5 Floor Painting Nightmares And How To Avoid Them

While floor paint gives concrete a beautiful and durable finish, painting concrete is not quite as straightforward as painting other materials. The most common cause of problems is a lack of preparation but other factors can also lead to a painting nightmare. Whether you’re an expert painter or a complete novice, it’s always advisable to follow the product instructions carefully to avoid a disappointing result.

1) Peeling

Peeling paint or “fisheye” circles in the finish are the result of a lack of preparation. The surface to be painted must be perfectly free of grease, wax, and oil, or any other type of contamintation so it’s essential to use the correct cleaner. And because floor paint will not adhere to a completely smooth surface, the concrete must also be abraded by a process of acid etching.

2) Bubbles

The most common reason for bubbles appearing in the paint is moisture in the concrete. After cleaning and acid etching, the concrete should be left to dry for at least 24-48 hours or the water that is trapped in the pores of the concrete will gradually rise to the surface and cause bubbles to form in the paint.

3) Uneven Appearance

If the finish is uneven in appearance, with variations in colour and with some areas appearing less glossy than others, it’s almost certainly because not enough paint has been applied. Make sure you order enough paint to cover the area properly, as trying to stretch it out by spreading it thinly will give a disappointing result.

4) Problems Associated With Incorrect Mixing

Two-pack epoxy paint should be mixed with a paddle attached to a slow drill for about 3-4 minutes let it stand for a minute and repeat. This ensures that the catalyst is well mixed and also that the colour pigment is evenly distributed.

5) Paint Not Hardening

With Two Pack Epoxy if the paint does not harden properly, it’s will be down to the temperature at the time of application or due to the catalyst not being mixed in correctly. Below 10°C, the paint will not cure properly and if the temperature is too high - above 25°C - the paint will remain usable for a much shorter period.

Ask The Floor Paint Experts

The nightmares we’ve described are easy to avoid. Make sure you allow enough time for your project, prep the floor thoroughly and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. For more information and advice download our free ebook, The Ultimate Floor Paint Guide.

Image Source: Unsplash