Concrete floors don’t have to look a dull shade of gray. You can make your concrete floor attractive by applying paint and adding skirting boards. While painting concrete floors is an easy DIY project, proper preparation is important for successful results. You want to ensure that your concrete flooring is clean and even before applying a fresh coat of paint and installing skirt boards.

You have to prepare everything that you need to make sure that once you start it, everything will go smoothly. You can think of what color you want and what kind of skirting boards you want to add. Shops like The Skirting Board Shop offers a variety of choice that’ll suit your taste. Once you’re done preparing your materials, you can start preparing your floor.

Learn how to prepare your concrete floor before painting and adding skirt boards below.

Wash and Degrease Concrete Floor

The first step when preparing concrete floor for painting and adding skirting boards is to clean it. Make sure that the concrete surface is clean and bare for the best paint application.

Here’s how to wash and degrease concrete floor:

• Remove Dirt and Debris: Use a pressure washer to clean concrete floor with soap and water. This step will help remove dirt and debris such as old leaves. You can also mix baking soda (12 cup) in warm water (1 gal) as all-purpose cleaners. Also, you can mix baking soda with liquid soap, used to scrub light stains.
• Remove Gunk or Old Paint: Use a pressure washer, wire brush, and scraper to remove gunk or existing paint. Scrub away all elements sticking to the concrete. Wash concrete floors with a degreasing solution and then rinse several times. Allow the floor to dry for several days. You can also sand off existing paint and uneven areas.
• Remove Plant Life: Remove any moss, vines, or other plant life that cover the concrete.
• Dry Concrete Floor: Keep the concrete floor wet for about 15 minutes before rinsing and drying. Allow the concrete floor to dry after washing. Don’t be in a hurry to seal the concrete floor because if any moisture or water is left in the floor while it’s being sealed, the moisture will be trapped, gradually breaking down and cracking the concrete. Allow at least 24 hours for the concrete floor to thoroughly dry.

Fill Concrete Floor Cracks and Holes

Fill minor holes and cracks in the cement flooring. While this step can be time-consuming, it saves you money and time by improving the paint coating quality.

Here’s how to fill minor holes and cracks before painting:

• Prepare the Concrete Floor: Make sure that cracks and holes are vacuumed and clean because dust and debris prevent the cement filling from setting and bonding properly to the original cement. Next, wet the holes with a sponge or mop until it’s damp to prevent drying and cracking.
• Fill Small Holes: Use a premixed concrete patch to fill small holes. Follow the premixed concrete patch’s manufacturer’s instructions whether you need to add water or only need stirring. Apply the filler and press it to the cracks and holes using a trowel or putty knife. Scrape the excess filler off the cement surface so the patch sits evenly with the rest of the floor.
• Troubleshoot: You can make a filler if you don’t have premixed concrete patch. Mix one part cement to about 2.5 parts fine sand. Fill cracks and holes and apply the cement patch twice. Cover and allow the concrete patch to set properly for five days. Wet the cement patch with water to prevent drying out the cement compound.

Seal Concrete Floor

Concrete has a porous nature that water from under the house can seep up through concrete flooring, which makes it damp. Several issues can arise from a damp concrete floor such as mold and mildew growth. Sealing your concrete floor can help get rid of moisture and dampness.

While concrete sealants are expensive, applying sealants is the most effective way to ensure that your paint job will be perfect. Sealer must be applied in a dry surface because it will not adhere to a damp surface. When applying sealer, the temperature should be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit up to three days. But how do you seal a concrete floor?

• Prepare Tools and Materials: The tools you need when sealing indoor concrete include asphalt brush, paint roller, paint sprayer, vacuum, and putty knife. For the materials, you need to prepare a chemical stripper, degreaser, and concrete sealer.
• Remove Old Sealer: Before applying the new sealer, remove the old sealer first. If you’re unsure if the concrete floor has sealer, pour water onto the concrete. If water soaks on the concrete surface, the floor hasn’t been sealed. You can remove old sealer through sandblasting but it can cause damage if incorrectly done. Instead of sandblasting, use an acid-based chemical stripper. Wear eyewear, gloves, and protective clothing before applying it.
• Apply the Sealant: Apply the sealant’s first coat and then wait for about two hours before you apply the second coat. Make sure to check the sealant product label for specific drying times. Generally, applying two thin coats of sealant ensure an even and smooth finish.

Painting Stage

Once the concrete floor is cleaned and all holes and cracks are repaired, you can proceed with the painting stage. Here’s how to paint concrete floors:

• Apply two primer coats using a paint roller and let the concrete floor dry thoroughly between coats.
• Apply two coats of paint using a paint compressor or paint roller and allow the floor to dry thoroughly between coats.
• Apply masonry sealer coats using a clean roller and let the floor dry completely between coats.

Skirting Board Preparation

Skirting boards hide the gap between the concrete floor and wall. Attaching the skirting board to a plasterboard wall is easy by gluing and nailing. However, going into concrete floor and wall requires some attention.

Conclusion

Preparing the concrete floor before painting and adding skirt boards starts by cleaning it first. Sand off, scrape, and vacuum dirt, debris, and gunk. The next step is to repair minor cracks and holes on the concrete flooring for even paint coat application and skirt board installation. Follow the steps shared above to come up with the best painting and skirt board installation outcomes.