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Can Vinyl Floor Be Painted?

Vinyl floors have exciting properties.

From the durability to the versatility, and water-resistance, they have become more widely used than ever.

While they are quite easy to install, you can find it really challenging to remove and replace them whenever you choose to remodel.

To avoid going through the somewhat unnecessary step of removing and replacing your vinyl floor, why not consider painting it?

If for one reason or another, you need to update your vinyl floor, there are a number of options you can choose from.

However, if you are wondering if painting your vinyl floor is one of the suitable options available to you, we will answer that question in this article.

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Can They Be Painted?

It is not so easy to paint vinyl floors because the surfaces are not the most receptive to paint.

However, this is not to say that it is absolutely impossible to paint them.

In fact, painting vinyl floors is an affordable way of renewing the shine of your interior spaces when your floor eventually starts to look dull.

By spending way lesser than you would with any other remodeling option, you can get your floors looking good again. 

Apart from the fact that vinyl floors are not very receptive to paint, they also stain quite easily.

So they require you to be really careful when painting on them.

If you eventually decide to paint your vinyl floor, there are some guidelines you should follow to get desirable results, and these guidelines are discussed below.

How to Paint Vinyl Floors

You need to get all the tools and materials required for the painting process.

It is imperative that you get everything ready before you take the first step, so as not to make a mess of the whole process.

Materials you will need include:

  • Latex Primer
  • Porch and Floor Paint
  • Roller
  • Painters Tape
  • Sandpaper
  • Caulk/Wood Filler
  • Deglosser
  • Paint Brush
  • Rubber Gloves
  • Paint Brush
  • All-purpose/Heavy-duty Cleaner

1. Planning

When you fail to plan before you start painting, there is a possibility that you won’t get the results you want.

From choosing the paint color to getting the tools ready, and choosing the pattern you desire, you will find the painting process more comfortable if you take time out for thorough planning.

2. Clean the floor

You have to clear the room of all furniture pieces and elements to get access to the whole floor.

This may be quite tricky in spaces with permanent features.

It is not always necessary to remove these permanent features as you can easily paint around them.

After clearing out the room, you need to clean the floor.

While you can clean the floor with an all-purpose cleaner, you should use a heavy-duty cleaner when the floor is very dirty.

Allow some time for the floor to dry out before you move on to the next step.

3. Sanding

The smoothness of vinyl floors is responsible for the unreceptive nature to paints.

To prepare vinyl floor surfaces for painting, there is a need to get rid of the smooth top finish by sanding.

A 220 grit circular sandpaper is perfect for the job.

After sanding, you will need to wipe the floor clean again.

4. Repair Floor

If you discover holes and certain sections of your floor, it is usually a good idea to cover them up before you continue the painting process.

A wood filler or caulk will do this job perfectly.

However, you should only fill relatively small holes, huge holes cannot be repaired by merely filling with caulk/wood filler.

5. Apply Deglosser

After you have sanded and repaired whatever holes you find repairable.

You can either prime directly or apply a deglosser first.

It is not compulsory to use it, but a layer of deglosser will significantly improve the bonding of the floor with the paint.

Just like you would do with the paint, apply the deglosser with a roller that has a long handle.

You will need protective eye gear and rubber gloves for the application.

Additionally, make sure there is sufficient airflow into the room when applying the deglosser.

The next step is to prime the floor.

However, allow some time for the floor to dry before you go ahead.

6. Priming

A typical latex wall primer is sufficient to prime your vinyl floor.

Apply in the same way applied the deglosser, with a long paint roller.

The primer will further improve the paint’s coverage of your vinyl floor and reduce the number of paint layers you will need to achieve a smooth.

Just one coat of latex primer is sufficient to get your floor ready for painting.

However, you should also let the primer dry out completely before you paint. Preferably, let it dry overnight.

7. Painting

After carrying out the preparatory steps, you can now ahead to paint your vinyl floor.

It is really important that you use “Porch and Floor Paint” to paint your floors, because of the traffic floors are predisposed to.

Cover your trims with painter’s tape, if you are not painting them.

Also, you should paint areas that are close to the walls and corners with a smaller brush and then go ahead to paint the more open areas with a roller.

Depending on personal preference, you can either apply one or two coats of paint.

Nevertheless, one coat of paint should be sufficient if your floor has been primed.

If you are going to make patterns on your floor, you should set out to do that after priming by laying the tapes according to the pattern you want.

Allow the paint to dry totally before moving furniture back into the room.

Conclusion

Painting your vinyl floor is a very affordable way of updating your interior décor and improving the aesthetics of your interior space.

Unlike carpets and linoleums that are easy to remove and replace, vinyl floors cannot be simply removed after they have been installed.

This is another reason why you should consider painting your vinyl floor against a total replacement.

To ensure a smooth painting process, pay attention to the steps discussed above, and follow them to the latter.