Painting epoxy floors is typically something people leave to professional painters because of the notion that it can be difficult to execute. However, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you must choose between painting your epoxy floors yourself or hiring a professional, it may surprise you to find the more practical option may be to paint it yourself. Painting epoxy floors is't complex, it is just a technical, multi-step process. If you know and follow the guidelines which we will now include, you are well on your way to painting your epoxy floors yourself in a professional and cost-saving way.

​Identify Current Finish: If your floor has an existing finish, it’s important to determine whether it an acrylic or a solvent based material, you’ll want match this with your new top-coats. If the surface is a solvent based finish and you coat with an acrylic; the solvent can “activate” the acrylic and create a terrible mess. Be sure to test the current finish with either a lacquer or denatured alcohol test. Your local paint store can help you with preforming the test correctly.

​Preparation Phase: in the preparation phase, there are two aspects. The first is preparing the necessary materials for the job while the other is preparing the area for the task ahead. Some of the materials required are; a bucket, mop, floor de-greaser to remove grease from the floor and enhance adhesion, floor buffer, broom to sweep over the surface, Trisodium phosphate for cleaning, dust mask to protect from dust incursions, vacuum, epoxy primer, epoxy or polyurethane paint, nap-roller, sanding screen of 100 grit a rag and a paintbrush. 
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​Surface Preparation: Next, to prepare the floor, the first step is cleaning the floor. First, all furniture and other items should be cleared from the area and then all stains should be cleaned. When painting epoxy floors, moisture should be avoided by all means. Some professionals recommend taping down a piece of plastic or tarp for two days over the surface and then checking after to see whether there is moisture gathered on the underside. Once the floors have been prepared, the other tasks can commence.

​Applying Epoxy Primer: when the surface area of your floor has been prepared for coating, then comes the time to apply the primer. The primer should be applied just like the paint would be and allowed to dry for at least 24 hours before applying the epoxy. The process of applying the primer is fairly simple and requires only the regular painting tools like a bucket, grid and a roller. 
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Applying Epoxy: To apply the epoxy, the directions are often generally the same. Verify that the floor is clean and dry. You may choose to work out of a bucket and apply with a roller. Using a roller nap attached to a pole, you can spread the epoxy out in a thin layer across the entire surface area of your select floor space. This will insure an even and consistent finish.
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Many painting companies will dump the bucket on the floor and then squeegee the material to a uniform thickness across the floor. Be cautious with this method, you don’t want to much material built up in certain areas. In addition, this process will use more of your epoxy product than rolling sequence. 

​Epoxy Drying Time: Then allow the epoxy to set untouched, it will naturally level. This time should give the floor ample time to set properly and within the next 24 hours, the floors should start looking like a showroom finish. Keep in mind after 24 hours the floor will be dry to the touch, BUT NOT 100% CURED! Wait 3-5 days for a “full cure” if you’re expecting heavy traffic over the areas or planning on applying a clear over the top. Clear coats over epoxy floors offer protection and give "depth" to your finish.

Oil and latex paints are the most popular paints in the industry. They have their strengths and weaknesses, pros and cons, and their unique uses. Both types of paints have peculiar characteristics and finish that make them suitable for different projects.
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Before choosing oil-based or latex paint, it is important to consider the type of project, the surface to be painted, the finish expected, and cost implication. Read on for what need to know about oil-based and latest paints, it will help you decide the right paint to choose for your project.

​Oil Paint
The coating of oil paint consists of a drying oil like poppy or linseed oil; which dries through oxidation and not evaporation.

Oil paint or oil-based paint is also called “alkyd.” It used to be the most popular paint in history. It is made from mineral spirits and petrochemical solvents.
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Oil paint is mostly used to paint furniture, cabinets, and molding. Its composition makes it suitable to provide a protective coating and a smooth finish. When completely dry, it mimics a hard shell like characteristics. 

Pros of Oil Paint
1. It gives a smoother finish, almost "glass like"
2. A high viscosity makes it cover more surface thoroughly in a single coat
3. It provides a hard and durable "shell like" finish
4. May shrink less than other types of paint and pulls tight
5. It performs well when painting high-traffic areas
 
Cons of Oil Paint
1. Its fume can be unbearable for the user and even pets
2. It is stickier, thicker, and more challenging to work with
3. It can fade and crack over time
4. It is hard and tasking to clean up as it will need a paint thinner and be disposed of responsibly
5. It takes a longer time to dry before re-coating

Special Consideration
Disposal of oil paint is regulated by the local waste management agencies. It must not be poured down a drain or cast out in the environment. Always be responsible when disposing paint and tools associated with oil based paint.

​Latex Paint
Latex paint is also called “acrylic” paint. It consists of a plastic resin made of polyvinyls or acrylics allowing it adhere better to the painted surface. The catalyst of latex paint is water with glycol ethers or glycols as a solvent.
 
Pros of Latex Paint
1. It dries faster than oil paint
2. It is durable; depending on the grade chosen
3. It is elastic and flexible, resisting cracking 
4. It adheres to exceptionally well to exterior surfaces
5. It is resistant to mildews, fading, flaking, and peeling
6. It is easy to work with and cleans up with water and soap
7. It's more eco-friendly than oil
8. It can be used for almost any surface
 
Cons of Latex Paint
1. it can swell the grains of wood making it impossible to add fresh coats without sanding.
2. It has little odor but tolerable
3. Adhesion can be challenging without proper prep
​4. Untrained applicators may experience brush tracks

Whichever type of paint suits your current project; you may want to hire a painting contractor to accomplish your task. In the long run it can save you money and time. For your commercial painting needs; visit -  Commercial Painting