Has anyone painted a wooden floor

[Meenah]

My house is old and some of the floors are in terrible shape. I am currently turning a bedroom into an art room, and my daughter suggested I paint the floor white because it is in such bad shape (old stains / paint splatters). Have any of you painted a wood floor before? Any advice?

[DCJenn]

Go to This Old House online and look it up- there was an article on how to do it sometime last year. It looks great when your floors are crappy and can't be refinished.

J.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Our neighbors had a BLACK painted wood floor - not so great when you own two huskies Other than it always showing the fur, it would look dull after a while - but so do actual wood floors I'm not sure if white would show scuffs? Since the floor is already in bad shape, I say go for it! There are some floor paints that are more speckled (and texturized) and whatnot, so that might be a way to go if you're going to be creating art in there!

[Meenah]

Thanks, I'm off to "this old house" online!!

[Sheherezade]

We have lots of painted wood around the house. I was surprised that the dark brown floors (painted) actually blend pretty well with the finished hardwood areas. I thought painting dark brown would be obviously trying to fake the wood - but it looks clean, neat and hides the dirt well. We have blue painted floors in my daughter's room and grey in a mud area. This Old House should give you good recs but for me the only hard part is being off the floor for 24+ hours. The floor paint takes a long time to dry. Two coats makes for an eternity!!!

[SoonerTexan]

This is a cool idea, if you are into torturing yourself:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nakrnsm/3099668908/

[diggitydot]

Just be forewarned that any time you paint a surface intended to be walked on, it will require a LOT of maintenance to keep it looking nice.

[MarissaNicole]

My house is old and some of the floors are in terrible shape. I am currently turning a bedroom into an art room, and my daughter suggested I paint the floor white because it is in such bad shape (old stains / paint splatters). Have any of you painted a wood floor before? Any advice?

This may be a stupid question but can't you sand away the stains and splatters? I thought that was the beauty of wood - you can always sand down the stains/scratches/color and make it new.

[Sheherezade]

Paint is quick. Sanding is messy, requires rental equipment and (if professionally done) pricey.

Actually, if you paint with porch or floor paint and get a few good coats on a well prepared surface, it holds up pretty well. Our painted floor in an upstairs hall and a bedroom both have nicks and scratches after 5 years - but just nicks and scratches. They don't look that bad. The porch outside took real damage in a single year; I think the weather and sunshine wears the surface more than feet. If you do paint it and want to jazz up/protect the center, you could do something with an oilcloth floor covering or foam squares if it is to be a craft room.

[Thirteen]

Hmmm. Not personally, but my mom has - lemme see what I can find out.