Painted concrete basement floor

[edro]

Any of you have a painted or epoxied basement concrete floor?

I have an old house with semi-smooth concrete floor. It is always dirty and a little damp in areas.
I think if I painted it, it would be easier to clean and could keep moisture out better.

I have read that you need to clean and etch the concrete, then allow it to fully dry before you apply paint or epoxy.

I don't want to end up with a paint peeling issue.

Anyone ever done this?

 

[NoCreativity]

My dad and grandpa did it in two houses without etching and never had a peeling problem, though that was with oil based paint.

 

[Ninjahedge]

Do a bit more research. If your slab is wet, epoxying it will only keep it wet and could cause problems later on.

Also, if you get leakage (more than just dampness) this will eventually bubble the paint off your slab.

If you have enough room, you may need a mesh or grid set up with a membrane above it and another layer of concrete so that the water coming into the bottom layer has some place to go.

You may want to tear up the basement slab and do it right, but that is $$$$.

Basement + H2O = PITA

 

[sactoking]

What do you plan on using the basement for?

 

[FoBoT]

I don't want to end up with a paint peeling issue.

i rented a house where this was done incorrectly and the paint would rub off on anything that came in contact with it, shoes, socks, furniture etc

so yes, do it right or don't do it. good luck

 

[edro]

The basement is just a laundry room and storage. No sump pit or pump.
Some of the walls are stacked rocks (built in 1800s).
Water gets through the walls in a few areas, but quickly drains to the floor drain, which then drains outside.

I just thought a painted floor would be easier to clean and keep clean.
I thought an epoxy type paint might help seal moisture out too. (although it would come in through the walls)

I can't paint the walls. These are some serious rocks and they have old "soft" mortar.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

You might want to have a pro look at it before spending any money. Damp basements are nothing to joke around about nowadays, and it's tough to 'undo' a painted/sealed/epoxied floor.

 

[sactoking]

For low-level foot traffic an epoxy kit from a major paint retailer or home store would probably be best. Paint in general is not designed to withstand foot traffic and while there are specialty floor paints they're not good with moisture. An epoxy would be better.

 

[highland145]

2nd on the epoxy and 2nd on the damp issue. If water is weeping out on the floor, there will be problems. If it's condensation, not so much.

 

[Raizinman]

I did my basement and walls with the epoxy paint. The floor we added a sand to it to prevent slipperyness and falls. Been in the house 15 years and it still looks perfect. We actually used three different colors and call the basement, the Blue, Red, and Green sections in relationship to the colors of the floor. We did paint it when the house was brand new. Bought the epoxy paint at either Lowes or Home Depot. It really wasn't a bit deal doing it.You can do stripes, and all sorts of shapes. It does not have to be plain Jane. Have some fun with it.

 

[Modelworks]

I would use drylok on the floor. It doesn't have the odor of epoxy paints, and it letss the floor breathe as well so that moisture isn't being trapped inside the surfaces where mildew can grow.
http://www.ugl.com/drylokMasonry/floorAndExteriorPaints/latexConcrete.php