Many homeowners feel proud of their properties. After all, it takes a lot of time and effort to work towards home ownership. Over time, you might feel like doing a bit of renovating. Considering that, many homeowners are choosing to renovate by painting their hardwood floors. In this post, you’ll learn how to paint the hardwood floors in your home.
Reasons to Consider Painting Hardwood Floors
There are many reasons to think about painting your wooden floors. Certain individuals want to paint their floors to have a new look throughout their home. Other people feel that painting is crucial for protecting hardwood floors. Also, painting hardwood floors is a cost efficient way to change the look of your flooring without having to replace each wooden plank.
How to Paint Your Wooden Flooring
Regardless of your reasoning, painting hardwood floors is easier than you might think. It’s helpful to think about breaking this project into several steps. Follow these steps and you’ll have freshly painted floors in no time. With that in mind, here are four main steps for painting your hardwood flooring.
- Picking out Paint
First, you’ll need to choose the ideal paint for wooden floors. Considering that, you’ll want to look for paint without volatile organic compounds or VOCs. A recent report by CBC Marketplace found that VOC levels higher than 500 ppb could create problems for those with chemical sensitivities. If you’re having trouble deciding which paint to choose, consider neutral colors. The results of a 2017 study found that over 33% of those surveyed would choose neutral color palettes while redecorating their home. - Treating Your Wooden Floors
Before painting your floors, it’s a good idea to treat them. If your wooden floors have been recently waxed or glossed, this material needs to be removed. In order to remove this material, begin lightly sandpapering your floor. This removes the glossy coat from your floors which makes painting easier. It’s also a good idea to wipe down and vacuum your floors before painting begins. - Applying Paint to Your Hardwood Flooring
In a similar manner to painting walls, it’s best to apply wooden floor paint in layers. If you try adding thick coats of paint, it will be nearly impossible for your floors to dry properly. This process takes time but it ensures you avoid any hassles throughout the duration of your project. Experts recommend giving your first layer one or two full days to dry. After the floor is dry, repeat the process of adding layers until you’ve achieved the right look. In most cases, it shouldn’t take more than three coats of paint to complete this process. - The Importance of Adding Clear Coat
You’re going to need a clear coat for painted wood. Using a clear coat for painted wood helps ensure that the paint remains sealed. You’ll want to make sure that all layers of paint are dry before beginning this process. You’ll simply add a clear coat for painted wood in nice, thin layers. After giving the clear coat time to dry, you’ll officially be finished with painting your hardwood floors.
To summarize, it’s understandable to wonder how to paint wooden floors. Painting your wooden flooring provides you with the freedom to choose any color or design you want. However, make sure you’re choosing paints with low or no VOCs. A recent study conducted a Syracuse University had subjects spend six days working in a low VOC space. The results of this study found that those working in spaces with reduced VOCs reported cognitive test scores 101% higher than the results obtained in conventional workspaces. Using these types of paint ensure you have safe and beautifully painted wooden floors.