DIY Guide: How to Paint Wood Porch Floor

Certainly, painting wooden porch floors is the best way to protect them. These floors are continually exposed to external agents and high traffic. So, without the proper coating, the wood would deteriorate too quickly.

There are many different paints on the market that are suitable for wooden porch floors. Acrylic and epoxy paints are certainly the best for this purpose, because they better resist high temperatures and friction. However, for best results, you must first learn how to paint wood porch floorsthe right way.

In this article you’ll learn how to do it. You’ll also find a detailed list of all the tools and materials necessary to leave your wooden porch floors looking like new.

What is Wood Porch Floor Paint?

It’s a type of paint specially formulated for applications on wood porch floors. This type of paint contains certain additives that provide high resistance to humidity, friction and UV rays.

In the market, there are many types of wood porch floor paints. The most popular are:

Now I am going to write in few more details about these types.

Latex

Latex porch floor paint provides a matte finish on the surface. It also contains special additives that prevent the proliferation of mold and mildew. However, it tends to get dirty so easily, so it isn't the best type of paint for heavily trafficked areas.

Enamel

Enamel paint provides a waterproof coating and a glossy finish to hardwood. Some enamel paints also contain urethane to provide added strength and shine.

Acrylic

Acrylic paint provides superior adhesion to porous surfaces, making it resistant to peeling. This type of paint is made up of pigments diluted in a polymer-based solution. When it dries, it becomes flexible and glossy.

Epoxy

Epoxy paint is made up of two main ingredients: resin and hardener. You should mix these components in the correct dose for the paint to cure properly. Epoxy paint dries by the action of heat. Certainly, it’s the best paint for wood porch floors, due to its high resistance to high temperatures, high traffic and external agents.

There are other types of coatings that aren’t exactly paint, but also provide good results on wood porch floors. Such is the case of varnish and wood stain. Varnish is very similar to enamel paint, but has no pigment. It highlights the natural color of the wood and adds a nice glossy effect.

On the other hand, wood stain dyes wood in different shades when it penetrates the pores. It’s only used for aesthetic purposes, because it doesn’t add additional resistance and protection to the wood.

List of Wood Porch Floor Paint Kits

For best results, you need to have the best painting tools and materials. Below, you’ll find a list with all of them:

Step by Step DIY Guide to Paint Wood Porch Floor

Painting a wooden porch is the easiest thing to do if you follow the correct procedure. Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

1 First of all, sweep the wooden floor to remove any dust on the surface. Dust tends to affect the adhesion of the paint, making it prone to peeling and scratching.

2 After that, cover the areas that don't need painting with masking tape. You can cover part of the floor with plastic sheeting to support paint cans and paint roller trays.

3 Then, start painting the wood porch floor with the paint roller. Apply enough paint on the roller to ensure even coverage. If you’re using acrylic paint, verify that the ambient temperature is 10º-32º C for optimal drying.

4 After painting the entire porch floor wait at the least 6 hours to apply the next coat. Apply the necessary coats until you get the desired results.

5 Then, paint with a brush all spaces between boards, where the paint hasn’t penetrated.

6 After 2 hours, when the paint partially cures, remove the masking tape.

7 Finally, wait at least 72 hours to walk on the surface and 30 days to clean the surface with water and mild cleaners.

Conclusion

Certainly, you don't need to pay a contractor to get professional results. If you carefully follow the steps in this DIY guide, you’ll learn to paint as well as professional painters. Be sure to choose a high-quality paint for optimum coverage, maximum performance and durability.

Don’t apply generic paints to your wood porch floors. If you do, you run the risk of ruining the surface. At the end, you’ll end up spending more money to restore and repaint the floor.