Diamond Floor Painting

Room by Room : Episode RXR-405 -- More Projects »
PHOTO

Paint patterns on floors for another area of interest.
Materials:

hammer/nail set
roller tray
1/8" roller cover
extension pole
paint brush
sandpaper
pencil
straightedge
tape measure
masking tape
porch and floor enamel

Steps:

  1. The first thing you need to do is prep the floor for painting. Walk around and set all loose or popped up nails. Tap down the nails with a hammer, being careful not to dent the floor (called "rose budding" by builders). Smaller nails may need to be set with a nail set. Once all the nails are set, wash the floor using a mild household detergent. Rinse with clear water and allow to dry. If the floor has been previously painted, sand the surface lightly with a 120 grit sandpaper. A pole sander can come in handy for this step. Remove all the dust by using a vacuum and wipe clean with a damp mop. This step will allow the new base coat to adhere properly.
PHOTO

Figure A
  • After you have selected your base coat color, roll on the first coat of paint(figure A). Make sure to use Dutch Boy Porch and Floor enamel. This product is formulated to withstand the foot traffic, and designed to be used specifically on floors. Allow to dry, and if needed, apply a second coat. I find that it is much easier on your back if you use an extension pole to roll on your paint. Allow the paint to dry for at least 24 hours and move on to the next step.
  • For the floor we did in the attic we chose a diamond pattern. You can use any design you want, but the process is the same. Lay out the design using a tape measure, a straight edge, and a pencil. Our attic's full dimensions measured 27' x 14'. We divided evenly and decided that our diamonds would be 3' x 2' from point to point. Once the design has been laid out, use masking tape and mask off the area that is going to be painted. For the diamond pattern we had to skip over every other diamond.
  • Using a roller with a short nap, roll on the technique color. Be careful not to roll past the taped off area, but make sure you do roll part way onto the tape.
    • PHOTO

    Figure B
    Using a paint brush, drag through the paint to create brush marks, then immediately remove the masking tape (figure B). Repeat these steps for all the diamonds. After the floor has been completely painted, allow the floor to dry at least 48 hours before placing furniture on it.

    Color Advice:
    This is normally done in two colors, a lighter background color and a slightly darker topcoat color for a sophisticated look, or a very much darker topcoat color for a fun, or fanciful look.

    Painting floors is a great way to add color and pattern to a room. Just make sure you really want to paint your floor--it's a lot more work to remove it, than it is to paint it.

    Also in this Episode
    Room by Room : Episode RXR-405
    •Attic Storage Redo
    •Diamond Floor Painting