Big Mistake or Brilliant Design Hack?

I acquired a 100-calendar year-previous property with wood floors that experienced witnessed a lot of wear and tear. And many other components of the home were quite pretty much slipping apart (or off the property as was the case in a screened porch), but there was no renovation cash remaining to redo the flooring.

So I opted for an reasonably priced, speedy fix for the worn-out floors: paint them sea-foam green.

Painted floors are colorful and breezy, and evoke a certain laid-back again vibe. But a wide expanse of paint which is exposed to toes, paws, sneakers, and dust can get defeat up rapid. And so a debate rages on whether painting a wooden floor is a low-cost way to add coloration to your home—or a big blunder that disrespects wooden.

We talked to professionals to get the skinny on the pros and drawbacks of portray wood flooring. (And how to paint flooring thoroughly if you are tempted.)

Why would another person paint a wood flooring?

Wood floor absolutists could shudder at the assumed of painting above a wood’s grain. And we get that. Yet some wood floors are over and above saving and may perhaps need to be changed. If that’s not an selection, portray the wooden might be a fantastic stopgap.

Refinishing a wooden floor can expense an common of $1,815, in accordance to HomeAdvisor. (Painting a floor comes down to elbow grease and the charge of the paint you select.)

Incorporating the previous pop of coloration (even if it’s white or gray) to a flooring also adds model and identity to a place, or allows brighten it.

“Painting a wooden floor can be an eye-catching solution, as it can assist to produce a exclusive search and incorporate distinction to a home,” claims Chris Alexakis, an inside designer and founder of CabinetSelect.

A further as well as? You can insert a sample to your wooden flooring for an added decorative component.

The downsides of a painted floor

The key disadvantage to painting a ground is that it can scratch, chip, and peel if you’re not thorough or didn’t paint effectively.

And if you do ultimately want to go for a normal glimpse, rehabbing a painted flooring is not easy—and could, in reality, be not possible to reverse.

But most likely the greatest pitfall of a painted ground is that “it can have an affect on your home’s current market value,” states Steve Elliott, proprietor of Restoration 1 in Minnetonka, MN. “There are nonetheless buyers who desire authentic and nicely-managed flooring to tailored types.”

So in advance of you operate out and acquire a can of paint, do some major imagining about the future of your flooring.

Do the prep

If you determine to go ahead with painting your wooden ground, it’s crucial to appropriately prep the surface.

“Fix and fill any cracks, gaps, or nail holes right before portray,” advises Alexakis. “I would also advocate sanding the flooring to make certain a easy surface area.”

Right before you begin to paint, make sure the flooring is clean up, absolutely free of any peeling prior finishes and that any wax- or oil-centered cleansing goods have been eliminated.

“If you really do not conduct this do the job, you might inadvertently eliminate the possibility of ever restoring the wood to its primary, purely natural shade,” explains Robert Taylor, proprietor and president of the Real Estate Methods Person. “Your paint will seep down amongst the cracks and holes, requiring deeper sanding [and cost] to remove the noticeable paint.”

Select your paint very carefully

Familiarize you with the difference among oil- and drinking water-centered paints. Oil-dependent paints can be tough to utilize but are very long lasting. On the other hand, water-based mostly paints are much easier to get the job done with but can scratch far more simply.

“I painted the ground of our daughter’s space white,” claims Daniel Morris of Fire and Observed. “I employed an oil-dependent pigmented sealer to key the ground and then rolled two coats of top quality hard-donning fence paint on major.”

Use your paint with a brush.

“If you use a nap roller, you’re likely to get a rougher finish,” suggests Doug Greene, proprietor of Signature Properties in Philadelphia who purchases and remodels 200-year-outdated homes. “You’ll get a superior and smoother complete on your flooring by acquiring on your fingers and knees and brushing.”

And finally, contemplate what type of sheen you want—a matte, shiny, or satin finish. Whilst it arrives down to your preference, “having some level of gloss does raise the protective coating,” says Greene. “However, with satin, you get a a lot more subtle glimpse to your finish.”

As a closing contact, you can add a polyurethane topcoat for extra durability. Morris recommends allowing the paint cure for an complete week to harden thoroughly. Also, be positive to adequately vent the place to crystal clear the paint fumes.

The base line

In the end, no matter whether or not to paint your wooden floor arrives down to your spending plan and private aesthetic.

“Painting could be a excellent choice if you are seeking for an straightforward and price-effective way to change the seem of your house considerably,” suggests Nick Lines, director at Inner Doors. “On the other hand, refinishing may perhaps be the far better choice if you are hunting for one thing that won’t have to have normal upkeep or contact-ups.”

On the fence about portray an complete place? Then take into account portray a mudroom or a included porch that can cope with a handful of dents and scratches.