Finishing a concrete basement floor

Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:40 pm

Ok all you experts here. I have a finished basement (concrete floor) and the PO put tile and carpet down. Well the carpet is old and I have a pool table so don't want to do the carpet thing again. The tile comes up rather easy and the concrete is smooth and appears NOT to have had any sealer on it. I'm thinking of painting and need feedback of what works for you. I looked at the epoxy paint used in garages but I have approx 1400 sq. ft so that adds up to a lot of $$$. The floor has dips for 2 drains so wood is pretty much out. I'm needing a paint that won't be slippery when it gets wet and don't marr easily. Maybe I'm asking for too much but don't hurt to put feelers out. Any help/advice would be appreciated. Thanks Grump

Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:10 pm

Used a product called "DryLok" concrete floor paint. $21.00 a gallon several years ago. Seems to hold up well. Available from local (Truevalue) hardware stores.

Suggestion. It might be cheaper to buy a 5 gallon container than individual gallon cans. Even if some never gets used.

Eugene

Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:17 pm

There are several floor enamels that will work, just make sure you scrub the floor good with muriatic acid and wait to paint until it's absolutely dry.

Sat Feb 24, 2007 3:42 pm

If the concrete is dry with absolutely no water coming from the other side, paint adheres well and will last forever. However, if you get moisture thru the slab, the paint will eventually peel off. An easy to test for moisture penetration is to duct tape a 3' x 3' square of 6 mil plastic sheeting to the floor. If it's damp under the plastic after 1 week, just about anything you apply to that floor won't stay stuck for more than a few years. This may be why the floor tiles are coming up easily.

Sat Feb 24, 2007 4:27 pm

Lurker Carl wrote:If the concrete is dry with absolutely no water coming from the other side, paint adheres well and will last forever. However, if you get moisture thru the slab, the paint will eventually peel off. An easy to test for moisture penetration is to duct tape a 3' x 3' square of 6 mil plastic sheeting to the floor. If it's damp under the plastic after 1 week, just about anything you apply to that floor won't stay stuck for more than a few years. This may be why the floor tiles are coming up easily.

I like that tip Carl, so simple but very effective.

Sat Feb 24, 2007 5:54 pm

What Carl gave you is the same thing Pergo floors uses as a test on concrete floors. If you have water through the concrete nothing will stick for long.

Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:39 pm

Thanks for the replys. Had'nt thought about the plastic but great idea Carl. Won't say I'll try it but yesterday I put about 4 foot square down to check it. :lol:

Talked to a guy today I know that has done a bit of this work and he tapes a peice of aluminum foil down for the dampness test. If good he uses Quikrete sealer and Seal Krete epoxy seal paint thats supposed to be good for concrete and garage floors. Both available at our friendly Lowe's.

Floor appears to be uniform color which indicates maybe, hopefully, no moisture. House was built in 1976 and if moisture was a problem he said I should have stain marks from the water. (makes sense). This whole mess is my WIFE"S fault. Started when she wanted a perfectly good toilet replaced (stains) then , how about painting the bathroom cabinets, then the cabinets in the rest of the basement, then the floor really needs something done to it then.

No wonder I like beer. Gotta get this done by spring so I can do a little fishing and work on painting my 50 cub. While I'm painting it I may as well :cry:

I'm gonna be busy. Grump