Latex, enamel, oil-based, water-based, waterborne, oil-enhanced, alkyds, acrylics, acrylic-alkyds… my head is about to explode!!
We need to paint our upstairs bedroom floors while we are currently living/sleeping downstairs in the living room.
They're old Douglas-fir floors and are a great candidate for painting as they're not special at all, will need a few floorboards replaced that will be near impossible to grain/color match with the old/aged ones. There's already a thick coat of enamel paint on them and the grain will be visible even with the paint as wear and tear on them has revealed the texture of the grain which I think is cool.
We would like to not have to sleep in the backyard for a week so I'm hoping to avoid an oil-based enamel (is that the same thing as an alkyd paint?).
Oh and we would like it to look good! Brush marks are not desired as they would hide the grain texture that I want to preserve.
I've come across a new product from a reputable manufacturer that is an interior water based acrylic-alkyd. They say it is the best of both latex and alkyd paints. Will this be a good option for a floor? Should we top coat it with a polyurethane? We want the floors to be glossy. If we top coat it with poly (water based), should the paint be flat/satin and the poly be glossy? What kind of brush/roller is recommended?
Thanks!
Best Answer
Sherwin Williams has a product called Armorseal Treadplex that I used on concrete and porch/patio floors. It's a strong and reliable water-based product. How well any paint performs after its applied will depend on the condition of the previous coating. I would scuff sand the previous coat with 150 grit and vacuum up all dust to prepare for top coat. Treadplex only comes in a Semi-Gloss sheen level. Because you're planning on using paint, I would not advise finishing the floor with a clear coat. The reason being if paint does chip or wear, you will be able to simply touch it up as needed.