Monday, April 19, 2010

How to paint vinyl floors; POST UPDATE...

This is an update to an older post so please indulge me and forgive the duplication.

Awhile back, I showed you how I painted my vinyl floors but reported that the paint I used had been discontinued. I think I may have found a solution. Check it out...

STIX Waterborne Bonding Primer is a premium quality, acrylic/urethane primer-sealer designed with a unique "Step Change Technology" that delivers unparalleled adhesion to the most challenging surfaces, such as.......PVC, Vinyl, Plastic, Glass, Tile, Glazed Block, Glossy Paints, Pre-Coated Siding, Fiberglass, and Galvanized Metals. STIX is also ideal for use on plaster, drywall, wood, and non-ferrous metals, where a low ambient or surface temperatures present a problem for conventional primers. It cures in temperatures as low as 35 F and offers an extremely hard film when cured. Use STIX on interior and exterior surfaces and topcoat with almost any type of coating including Alkyd, Acrylic Latex, Urethane, Epoxy, and Lacquer Finishes. STIX is a low VOC primer, which levels to a smooth surface and cleans up with soap and water.

  • Urethane Acrylic resins provide a tenacious bond to tough surfaces
  • White Pigmented
  • Accepts any finish coat
  • Applies easily with brush roller , or spray
  • MFG Brand Name : STIX
  • MFG Model # : SXA-110
  • MFG Part # : SXA110099-01
I found STIX at Home Depot.

Here's my original post...

When we moved into our 1980's house 9 years ago, the vinyl floors were hideous and in terrible shape.

Apparently, the former ranch hand chopped kindling with a hatchet on the kitchen floor. (We found the kindling but not the hatchet.)

Since we don't own the house, we didn't want to spend the money to replace them. So, I decided to paint them. The project cost $80 and it took me 11 days to complete the kitchen, laundry room, entry and bathroom. As you will see in a minute, they turned out great.

I found a paint that worked on floors and on vinyl siding so I thought it would be a good choice for vinyl floors. (The paint was McCloskey's All-in-One and I can't find it anymore.) I was right. Nearly 9 years after painting them, they are still in decent shape. And, let me tell you, our floors are used and abused.

Here's what I did...

Step 1) I gave the floors a very thorough cleaning by first sweeping, then vacuuming, then scrubbing them clean on my hands and knees with warm water.

Step 2) I rolled on three coats of off-white, letting the coats dry in between.


Step 3) Because there was already a square pattern stamped into the old vinyl, this step was much easier than if I'd had to measure. I taped off the inside of every other square with blue painter's tape then painted each with two coats of taupe, letting the coats dry in between.


Step 4) I carefully removed the tape.

Step 5) I applied five coats of water-based, satin Minwax Polycrylic with a brush, letting the coats dry in between.

POST UPDATE: I don't think the paint I used on my floors is available anymore. However, I saw a show on HGTV where they painted a vinyl bathroom floor. They used a high-adhesion primer first, followed by floor paint. I think a really important step with my floor was the Minwax Polycrylic on top, however, the paint I used was a matte finish. If you used a glossy floor paint, maybe you wouldn't need the shiny top coat.

When the homeowner saw my painted floors, he gasped because he thought I was going to hand him a bill for new vinyl. He was happy to reimburse me the $80 I spent on the project.

Here's the bathroom floor, 9 years later. This is the lowest-traffic area of all the areas I painted. I would have posted the kitchen but it's covered in muddy paw prints because we took a walk in the melting snow.

We're going for another walk tomorrow and the snow will be melting for awhile so I see no reason to clean it any time soon.

Linked to Make it for Monday, Metamorphosis Monday, Make Your Monday,
Motivate Me Monday, Transformation Thursday,
Show and Share Day, Sunday Scoop,
Saturday Night Special


16 comments:

  1. I never knew you could paint vinyl.Awesome job!
    stop by my blog..I am having a Kitchie swap between friends..come join us!!

    Cindy from Rick-Rack and Gingham

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  2. What a great idea. Yours looks great I'm thinking of doing something with my kitchen floor too. . .just maybe this would do it.
    Thanks for sharing.
    ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

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  3. Wow...that is amazing! We are in a rental with sad looking vinyl floors too, what a great solution.

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  4. I am speechless (what a miracle). I had no idea this was doable. My kitchen floor had that same pattern of vinyl squares when we bought the house. It wasn't possible to save it so we scraped them off and got new vinyl flooring that looks like laminate. Not too expensive but more than $80. Your landlord is right to be thankful; you did a great job. I know you'd rather be doing floors in Texas, right? When you think you'll be going back there?
    Debbie

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  5. wow...this is new to me, too. Love the grey and white floor - nic ejob and it has held up well. Stop over for a chance at a giveaway

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  6. What a fabulous transformation!! Years ago, before I bought my own house, I used to do whatever I could to fix up the rentals. I never knew about this tip, and if I had, I would have used it too. This is great!! Functional, pretty and inexpensive. Great post!!

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

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  7. Great post! Very encouraging for so many people!

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  8. Wow, you are brave and it turned out great.

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  9. wow that is so cool! they look great! I'd love for you to link up to sundae scoop http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/2010/04/sundae-scoop-2-link-party.html

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  10. Thank You! Thank you for this post! I have heard about painting vinyl but I have not been able to find any information on how to do it. Thanks for sharing . I am on my way to Home Depot.
    Dottie

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  11. Such a great idea- and thanks for the primer info!

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  12. Awesome idea! I want to paint my countertops in my new kitchen. Great idea.

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  13. That is amazing! Thanks SOOOO much. We rent also and it would be great to do to the 80s floors here too!

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  14. I will be saving this idea in my file. Who would have thought you could paint that stuff?
    I am so using this! Thanks for sharing, I found you on SNS.
    Rose

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  15. I have painted vinyl floors. It is time consuming but it saves money and they hold up very well when done right.

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