Creating the faux finish on the floor was definitely the most fun step of finishing the basement (excluding decorating it of course)! It allows you to be creative, gives you instant gratification and you can't really make any mistakes. Plus, it meant we were almost done!
We love the look of stained concrete floors, but it has to be applied to bare concrete and our's had already been painted by previous owners. Yes, we could have scrapped the floors but the faux finish approach sounded much more fun! The last time I show you the floor we had primed it and were just starting to put the base coat down...
Faux Finish…
Step 1: Choose Your Colors
We used five colors (Benjamin Moore: Autumn Leaf, Fresh Brew, Harvest Bronze, Sweet Rosy Brown, and Black).
Step 2: Swirl Paint and Glaze
Using paint stir sticks, swirl all the paint colors around a paper plate along with some glaze. Note: The glaze helps extend the paint and allows you more time to work with it.
Step 3: Dab, Dab, Dab...
Using plastic shopping bags dab the bag into the paint mixture and then on the floor. Tip: When dabbing the bag on the floor frequently change the position and direction of the bag.
Step 4: Apply Top Coat
Two coats of a polyurethane will protect your finish while creating a smooth surface, adding shine and making the colors "pop."
Step 5: Have Fun with It!
You really can't make any mistakes! If you don't like the way one area turned out simply grab some more color and give it another go!
Recommend Using...
Primer: Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus Primer for all Projects (water-based) ...It can be used on concrete, this has become my go-to primer because it can be used on all-surfaces.
Paint: satin finish (water-based)
Finish: Bona Traffic (two-component, waterborne, polyurethane)
Paint: satin finish (water-based)
Finish: Bona Traffic (two-component, waterborne, polyurethane)
XO,
Jaclyn
Thank you so much for visiting CHC! I love your sweet comments, and read all of them! Please become a Follower and a fan on facebook…
{This post was shared on Creation Corner, Finding Fabulous, My Romantic Home, Remodelaholic, The Shabby Nest, and Simply Designing.}
Wow!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the pictures. I was telling Matthew about this :)
ReplyDeleteSo excited to see this! We have an unfinished basement that needs some loving, and I was so unsure what to do with the floors! This is definitely going on my project board!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
~Terry @ mossandclover.blogspot.com
That looks amazing! You did a wonderful job!
ReplyDeleteBecky B.
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Organizing Made Fun
Wow, I am bowled over and SO impressed. I've always wanted to know how to do this. Thanks so much for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteWarmly, Michelle
Wow! This turned out great! Congratulations -- this was a huge project!
ReplyDelete~Amanda
wonderful !!! what finish did you use ? Please let me know..this is on my to do list it's BEAUTIFUL !!!!
ReplyDeletePrimer: Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus Primer for all Projects(water-based) ...It can be used on concrete, this has become my go-to primer because it can be used on all-surfaces.
ReplyDeletePaint: satin finish (water-based)
Finish: Bona Traffic (two-component, waterborne, polyurethane)
Good question... I'll add this information to the content. I'd love to see your floors when you're finished!
One more "silly " question....exterior or interior paint...don't want to mess up what can be a terrific project
ReplyDeleteInterior paint... Exterior paints are not necessarily stronger or tougher than interior paints. Interior paints are formulated to resist scrubbing, staining and cleaning, while exterior paints are formulated to prevent fading and mildew.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to ask if you think of another question.
I LOVE this floor. I have some questions. On the two photos of the painted surface before the glossy finish, the paint looks like it is dabbed onto the floor, yet the finished floor looks more "swirled". Is this just because those photos were closeups and the others show a wider view? Also, is it just "dabbed" on or did you also sort of dab and brush with the bags? I'm no artist, but I am willing to take a stab at it since it seems SO much easier than the acid wash and stain procedures! Congrats on a beautiful floor!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing! Can you do this over currently painted basement floors instead of applying the primer?
ReplyDeleteYour floor looks fabulous. We are remodeling our basement and have paint overspray on our floor. This looks like ther perfect solution. What color was your base color?
ReplyDeleteWow! You know it looks good when we all will be immitating.
ReplyDeleteKaren had a good question on the "swirl" look and you may have replied directly to her. But if you can, please post your response.
Plus, after some time, have you experienced fading, scuffing or flaking with the products you used?
Great job.
I love the way your floors turned out. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteOne question: You said you used BullsEye 1-2-3 Plus Primer. How has it held up? I bought some and noticed in small print on the back that it isn't recommended for floors... It may just be a precaution, but I was wondering if your finish is still hanging in there.
Thanks :)
I like this page so much for giving such a great post regarding on faux finish painting, so better to keep on posting! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your so cool post,it is useful,i love it very much.please share with us more good articles.
ReplyDeleteYou did an absolutely beautiful job. I also would like to know about the dabbing technique. Did you just dab or did you dab and swirl. Please be really specific. I want my floor to turn out just like yours.
ReplyDeletePls send me a reply to Sassamas@mail.ftc.org
ReplyDeleteWhat was your base color - mine is black. Also do you dab or swirl? Thanks
Love this! I also want to know about the dab/swirl :) What kind of glaze did you get and how much do you add to the paint mixture?
ReplyDeleteYou have done a good job with your basement flooring, very admirable! A dull looking concrete floor turned into a shiny and attractive finish. I am sure that other home owners with basements will be inspired with your project. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone tried doing this floor? I tried it today and it looked like a big mess :(
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of glaze did you use? Also how much paint did it take to cover your floor and how is your floor holding up? We are thinking of doing this through out our entire house and I want to make sure it holds up well.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Same question as Karen. The two photos look different. One looks dabbed and one looks more blended. Does the sealer change it from looking dabbed?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great alternative to stained concrete! I always thought stained concrete looked beautiful but this looks both beautiful and fun to do. It gives us even more room to personalize our floors! I just love how concrete floors are so easily customized. Not to mention that they are also durable and versatile. Amazing job!
