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Home decoration

Has anyone painted their floorboards?

27 replies

mamaonion · 04/07/2013 10:44

We have inherited some pretty scruffy and in parts damaged pine floor boards in our new house. I love the simplicity of painted floor boards, I think I'd go for an off-white/grey shade. My Dad keeps warning me its a one way road, you could never get back to the natural wood once painted - but I think you'd be hard pushed to make the boards beautiful just refinishing the wood.

But we have 3 boisterous young boys - can a painted floor stand up to the kind of wear and tear a young family will subject it to? I've been talking to an Annie Sloane supplier who has recommended her paint with the floor lacquer over it, can anyone testify whether Annie Sloane paint is any good on floors? Or recommend another paint? And is it best to paint it yourself or get someone in? The professional floor repairer I just spoke to says he doesn't do painting - but he'll have a look to quote for repairs/sanding. TIA

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lolalotta · 05/07/2013 08:50

I will reply later properly when I have a bit more time (painting our floor boards RIGHT NOW!) I have gone with Farrow and Ball "Off White" which is actually a grey-ish colour with a hint of green depending on what time of day it is and how the light is hitting it! I LOVE it and very easy to apply. Will chat more later...

lolalotta · 05/07/2013 08:51

I have experience of Annie Sloan paint too so will defo get back to you!

Pantone363 · 05/07/2013 08:59

No. But I did peek under my disgusting living room carpet last night and found lovely floorboards....

Lilyargin · 05/07/2013 21:14

I painted my DD's bedroom floorboards white and it looks fabulous. I would not want to change it for stripped boards. I mistakenly began with anti-slip paint as I thought this might be good. It was not, but is hidden under her bed. Easy to clean, looks fantastic, go for it!

mamaonion · 06/07/2013 22:23

Thanks Lilyargin that's good to hear!
Lolalotta I'm eagerly awaiting your words of wisdom once you've rinsed the brushes out

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lolalotta · 07/07/2013 06:36

Hello! Soooooo, we arranged for a floor man to come in and take up the carpet, lift the floor boards to butt them up closer together (to stop the draughts), take a concrete plinth out the floor that once divided the sitting room/ living room, take out the hearth in the dining room we no longer wanted (replacing with floor boards), strip the floor and seal it. Only problem was, firstly some of the boards got broken during the lifting process so had to be replaced with reclaimed (expensive) and the original boards that were there were all varying shades of pine! Once he test patched sealed them with an Osmo oil and a varnish in clear they looked TERRIBLE!!!!! So awful, no continuity of colour whatsoever, and very orangey and stripy. I was quite scared at this point about what we had started! So, I ordered some tester pots of darker stains to try and disguise the inconsistency of the colour of the boards but when these turned up and he applied the they looked terrible too. So I had no choice but to paint the floor! ( I'm 32 weeks pregnant!) My floor guy didn't paint either, plus by which point we couldn't afford the labour anyway!

lolalotta · 07/07/2013 06:47

Sorry about the essay, just thought I had better post before I lost it or something! Any way I started researching paint, Little Greene paint Company floor paint is meant to be very good quality and hard wearing, but it is oil based and takes a long time to dry between coats etc so I thought it wasn't a good idea for me to go with that because of the paint fumes etc! So I looked into Farrow and all, so much colour choice! About 132 shades?!? I couldn't find many reviews of it online so took a gamble. We had to buy the F&B knot sealer/ primer and undercoat and the paint itself, not cheap!!! About £150 altogether (that was a 5 litre tin of top coat) Anyway, when the floor man had finished his sanding I got started, and have been very relieved and pleased with how well the F&B has gone on and how much I like the colour we went with! If you do go with F&B, don't apply the knot sealer too thickly or it will show through subsequent layers and always keep with the grain of the wood through the whole process!

imademarion · 07/07/2013 06:51

Yes, every house I've lived in, I've painted the floorboards off white. I love it, maximises light and you can chuck down rugs and kilims if you want a change in autumn/winter.

Tell your dad most stripped floors began with paint on them somewhere; the Victorians used thick pa k paint round the outside of carpets. It's a pain sanding off, but not impossible. Yours sound awful at the moment.

