A boring gray cement floor can be transformed with the addition of a few coats of paint. This process is not complicated but it can be time consuming. You will need to allow each coat of paint to dry completely before you apply the next. Use only paints specifically made for use on concrete. Regular latex paints designed for use on walls may not adhere to the floor properly and flake up, destroying your design.
1
Mop the floor with warm soapy water to remove any dirt or greasy residue. Rinse the floor by mopping with clean water afterward and allow the floor to dry completely.
2
Paint the cement floor with a concrete primer. Use a paint roller rather than a brush to speed up the process and remember to start painting away from the door to avoid painting yourself into a corner. Allow the primer to dry completely.
3
Apply a base coat of concrete paint to the floor with a paint roller. If you are creating a checkerboard design on the floor, use the lighter color as the base color. Allow the first coat of paint to dry and then apply a second coat of the base color.
4
Outline your design on the cement floor. You can do this by drawing a design with a pencil or piece of chalk, or you can tape a grid on the floor to create a checkerboard or diamond pattern. Stencils are another option--just tape the stencil in place to avoid blurring your design.
5
Paint in your designs with concrete paint in the colors of your choosing. Be careful not to step on any of the freshly painted areas and leave yourself a clear path so that you can walk out of the room when you are finished painting.
6
Apply water-based polyurethane clear coat to the floor after all of the paint has dried. Roll the clear coat on with a paint roller and allow it to dry. Repeat the application of the clear coat to apply at least three coats to the cement floor to protect your decorative paint job. You can apply up to eight coats for additional protection.
