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The first time I saw a painted concrete floor, I was amazed! It
was beautiful! It is the perfect solution for an inexpensive
floor that will last and last. If you want to try this
money-saving technique in your home, hereÂ’s how (but I warn
you, this is not a one-weekend project!)
1. If your floor is inside the house, do a little checking
before you decide to paint your floor. Is the concrete damp?
Are there puddles? (If so, then you have a larger problem than
an ugly floor!) If so, contact a professional to take care of
the water seepage problem. Let the concrete dry thoroughly
before painting (this may take a l-o-n-n-n-n-n-n-g time!)
2. Thoroughly clean the concrete. If there is any grease on the
floor (what have you been DOING in this room?), you must
remove it before painting or the paint wonÂ’t stick. To
remove grease, put down cat litter to absorb the majority
of oil, then scrub again with Goof Off. Then mix up a bucket
of TSP and scrub the floor, rinsing several times, until your
mop is clean (I didnÂ’t say this would be easy, did I?). Wait
at least three days for the floor to dry.
3. Sand off any paint (have you done this before?) or bumpy
stuff (such as glue or paint residue) with a hand sander and
80-grit sandpaper. Vacuum well. Go over the floor with a tack
cloth (a sticky cheesecloth available at any hardware or home
improvement store).
4. Use Cement Fixall to repair any cracks and holes, then let
it dry completely.
5. Now we begin the painting process. Roll on two coats of Kilz
primer and stain blocker. Let dry between coats.
6. Use a roller or a paint compressor, if you have one, to paint
on at least two coats of a good latex flat paint. (DonÂ’t
settle for the cheap stuff for this project!)
7. Now for the creative stuff! Use your imagination to come up
with geometric shapes, the look of faux tile, faux stone, or
even a faux yellow brick road! Let dry completely!
8. Roll on two coats of Breakthrough sealer with a 1/4" nap
roller. You will need a respirator mask for this (cough!
cough!). Let dry.
Now you have a beautiful concrete floor – indestructible and
colorful! I just have one more tip – lay some nice soft rugs
around, especially in the wintertime! Your floor may be
marvelous, but it will be cold on those tender toes!
About the Author:
Pamela Cole Harris is a writer with over 35 years experience.
Her expertise on decorating on a
budget comes from her own experience. Visit her website
www.homeandgardenmakeover.com ,
for her unique view of home decorating and remodeling and a free
monthly newsletter. Or for free syndicated content for your
website, visit Here.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
Growing and Using Garlic Chives Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, is a hardy perennial (Zones 3-9) that will grow to about 12 inches high. The stems are skinnier and flat, instead of hollow as are regular chives, with greenish white blooms that are about an inch wide and not as rounded. They bloom in the summer rather than spring. The bloom stalks grow much taller than the leaves, sometimes up to 30 inches.
The stems and blooms are both edible and have a mild garlic onion taste. I've noticed many writers will list this as primarily as an Asian herb, as they are also known as Chinese chives, Chinese leeks, ku chai (China) or Nira (Japan), but it has many other uses as well!
The Perfect Porch Swing Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing