2022 Spring Home and Garden

Page 22 2022 Spring Home and Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April / May 2022 2022 Spring Home and Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April / May 2022 Page 23 These abrasive cleaners may strip the paint from the floor. Do not use a wax floor cleaner. Even with gentle cleaning, an occasional touch up of paint may be necessary to keep the floor looking fresh. When you decide you’re ready to paint the floor, the decorative possibilities are only limited by your imagination. The hardest part is sectioning off the patterns with painters tape, dampen the painters tape after it is in place to seal edges, and exercise patience in letting the paint dry completely before moving on to the next section. A painted medallion can enhance the beauty of the floor without covering the whole floor. An interwoven design on a concrete floor or a large brick design can make the floor look less cold and more inviting. A rug on a porch or staircase may not work very well, but painting a rug can be long lasting. Cover scratched floors with a large floral design. Large-scale geometric designs make a small space look bigger. Consider a geometric design on a wood floor: Or, how about stenciling a concrete floor: And, don’t forget you can paint a vinyl floor too: Painting can be tricky but, if you’re feeling patient, ready to work. and have the creative juices flowing, the possibilities for painting a floor, whether wood, concrete, or vinyl are limitless. For a maximum remodel with minimal resources, you can’t beat paint! [Lisa Ramlow] 6. What supplies do I need to paint the floors? 3. What is the best design for painting the floor? If the walls are a light color, paint the floor a light color to make the room look larger. Don’t, however, shy away from dark colors on the floor. Choosing a darker color than the wall can add drama to the room. Use painters tape or stencils to create checkerboards, patterns, borders, stripes, or painted rugs. 4. What is the best paint to use on the floors? Be sure to consider the surface of the floor, as not all paint is suitable for all floors. For wood floors, the best type of paint to use is a latex or acrylic enamel wood paint. Plan to seal the paint for an essential layer of protection (follow manufacturers recommendations.) For high traffic areas an oil-based paint might stand up to foot traffic better than other paint. Concrete floors should be prepped with a floor primer so the paint has something to bond to. Epoxy paint is the most durable. While not necessarily green on the environmental scale, epoxy will withstand significant amounts of abuse. The best paint for a vinyl floor is water-based 100 percent acrylic paint. 5. What is the best way to take care of painted floors? Use water based products on the painted floors but do not saturate the floor with water (again follow manufacturers instructions.) Wipe up small spills as soon as possible with non abrasive cleaners. Some polishes and cleaners are harsh on any floor, leaving a residue that is hard to remove. CONTINUED u