Does anyone have experience with or tips for painting a linoleum floor? I've been told by the folks at a leading home improvement store that it's possible but may not hold up to wear. It's the kitchen floor.
I know I would have to put a primer on first, Kilz or something similar, but what kind of paint after that? Deck, porch, masonry? And then polyurethane? I'm looking for a cheap fix until I can afford tile or hardwood. Thanks a bunch.
My Mother painted all of the linoleum floors in our house many times. This included the kitchen, dining room and living room. She didn't ever prime them, She washed them, let them dry then got down on her hands and knees with a can of paint and a paint brush. I think for the base color she must of have used tractor paint, because the background was always a medium gray(we had one of the old Ford tractors that was all gray and I figure my Dad must have had a good supply of the paint on hand).
Then that evening after it was dry she would get down on her hands and knees again with a couple small cans of different colored paint, and a small paint brush and put dabs of these colors all over the floor. All of this was usually done when us kids and our Dad were gone for the day. There was never any kind of sealer put on top of the paint. I can't remember how long the paint job lasted, but living on a farm and having four kids, I know my Mother was busy enough that she couldn't have done this more often than two or three years apart. She also helped out in the fields and doing chores. This was back in the fifties.
Thanks for all the great tips! We just moved into a rental and will be buying, and as you can imagine it's not in the best shape.
I have counter tops that have a pukey green color that one of the tenants before me painted, and then the last tenants let a child go wild with a black permanent marker.
I have a list of supplies for repainting those and am now looking for tips on painting the floor in the kitchen, laundry room and bathroom. Really working on a tight budget to get the place looking nice until we can replace items with contract left overs. Thanks Again! : )
Another option would be to just install "peel-n-stick" laminate/linoleum tiles over the existing flooring. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to trim and the results are great. I was opposed to this idea a few years ago when my white linoleum kitchen floors needed replaced. But, I have been thrilled with the results and received many compliments. If you consider this, you can 1 sample tile for under $1.00 at the local home improvement store and see how it would look. Get extra if you do decide to do this, as it will be easy to pull up a worn tile and replace with a fresh one down the road. I've now done this with same thing in my bathrooms and landing areas and very happy with them. Just my thots. Good luck!
I'm getting a little more brave after reading some of your encouraging comments. Sounds like the poly is the key. The trick will be finding a time when there will be no traffic in the kitchen in order to do the painting and let it dry. Looks like some planning is in order. ~gloria
This can be done, and you can do it! I have experience doing this and it holds up extremely well.
Prime the floor first with interior primer; let it dry. Then using interior paint (can be for walls, doesn't have to be FLOOR PAINT) paint your floor.
After you have designed the floor (if you've used stencils to make a border, etc.) let this dry at least 8 hours or overnight.
Now coat the floor with polyurethane (non-yellowing type) at least 3 coats, letting it dry between coats. You'll be amazed at the durability and pleased with the new floor.
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Request: Painting a Linoleum Floor
Archived on 02/04/2009
I am thinking of painting a floor that is covered with linoleum? What do you think?
Kim from La Mesa, CA
Answers:
RE: Painting a Linoleum Floor
You could always try it but I don't believe it will work very well. For one example, the paint will wear through to the linoleum where you walk the most leaving paths of exposed linoleum. What you could do is have new linoleum laid over the old. (12/30/2008)
By Harry
RE: Painting a Linoleum Floor
I did that years ago. You need to use floor and deck enamel and make sure the floor is really clean before you start painting. It lasted ok for a few years til we were able to afford a new floor. (12/30/2008)
You can do it. Put a coat of Gripper paint primer on it first and let it cure for a whole day. Then put your paint on. Top with two coats of polyuethane. You can get a matt finish if that is what you want. (12/31/2008)
