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What's a cheap coating I can put on an chip board floor?

2K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  Red Squirrel 
#1 ·
I am installing dricore in my basement and I want to use this as the main floor for now. In the future I might put down laminate or something, but that's far down the road. What's something I can put on it that is fairly cheap and easy to do? I was originally thinking varnish, but I don't know how cheap that is going to be, I have about 1100 square feet to do. What about floor wax, like what they use on vinyl tiles? Idealy I want something I can just slap on quickly and will smooth it out so I can walk bare feet on it.

I'm kind of "half doing" the basement so I can at least make it comfortable (insulate etc) but I don't have immediate plans to do the finish work, so that's why I just want to make this floor usable. If I put any finish on it, it will make it harder when it comes time to do the rest like painting etc.
 
#2 ·
If it's temporary. a couple of years==I'd use a porch and floor paint--

When it becomes grubby looking--add another coat. Perhaps use a thin commercial carpet in the walk ways to keep the feet warm in the winter.
 
#4 ·
Never even thought of paint, might go for that. So a light sanding to get rid of any slivers sticking out, primer, then porch paint.

I also see cans of polyurethane at home depot for like 10 bucks, is that even worth considering? I also see some for 50 bucks, guessing it's one of those things where you get what you pay for. Paint might work out better though, there are some spots where I kinda miss measured and have like an inch gap that I will have to fill with something, so paint will make that more seamless. Not that I care that much how it looks, but if it turns out half decent I might stick with it for a while.
 
#7 ·
Second that. If you look at primer labels closely they state that it is not recommended for floors. And the P&F paint will state that you should use it for the primer and finish coat.
 
#8 ·
I also concur with the P&P paint.....as a temp measure.....

It sounds like you have the rough side up on that OSB....you want to make sure you get all the 'strays' off.....you might want to consider thinning the first coat so you get a good absorption into the OSB (experts, please correct me if I'm wrong).

Then...if it was me....I would give that coat after it dried a sand to knock down any rough spots. I realize you don't want it real smooth....but the pp has sort of a slightly rough texture to it already so the second coat won't be slippery.

Take some pics and let us know how it turns out.
 
#9 ·
There's only one "side" to this as it's dricore tiles. It's fine to walk on with socks but I would not walk on it bare foot as it is now. There is the odd strand that might be sticking out.

It's not that rough, but I probably would not want to walk bare feet on it due to the odd strand that might be sticking out, mostly at the cut edges though, which I'll be sanding and shoving glue in the seams.







Still got more work to do before I get to this stage though, but think I'll go ahead and go with paint. Also good to know about not needing a primer. I'll be going to a paint store anyway so I'll make sure I get the right stuff and that it does not require a primer.

Maybe I can use Behr. :jester:
 
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