[ckinser3boys]

Hello,
So excited to have found this open forum. I have an older home and grew up with a father who can fix and do anything, but didn't pass the knowledge along to me so well. I'm all about DIY but afraid I'll mess things up and it'll cost more to fix once I've screwed up.
It's currently about 30degrees where I live, but I'm a Teacher and it's Christmas break. So only time I have to paint my basement floor. I recently pulled up the carpet, have 3 boys who love to slop around down there and painting it is my best option.
I understand the importance of prepping the floor first. My biggest questions are:
When cleaning floor for prep is broom, vacuum & soapy water good enough?
Is Epoxy water based paint a wise choice?
How many coats needed?
What am I looking at as far as drying time with cold temps.?
Thanks so much!

 

[handyman_20772]

Make sure the floor is completely clean and dry, and at a proper temperature you may need a couple of fans to promote air movement. Some concrete floor paints may require extra steps prior to painting and you should also make sure you don't have any moisture problems in the basement. You will have to take care of this if you do prior to any painting, and as far as using epoxy floor paint for your basement it may be a good choice, check out DryLoc floor paint. Also, add your location, take some pictures and let us know your progress.

 

[princelake]

yup exactly what handyman said. i'd sweep,vac, and then mop the floor really good. there are lots of different paints for different finishes. what time of finish are you trying to achieve? will this be your finished with gloss or are you going to eventually go back over with a new floor covering? in those temps it can 24-36hours for the paint to dry. heaters, fans, and dehu's can speed up the drying time.

 

[Brushjockey]

All of the above.
I find i have never vac'd enough. Hate to find bits as I'm painting. Vac, wash, vac and then vac.

I like BM's waterborne epoxy reinforced floor paint.
Dries to a hard sort of eggshell (ie not real shiny) finish. Self priming. Dries pretty quick.
read and follow label.

 

[Matthewt1970]

The water based epoxies have come a long way. We did a wash kennel for a vet hospital over the summer with some 2 part water based epoxy. Once that stuff dried you couldn't peel it out of our buckets with a jackhammer. I would be hesitant to put it on a floor without a sand/traction additive.

 

[Grants Painting]

Hello,
So excited to have found this open forum. I have an older home and grew up with a father who can fix and do anything, but didn't pass the knowledge along to me so well. I'm all about DIY but afraid I'll mess things up and it'll cost more to fix once I've screwed up.
It's currently about 30degrees where I live, but I'm a Teacher and it's Christmas break. So only time I have to paint my basement floor. I recently pulled up the carpet, have 3 boys who love to slop around down there and painting it is my best option.
I understand the importance of prepping the floor first. My biggest questions are:
When cleaning floor for prep is broom, vacuum & soapy water good enough?
Is Epoxy water based paint a wise choice?
How many coats needed?
What am I looking at as far as drying time with cold temps.?
Thanks so much!

Read these two articles for everything you need
http://www.greenwoodindianapolispai...-paint-and-finish-your-cement-basement-floor/