How to Paint a Basement Floor

Most unfinished basements have a concrete floor. In its raw state, this material is usually unsightly. Many unfinished basements sit idle because homeowners aren't sure what to do with the space, but there are ways to make an unfinished basement much more welcoming and useful. A simple application of floor paint can be a quick, easy, and cost-effective way to make the environment more suitable for living space—especially for informal uses, such as a recreation room, workshop, or exercise room. If the concrete slab is smooth enough, a well-painted floor covered with good area rugs can be quite suitable for any number of uses.

Choosing the Right Paint

The best material for painting a basement floor is a two-part epoxy paint, which consists of an epoxy resin and a hardener mixed together. The hardening action involves a chemical reaction rather than evaporation, and the resulting surface is an extremely durable and chemical-resistant finish.

Another advantage of employing quality concrete epoxy in a basement is that it can help to waterproof the floor. The paint creates a tight membrane that will not allow water to pass through it, except under severe flooding conditions.

Safety Considerations

True epoxy paints are somewhat tricky to use since they produce toxic fumes that can be difficult to dissipate in the confined space of a basement. If you are using two-part epoxy, open all available windows and use fans to create cross-ventilation through the basement. Read the paint label carefully, and follow all recommendations for using breathing filters.

Many epoxy paints, and standard paints that are oil-based, produce fumes that are flammable. Take care not to use space heaters that produce open flames when painting with these products. Even gas water heaters or furnaces can pose a danger when painting a basement with epoxy or oil-based paint. The best method is to turn off gas appliances while painting; if supplemental heating is necessary, use electric space heaters that do not have an exposed heating element to gently heat the space.

Because two-part epoxy paints are somewhat difficult to use, many people prefer to use other types of concrete paints or floor coatings. Although some of these products also are labeled as epoxy paints, they are not true epoxies unless they include two parts that are mixed together.

If you use a one-part floor coating or floor paint, make sure it is labeled for use on concrete floors. These will be considerably easier to apply than epoxy, but you can expect to repaint the floor every five years or so since concrete floor paint is not as durable as epoxy.

Preparation

It really makes no sense to paint a basement floor where flooding is a likelihood. Evaluate the floor and take whatever steps are necessary to prevent flooding. This may include sloping the ground soil around the exterior of the foundation away from the structure and ensuring that the gutters are clear and the downspouts are pointed away from the walls. If the home has drain tile and a sump pump, make sure they are in good working order. If flooding has been an issue and your home has no sump pump system, consider investing in one before embarking on any floor painting in the basement.

Since they are situated below ground level, basements often have high levels of humidity due to condensation. If there is too much moisture in the air, it can slow the rate at which the paint dries, or cause it to cure incorrectly. Habitually humid basements can be prone to peeling paint, as well as mold and mildew growing on walls and in rugs. If your basement is humid, consider adding a dehumidifier, both to assist the paint in drying and for making the basement drier and more comfortable as a living space.