Cement floors are found in many homes. Whether in the garage or a basement, the cold, gray appearance of cement only adds to the gloomy atmosphere of these often forgotten rooms in your home. Adding a coat of paint to your cement floor can brighten up your basement or make your garage feel brand new.
Instructions
1. Remove any grease from your cement floor by laying down a coating of cat litter and baking soda. These will work to absorb any grease or oil than may have dripped from your car or tools in the garage.
2. Sweep away the cat litter and baking soda mixture and check for any greasy areas that remain. These should then be treated more aggressively with a commercially available grease remover before you can begin painting.
3. Mop the cement floor to remove any dust or dirt that remains after sweeping. You will need to let the cement dry for at least 3 days before proceeding with your project.
4. Repair any cracks in the cement with a cement filler once the floor is clean and dry. The manufacturer's instructions will give you information about drying and curing times for the product.
5. Use a roller to apply a cement primer. This is a primer paint specially designed for cement floors and is necessary to help the top coat adhere to the cement.
6. Choose a high-quality flat latex paint for your cement floor. Since this is an area that sees a lot of traffic, you should use the best paint that you can afford to ensure that it lasts a long time.
7. Paint around the edges of the floor with a medium-sized brush. Then apply paint to the rest of the floor with a paint roller, starting from one corner of the room and working towards the exit. If you are working in a garage, the best strategy may be to work with the garage doors open, painting from the back of the garage to the front.
8. Create a decorative look by taping off a pattern to paint on the cement floor. You can do a variety of faux treatments imitating marble, tile or even the look of an area rug on your cement floor.
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