ReplyDeleteJaclyn,
ReplyDeleteCan this be done over linoleum???? I have been reading up on painting my old floors and they recommend porch paint. What is your take on it???
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We love the look of your floors! I plan to pin this project to our Flooring pinboard. Check it out at pinterest.com/homedepot
ReplyDeleteWe have been looking for a floor that will complement our house. We found it! This is so much like the tile that we have found but it will be so much cheaper. Although the labor will be similar. I do construction work and we do the Zinser 123 Primer almost everyday. The only thing we're doing different we are tinting the primer. We will be getting some pictures. We've already taken 7 right walls of this ol' house. We've tongue & grooved the ceilings and walls. Been waiting on what to do with the floors before we finish the trim. Tada.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful decorative ideas for finishing floor, looking this tremendous pictures and useful information of faux finishing techniques i really appreciate, i use to make it possible for my next home.. .....
ReplyDeleteWe are thinking of doing this project. I have some questions though. What is the dry time between coats and the cure time till the floor was actually finished?
ReplyDeleteHello this is DabbaDogg...Just wanted to say what an awesome find this was and I really appreciate it....I turned my 2 car garage into a man cave, pool hall, bar. The washer and dryer are still in there but it is still awesome. Anyway, I always envisioned something...EXACTLY like this for my floor. I stumbled upon this site and within an hour I was off to ACE hardware and picked up the exact 5 colors the author recommended. To my excitement, they had the exact colors and exact primer today in '14. Anyways, we got home and removed the mini bar, chairs, etc. Not the pool table, sucker is 2,000 pounds and was professionally leveled so we worked around it. The primer job took 2 hours to do and I used exactly 4 quarts (almost a gallon) of the 1-2-3 stuff. Came out good. Now we are waiting for the morning, I'm exciting to try the dab technique, however, the ACE guy convinced me that I only needed 1 quart of each paint...now I'm not too sure, I think I will have to get more. Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes and somehow post some pics if I like the way it turns out. Since there was no reply to the "just dab or dab and swirl" questions, I'm going to try it on a different piece outside to test it. It does look like there is some swirl going on....
ReplyDeleteWhat technique did you use and how did it work?
DeleteCan't wait to hear your comments. I'm getting ready to try this but I want to hear your comments first. Good Luck!!!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't wait so I did it!! It looks fabulous. I am so pleased with how it turned out. I used lighter colors but got a very similar look. Next is the Bona Traffic top coat (tomorrow).
DeleteI am looking forward to trying this! Our foundation had a crack and we had it injected. Though it has a 10 year warranty, we are afraid if we put carpet down water will penetrate through the crack and ruin the carpet. We saw this faux floor at a home expo and loved it. Can't wait to give this a try! Looks very simple. What did you use to clean the floor in preparation? Sorry if I overlooked it in this post. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI love the look! Awesome job! It's been three years and I would like to know how it held up. We are thinking about doing this in our living, dining and family room. Are you getting any flaking? Have you recoated it since it was done? Thank you for your response.
ReplyDeleteWow really a nice post and great flooring idea...!!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing and interesting...!!!
Thanks for sharing...!!!
Wow that look amazing, what surface did you paint on, was it already concrete? We're thinking of changing our kitchen floors.
ReplyDeleteWow amazing basement flooring work....!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing bro...!!!!
Keep it up..!!!
I did mine this weekend. I used colored primer same as one of the colors you used. My look is different than yours but amazing just the same. Thank you
ReplyDeleteYour floor is stunnnng!! What color base coat did you use?
ReplyDeleteThanks! Denise
That floor looks amazing. I love the colors and image the colors that could be used to really put some pop in a room.
ReplyDeleteI do have a few questions regarding the wear and tear on this type of finish and also on the prep to the concrete...
1. How well is the finish holding up?
2. Are you having to wax the floor or re-do a top coating on the high traffic areas?
I have been looking for a flooring solution to my kitchen and laundry rooms, but they are extremely high traffic areas - (the laundry room lets out to the garage) and the kitchen is a rather large and is a high traffic area. Linoleum is being removed from these room.
3. Did you have to prep the floors by machining them or pour a thin set over the existing concrete?
Thanks for sharing the beauty of your floor with us! Eve
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Love this! I'm planning on doing this to my basement floor. Did you paint the entire floor with a tan primer first and THEN to the 5 color plastic bag coloring after the primer dried? If so, what color of primer did you use?
ReplyDeleteThanks
Did my basement floor and it looks great! How long did you wait after painting to put on the polyurethane? And how did you apply it? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHELP!! Floor looks awesome but the stain won't set up. It's been 24 hours and it's still tacky! Any suggestions? What do I do?
ReplyDeleteWow great post. Thank you for sharing it.
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will this work with porch and floor paint without using glaze? also, can you risk it and not seal it if you are using porch and floor paint? i went to lowes and they said i needed porch and floor latex paint but it's so runny and spatters easily. also, i was wanting to do colors similar to peanut butter, steel gray and cream. i thought of tossing in a greige latex acrylic or some other left over paints i have but also question mixing floor paint with other kinds of non floor paint? i have a room 12.5 X 36 to work with. slightly intimidated to start!
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