Once furniture is moved, actual painting is really easy and relaxing. They will look stunning. AS paint will go on anything with min prep. F&B floor paint well worth the money.

Scuffs chips and marks add to the charm IMO.

lolalotta · 07/07/2013 06:51

I applied it with a roller (let me know if you want the details of what size roller/ pile I used and got done very handy advice from an expert) and then "layed it off" with a large brush ( I didn't know what this meant, apparently it is once rolled, you strike the large brush as lightly as you can over the area you have rolled along the length of the floor boards to erase the stipple marks! It worked a treat and gave a beautiful finish!

lolalotta · 07/07/2013 06:51

*i got some

lolalotta · 07/07/2013 06:52

*stroke not strike, silly phone!

lolalotta · 07/07/2013 06:55

Anyway, I have had a large area to cover so it hasn't been quick as I have a toddler to work around, but I am very happy with the result and and the paint seems to be tough stuff, though I have no idea of how it will wear I afraid only time will tell!!! Good luck with the decision, I am very pleased I was pushed to paint, I prefer it to the varnished look now!!

lolalotta · 07/07/2013 06:56

Let me know if you have any questions! BTW, I needed 3 coats of top coat, despite the catalogue said I would need 2...

lolalotta · 07/07/2013 06:56

Sorry the reply was so long!

lolalotta · 07/07/2013 07:01

I have only used Annie Sloan paint on furniture but it is chalkey so not as easy to apply IMO! Especially if you want an even finish. It would 't go as far as F&B IMO either...plus findihing with a lacquer defeats the point of the chalk IYKWIM?

pettyprudence · 08/07/2013 21:36

I have f&b floor paint - goes on beautifully but chips very very quickly. very quick to dry and low oudor but for durability I would go back to an oil based paint. I've used cheap white gloss many times and its lasted way better than f&b. I love the colours but the quality of most f&b paint is piss poor (you can add exterior gloss to their list of crap products)

SwedishEdith · 08/07/2013 21:47

I did it in my last house. Mixed International Floor paint in white and grey to get a pale grey. Floor was already painted a pale green when I bought the house. It was great, I loved it. Don't do what I did though -mix the paint without noting quantities used. Tricky when it comes to matching up for the floor you can't paint first time

lolalotta · 09/07/2013 06:36

Oh nooooooo Petty, don't say that!!
:(
I want to cry now! It's taken me ages to do mine! Did u uses their primer/ undercoat too? And how many top coats did you do?

pettyprudence · 09/07/2013 21:50

ill be honest I didnt use the primer as the man in the paint shop said it was the norm with floor paint to let it soak into the wood (no varnish on my floors). ive done up to 3 coats in dome rooms. the paint just seems too thin and flaky (which is why it has fast drying times I guess). im stuck with it throughout the entire house now and I havent wven finished!
get the layland floor paint the paint shop man recommend to me. its also acrylic based (low odour, fast drying) and actually appears to work oh and costs a third of the price of f&b. much smaller colour selection though

mamaonion · 10/07/2013 13:02

Thanks all for your experiences. The durability issue was what concerned me-as I know it'll be a massive job, and I have 3 (ahem) active ds. Anyone else tried different brands- and then tested!!?

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mamaonion · 10/07/2013 13:04

pettyprudence isn't there the problem with traditional oil based gloss that they will yellow with time? Or have you not found that?

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mamaonion · 10/07/2013 13:08

Also would like to add a round of applause for lolalotta for painting a floor at 32 weeks pg!!!

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pettyprudence · 10/07/2013 18:39

No I can't say I have had yellowing with the oil based. If you are already in the house though it may be better to go with the Layland acrylic floor paint as oil based needs 16-24hours between coats and 48hours drying before walking on/putting furniture on (apparently).

OrangeSunset · 17/07/2013 19:40

We've used Little Greene's floorpaint in DD's room, in the Shirting colour. It's brilliant. Really smelt strongly when we put it on but the smell subsided quickly. It hasn't marked or chipped at all, and shows no signs of yellowing. It's a very good finish and I'd definitely use it again

user1471721279 · 10/07/2017 10:31

lolalotta you are a star
Ax

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