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Original poster

Painting wooden floorboards

12 replies

022828MAN · 02/08/2020 17:29

Has anyone done this before? I'm really keen to paint my downstairs (hall, 2 reception rooms) in standard 1930s semi.
If anyone could help answer the following questions it'd be a great help -

  • how long did it take in total? Could I do it in a weekend?
  • how thoroughly do I need to sand the floor first? What would I need to hire?
  • I'm 30 weeks pregnant, is it an easy enough job to do?
  • did you do all rooms at the same time or stagger it?
  • how much did it cost in total with all equipment and paint?
  • what is the best paint for the job?

Thanks in advance, I'd really like to get it done in the next month or so if possible!

OP posts:
Beachhuts90 · 02/08/2020 18:07

how long did it take in total? Could I do it in a weekend?

It took me a 3 day weekend to do one double bedroom. You need to prime, let it dry, and generally 2 coats. My husband had already sanded beforehand so you need to add that to the time--it took him a few hours

how thoroughly do I need to sand the floor first? What would I need to hire?
We bought a hand sander from Wilko and he did two rounds. We could have done another tbh but it looks good with just the two. There are industrial ones but this was a small space with awkward corners around the fireplace so the hand one worked well for us.

I'm 30 weeks pregnant, is it an easy enough job to do?
Honestly you'll need a mask as the fumes are more powerful when they are under you than on a wall! I also bruised my foot crawling around painting, which was a bit awkward. I was very tired after it but I guess it depends how you are at the moment.

did you do all rooms at the same time or stagger it?
We are staggering it.

how much did it cost in total with all equipment and paint
It depends on the paint you use! The sander cost about £20.

what is the best paint for the job?
We used gloss one coat. It needed two coats but the gloss is very hardy.

Original poster
022828MAN · 02/08/2020 18:14

Beachhuts90

Thanks so much for the detailed response!
Did the sanding create a problematic amount of dust? Would we need to remove everything off all shelves etc or is just removing floor furniture enough?

It does sound like a bigger job than I perhaps anticipated, probably naively.

OP posts:
Bishoprick · 02/08/2020 18:22
  • how long did it take in total? Could I do it in a weekend?

Unlikely!

  • how thoroughly do I need to sand the floor first? What would I need to hire?

Depends on the state of the floors. I had to hire a man with an industrial sander for mine, as the carpets had been glued to the floor (!) However, if the floor is ok, a hand-sander would be ok (did this in another house). It's a bit long winded, but feasible.

  • I'm 30 weeks pregnant, is it an easy enough job to do?

Ouch. I wouldn't have been able to get up off the floor at 30 weeks pregnant, and had severe SPD, but it depends on how you are generally.

  • did you do all rooms at the same time or stagger it?

With that number of rooms/spaces, probably one at a time.

  • how much did it cost in total with all equipment and paint?

I think the sander was £60 per day, and the man £15 per hour. Paint - depends on what you use.

  • what is the best paint for the job?

Farrow and Ball Floor Paint, or Johnstone's copy of F&B.

Expect it to need re-doing every year in areas of high traffic - but the re-coating is much, much quicker and easier.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

3rd trimester General pregnancy Home improvement
Bishoprick · 02/08/2020 18:23

PS It was dusty, but the industrial sander has a kind of Hoover bag for the worst of it. The man was wearing a mask. I didn't wear a mask when doing it myself as I hate them, but probably should have done.

Original poster
022828MAN · 02/08/2020 18:36

Thanks Bishop, I think I was probably being too optimistic. It's not something urgent, but our floorboards are a really dark varnish which really dampens the light downstairs, so cosmetic not essential.
I think nesting mode has kicked in and I want to get a load of jobs done before baby arrives, but I'll put this on the back burner I think.

OP posts:
ParadiseLaundry · 02/08/2020 18:47

Just wanted to say that I sanded our floors when I was 36 weeks pregnant and actually found it quite comfortable! Being on your hands and knees when heavily pregnant is one if the mist comfortable positions imo.

Bishoprick · 02/08/2020 19:56

OP, dark varnish is a bugger to get off properly (I've done this, too).

Obviously, you can always do a slightly botched job, which nobody (apart from you) will ever notice. My DP would happily just paint over whatever was already there. We have had Words about this. He has sometimes prevailed, and he is right that it's okay. Though I am right that it needs to be done properly... So it does partly depend on how you are about this stuff. I am a botcher generally, but not about decorating!

@ParadiseLaundry I am in awe. I was immobile at that stage. Imagine 6 stone, 5 foot woman with SPD and 10 stone heavier, harbouring 11lb babies and an awful lot of fluid. That was me. I couldn't even sodding breathe or eat, never mind bend over. 😂

Bishoprick · 02/08/2020 19:57

Ha ha. Not 10 stone heavier - just 10 stone. So 3 stone heavier! 😂

ParadiseLaundry · 02/08/2020 20:25

@Bishoprick Ah, well that was my first pregnancy. I don't think I was quite as nimble in my second Grin

Anordinarymum · 02/08/2020 20:33

I have a room which is the other part of an extension. It's off the kitchen and we use it as a TV room and my grandson plays in there. It originally had carpet down but that only lasted five minutes after we moved in.

We have dogs and cats and sometimes when I come down in the morning one of the dogs has weed so I need a floor I can mop.

I started last week sanding the boards, and now I am in the process of wiping the boards down with meths and varnishing with Ronseal Antique Pine in Satin finish.

It is looking good. If when I have finished it does not have he desired effect I can always put Lino down so there is no real harm done is what I think.

bluebird243 · 02/08/2020 22:19

I've a bungalow with wide white painted floorboards throughout. Everyone who comes here remarks on them and likes them and they are still looking good after 8.5 years. I've repainted once in that time [a light sand, and one room at a time]. However I live on my own now so it's easy to keep clean. If had a family I might choose a more practical colour...muted blue or grey.

I did a primer coat and top coat originally as it was going to be temporary while I did the whole place up. It looked so good that I did another top coat and decided to keep them painted. I've woven rugs around the place and it all looks fresh and cheerful. I wouldn't go back to carpets now.

Butterer · 03/08/2020 18:11

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