June 2, 2020
You may have come across articles on how people resurrected their vinyl flooring from the dead by painting it. Or maybe a friend of yours had mentioned it. Is it possible?
Generally speaking, if someone asked us if you could paint vinyl or linoleum flooring, the answer would typically be a ‘no’.
The reason being, vinyl surfaces do not accept paint very well, and are more likely to be damaged, stained or waxed during the process, which further prevents paint from bonding to the surface.
Furthermore, long-term durability wise, it doesn’t fair well against heavy foot traffic or heavy furnishings (especially if they are dragged) — although you should never really be doing this anyway.
Painting will also do nothing to cover up any existing dents, holes or tears. That being said, painting vinyl is not an impossible task. It will however, require a couple of days work, a determined mindset, many tools and materials, and of course some elbow grease — a lot of elbow grease.
First things first, you’ll need to give the floor a good scrub and clean. Mix some detergent in a bucket of warm water and give the vinyl a quick mop. You may need to use a clean cloth or sponge to remove any scuff marks or stubborn stains. Before you move onto the next step, allow the floor to dry.
There are 2 ways to go about sanding down the vinyl. You can opt to use a machine operated sander — which will save you a lot of time and efforts — or use a sanding pole if you’re uncomfortable with using a power tool.
Begin sanding the vinyl surface until the shiny finish has been removed.
Using an extra-long handle paint roller, apply the liquid deglosser to the vinyl’s surface. This will help improve bonding with the paint, similarly to a primer. To avoid painting yourself into a corner, start from the back corner of the room at the opposite end of the entrance and work your way back.
Before applying the primer, line the walls or trim of the room with painters tape to avoid getting any splashes on the wall. You can apply the primer using the same extended paint roller brush used to apply the liquid deglosser in step 3, as well as the same method. Allow the primer to completely dry before moving onto the next step.
This is going to be far easier than painting the walls. You can simply pour the paint onto the floor and roll it around using the paint roller. It might be easier to use a paint brush when painting along the trim and corners. Allow the paint to dry before applying another coat of paint. Once complete, carefully remove the painter’s tape from the trim.
And that’s it! You’re all done! Take a step back and admire your hard work.
From cleaning and prepping the floor to priming and painting, the entire job can be done in a single weekend and roughly take around 5-10 hours depending on how many coats of paint are applied.
It’s really hard to give a definite time frame, however, one thing for sure is that this certainly isn’t a long term solution. If you’re looking to spruce up a room for a single event, painting vinyl floors can be the quick fix you’re after. As for how well do they fair up against time and long-term durability? Well only time will tell but you might be able to get 6 to 12 months out of a pristine paint job.
There comes a point when your old vinyl flooring is beyond the point of repair and the only option you have left is to rip it out and replace it. The question is what do you replace it with? What is the trendiest flooring available right now? Can you afford it? What material is suited to the bathroom? Should you stick with vinyl sheet or switch to vinyl tiles?
With so many questions to ask and very little answers available, choosing a new floor type can be an overwhelming experience. To help make the whole process a seamless and pleasant experience, Jupps Floor Coverings Perth is here to guide you through the process, from start to finish, answering any questions you may have, as well as providing you with free expert advice. Contact our admin office or the closest store team to where you live. We can help you design, then supply and install your flooring in a heartbeat.
We have a wide selection of vinyl flooring and luxury vinyl planks to choose from and other flooring options should you want to explore your options. We regularly install flooring for commercial facilities and WA homes.
Get in touch with Jupps today, we’re more than happy to help.
