant smell.The disadvantage is the low level of vapor permeability.

Oil

The main component in the composition of oil paint is drying oil, which is capable of forming a film. The solution is white or colored. Has the following advantages:

• getting an even layer;
• protection of the surface from mechanical and thermal effects, moisture;
• good hiding power;
• increasing the hydrophobicity of the base;
• low cost;
• color saturation;
• durability of quality compounds.

The disadvantages of oil paint include a strong unpleasant odor, slow drying of the layer. Often such a composition is used to cover the floor in living rooms of a house, on open verandas, on a balcony. However, the material consumption is significant. The coating will crack and peel off over time.

Wear resistant

An alternative to film forming compositions is a polyester resin blend. It is highly reliable.

Polyurethane floor paints for wood are wear-resistant. They are one- or two-component. When applied, the solvent evaporates from them, therefore it is better to work in a respirator, however, after drying, the coating becomes completely safe.

Polyurethane paint has the following advantages:

• lack of a strong chemical odor;
• a good level of adhesion to a wooden surface, a high degree of hiding power;
• providing waterproofing of the base;
• self-leveling effect;
• resistance to ultraviolet radiation, aggressive chemicals and detergents;
• inertness to sudden temperature changes;
• long service life of the coating (up to 20 years);
• resistance to dry and wet abrasion of the surface;
• elasticity and elasticity of the layer, which prevents cracking.

Polyurethane paint dries in 8-10 hours. Under such a layer, the base does not creak or crack, and is protected from damage by insects. The disadvantage is the preparation of a two-component composition. Here you need to observe the correct proportions.

Features of the choice of paint

Before painting wooden floors, you need to choose the right composition. When buying, you need to consider the following factors:

• the texture of the wood, its species (coniferous boards are capable of emitting resin, which prevents good adhesion of the finishing material to the surface, contributes to the appearance of dark spots);
• design features of the floor;
• the estimated intensity of the mechanical load on the flooring;
• operating conditions of the base: humidity level in the room, temperature fluctuations;
• the correctness and quality of preparatory work;
• the required service life of the flooring;
• compatibility of the finish with previously used protective solutions.

It is important to consider the possibility of re-treatment as well as the aesthetic requirements for the floor surface.

Preparation process for work

First, remove the old floor covering. Boards need to be checked for squeaks, rot or breakages, the strength of the connection with the lags. If protruding nails are noticeable, they must be hammered in so that the caps are sunk into the wood.

You can remove the previous layer of varnish or paint with a grinder. The same tool will help level the base, get rid of burrs on its surface. If there are irregularities on the floor, it will have to be looped. After sanding, remove all debris and dust. Large gaps between the boards need to be widened a little, and then wedge strips must be hammered into them. Additionally, the elements are coated with wood glue.

Small cracks are simply filled with putty and leveled. After carrying out minor repairs, the floor surface is again sanded and dedusted.

Before painting wooden floors in a country house or in a residential building, it is necessary to treat them with hot linseed oil or industrial impregnation. The new base is covered with an antiseptic primer. Additionally, the boards can be treated with fire retardants that increase their resistance to fire.

Tools required for the job

Floor painting is performed after all tools and materials have been prepared. To work requires:

• Paint tray. Its design is convenient for roller operation. Such a container does not tip over and allows you to remove excess composition in order to avoid the appearance of drips.
• Paint roller. With its help, you can immediately cover a large area of ​​\ u200b \ u200bthe area, and the layer will be uniform. To paint a floor, you need a tool with a medium pile length.
• Brushes. It is better to prepare a tool of different widths. With its help, they paint the joints of adjacent surfaces and those places where it is difficult to reach with a roller.
• Masking tape. This material is required if the coating is multi-colored.
• Metal spatula. It is necessary to remove the old layer of paint.
• Rubber spatula. With its help, the cracks are closed with putty.
• Chisel. It is needed to expand large crevices, as well as eliminate small bulges, protruding knots.
• Construction vacuum cleaner. The device is used to remove dust and debris.
• Looping. The machine will be required if a large area is to be painted.
• Building hair dryer. Required to remove several layers of old flooring.

For work, you need a solvent, chips for sealing large cracks, wood glue, putty. In preparation, use a primer, fire retardant impregnation, drying oil.

Coating wood flooring step by step

One or more colors can be used to paint the floor. The first layer should be solid.

The painting process is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Preparation of finishing materials. Stir the helmet first. If necessary, dilute it with a solvent, but pour it in in small portions with a thin stream.
2. Staining the base. The composition is poured into a tray and applied with a wide brush along the walls in those places where the baseboards will be screwed. The line runs along the entire perimeter of the room.
3. Installation of skirting boards. They are fixed after the paint layer is completely dry.
4. Attaching masking tape to decorative wall trim so as not to get dirty.
5. Application of paint over the entire floor area. You need to do this so that no gaps remain. The composition should lay down evenly. Drops or streaks are shaded immediately.
6. Painting skirting boards with a narrow brush.
7. Application of the second coat of paint. If you plan to use several colors, masking tape is glued on the base according to a previously thought out scheme. The floor is painted and left to dry.

To prevent paint from getting on open areas of the body, you need to work in protective clothing and gloves. Some formulations require a respirator. To remove the stickiness, the surface is washed with a mild soapy solution. Sometimes vinegar is added to clean water.

Each layer dries completely in 3-24 hours, depending on the selected composition.