Euro Wood Floors

Stenciling old laminate flooring in Atlanta is a cheap and effective way to dress up floors and get more use out of them.

Stenciling an old laminate or vinyl flooring system is a great way to dress it up without spending a ton of money.  It does take some elbow grease and a few supplies.  Minimal preparations are also a must for a successful creative look.  As you know, vinyl and laminate have a glossy sheen coating, however with a little bit of prep work, a stenciled pattern will stick to the flooring effectively.  You have two options here.  One, the whole floor can be sanded, or two, only the parts that are going to be painted over need to be sanded.  Sometimes a typical sander will not reach into the dimples or dents of the floor, therefore make sure to wipe the floor with a de-glosser afterwords.

Once the floor is prepped out, it is at this time that you will get a stencil pattern worked out.  The stencil can be hand made or purchased right off the rack in Atlanta.  Creativity is essential at this stage.  Just like you would stencil into a scrap book, the same effect will take place onto the floor.  Paint brushes, possibly sponges, and whatever else you need to achieve the desired look are needed.  As well, have your paints.  One thing to mention, it is suggested to apply a coat of primer.  This is all a matter of preference, but primer will reduce the amount of coats of paint and will give the paint a real footing.  This is entirely up to you.

Paint:  In Atlanta, the paint you choose is important.  It should be exterior floor paint or vinyl siding paint.  As well, a Polyurethane sealer is necessary.  Now that you have everything necessary, go ahead and map out a starting and ending point.  Have a good idea of how the pattern is going to interconnect.  This can be achieved with a grid, measuring, or by eye.  Actually there are many ways to do this without explanation.  Once you start painting the stencil, make for sure that the brush, roller, or sponge is not heavily coated.  Two thin coats are always better than one thick one.  Another tip, always start on the outside of the stencil and work your way in.

Once the painting is complete, it is recommended to coat the finished design with a Polyurethane sealer.  Allow ample time for drying before foot traffic commences.  It should also be known that when painting over laminate flooring, the costs can be minimal, however the effect will only last about 5 years.  In other words, it simply allows an old vinyl or laminate flooring more life before having to completely replace it.