Having stenciled floors done can be costly but, if you are up to the challenge of a new DIY project, you can do it yourself quite cheaply. A lot of DIY-ers are posting their projects online and giving tips on how to do home projects on a budget. If you’re thinking of redoing your floors and love the look of real wood, engineered hardwood flooring might be a great option. Otherwise, floor stenciling has also become popular, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when so many people have been stuck at home looking for something to do.
Here are six easy steps for using floor stencils on hard floors.
1. Sand Your Tiles or Wooden Floor
The surface needs to be clean and smooth to make the area ready for the paint, otherwise, it may flake and not last very long. To sand down your floors you will need sandpaper or (much easier) an electric sander.
2. Clean
It is important to remove any dirt, grease or loose particles from the surface. You can use a degreasing solution like sugar soap. After cleaning make sure everything is completely dry before starting work.
3. Prep the Tiles
Before painting tiles you should use a primer sealer to prepare them. For home and DIY tile projects you can also use a ceramic paint with primer to cut down on time.
4. Apply Base Paint
After everything has been cleaned, prepped and has had time to dry, it is time to paint your base color. Apply at least two coats of the paint to get the desired color, leaving it to dry between coats. Use a foam roller or a brush for an even layer. You can use all-surface or chalk paint for a better effect.
5. Apply Stencil
Now that your floor is ready and it has its base color, you can start stenciling. Tape or hold down your stencil. Using a paint roller or a brush apply your second color of choice on the stencil. Make sure to remove the stencil carefully before the paint starts to dry, as it can be hard to take off later, and may chip the paint.
6. Add Protection
After everything has been done and the paint has dried properly it is advisable to cover your floor with a hard-wearing sealant. This will give your floor some extra protection and it will ensure that your pretty new floor has a longer life.
Extras
Here are a few more things you’ll want have on hand when stenciling.
- Masking tape – is a great way to keep corners clean or colors from bleeding into each other if you are doing stencils next to each other.
- Paint Tray – a paint tray or roller tray can help keep excess paint off your roller and brushes. It is also good for mixing small amounts of colors to get the desired shade, or to experiment.
- Paper towels – cleaning supplies can come in handy either during painting or at the end to clean away any messes that may have been created while working on your project.
Apart from home improvement, stenciling can also be used in industrial settings. There are many stencils to help create caution signs or stencil important messages on the floor of your business.
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