Whether you need to paint concrete floors of common spaces in apartment buildings, a garage of a private house or a concrete floor of a small business site, there’s a few things that need to be considered every time.
Choose the right product
The right product choice depends on the durability requirements of the floor surface: whether it is for light, moderate, or hard-wear use. A single-component paint can be enough if the space will mainly be used on foot or for storing bicycles or smaller items.
However, a more durable two-component product is likely needed for a concrete floor. For example, epoxy coatings are durable and highly resistant making them suitable for spaces where surfaces are subjected to hard wear. If additional safety is required, epoxy coatings can be mixed with sand to add texture to provide better slip resistance.
The product also affects the appearance: do you want the floor to be matt or gloss? A concrete floor can be more than just grey. You can play with colours or patterns; with Tikkurila's products you have tons of options.
Use the product correctly
Especially with two-component products it is critical to use them correctly. You should follow precise instructions on the ratio in which these components should be mixed. If the components are mixed in an incorrect ratio, it might create various issues such as the product failing to form a hard plastic film, remaining too soft and tacky, or causing colour discrepancies. Use the right ratio and stir thoroughly to achieve a perfect mixture.
You should also follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how long time you can work with the mix after combining the components (pot-life) and overcoating, meaning the time the products need to dry before adding a new coat.
Prepare the surface well
Proper surface preparation is crucial for a successful result. Before starting you should investigate the condition of the substrate and make sure it is clean; pay attention to dust and dirt, grease, or oil stains. There may be an old, poorly attached coating or laitance on the floor that needs to be removed, but at the very least, the floor needs to be prepared, for example by grinding . If the substrate is prepared poorly, even the best combination of products will not work properly.
During the preparation phase, all cracks, holes, and gaps also need to be patched with a putty. Mixing sand with a patching compound can be used to fill in cracks and gaps, improving the durability and final appearance of the finish. Before applying the putty, it is important to prime the areas that require patching and sand the patched areas after drying. Smooth surface is the key to a neat finish.
Ensure good painting conditions
It's important to have good lighting and ventilation to avoid making mistakes. Insufficient lighting can lead to poor results which may need to be redone the following day. Good ventilation improves air quality and helps the paint to dry adequately.
The paint manufacturer recommends optimal painting conditions for their products, including appropriate temperature, humidity, and concrete moisture levels. You should follow these recommendations to achieve an ideal result. For example, with most of Tikkurila’s two-component epoxy paints the relative humidity of the concrete should not exceed 97 percent and during painting and drying, the temperature of the air, surface and paint must be over +15°C and the relative humidity of the air below 80 percent.
Make sure you have everything you need on site
Ensure that you have correct tools and appropriate materials on site. Also, make sure that you have enough material so that if any component is missing, it won't disrupt the project. It would be inconvenient to have to interrupt the task during the work and it might affect the result. How many square meters is the area where you will be working on? Again, it is important to turn to the paint manufacturer’s instructions to calculate a correct amount of material to prepare and paint the concrete floor area.
On site you need to wear protective equipment to ensure your own safety. Good protective equipment prevents you from excessive exposure. Depending on the project and the products that are used you most likely need protective clothing and eyewear, gloves, and a mask.
Watch here step-by-step instructions how to apply Temafloor P300 topcoat to a new concrete garage floor.
Learn more about our high quality coating solutions for concrete floors.
You’re visiting Tikkurila website from United Kingdom. Would you like to visit the local UK site?
