Often when renovating a room, especially cosmetically, the question arises: restore the old floor covering or replace it? Of course, from a budget point of view, it will be more profitable and practical to tidy up the old floor. And what to do if it is covered with linoleum? In this article we will look at the simplest option - painting it.
Painting linoleum
So, is it possible to paint linoleum? Many experts view this negatively. Of course, it is more profitable for them to receive an order for a complete replacement of the old coating. But practice shows that it lends itself perfectly to painting.
How can you paint linoleum?
Before starting work, you need to decide what type of paint for linoleum will be the most optimal. Please note that this material is often used in rooms without heating or with large temperature differences, for example in a country house or in a country house.
Basic requirements for paints and varnishes:
- high adhesion to surfaces - due to the structure of linoleum;
- increased abrasion resistance - linoleum is usually used in rooms with high traffic;
- the composition must contain a minimum amount of harmful substances and solvents - so as not to spoil the surface and not harm health.
The main types of paints on the market are oil, acrylic and alkyd. Let's explore their pros and cons.
Oil paint
This is the most inexpensive option, but also outdated in terms of technology. It lays on the surface easily and without streaks and has the highest adhesion, so it is very difficult to wash it off later, and subsequent painting should be done with the same type of paint. At the same time, it takes a long time to dry (more than a day), has a strong persistent and toxic odor and is subject to rapid abrasion.
Oil paint is the most budget option for those who want to save money
floor paint
Alkyd paint
A more modern option than oil. Its film-forming component is based on synthetic polycondensation alkyd resins. It has very high adhesion, excellent resistance to moisture and other atmospheric phenomena. It has durability, light fastness, high strength and abrasion resistance. There is a very large selection of colors and shades, and they are very rich. Dries in just a few hours. Its disadvantages include the smell that appears after drying, and not entirely environmentally friendly components.
Alkyd paint is a better option, but has some disadvantages
Acrylic paint
This is the best and probably the most popular option. It uses an aqueous suspension of synthetic resins as a binding material. And it is based on polymers: methyl, ethyl and butyl acrylic. Suitable for almost all materials, including linoleum. Dried paint does not form cracks and retains its appearance for a long period, is not affected by temperature changes, and is not afraid of the influence of chemical elements. It dries quickly enough and does not have an unpleasant odor. But its price is higher than the previous ones.
Acrylic paint is the best choice for painting
"Liquid plastic"
A very durable, but also expensive coating, so it is rarely used in the case of budget repairs. When dry, it forms a very durable layer.
“Liquid plastic” is the most reliable coating, but also the most expensive
Linoleum: composition and features
Despite all the progress of technology, today one of the most popular floor coverings is linoleum. This arrangement of things is very predictable, because in terms of price-quality ratio, buying linoleum is a profitable solution in all respects.
Of course, there are always more expensive alternatives, such as parquet, laminate or even quality wooden flooring. But when there is no opportunity to consider other options, the eye stops at this affordable flooring that meets all the necessary requirements and tasks.
In particular, the positive aspects of linoleum that made it so popular include:
- convenience and ease of use: it is easy to wash with any detergent or even water, as it does not require special care;
- high moisture resistance: a humid environment or puddles of water will not affect functionality at all;
- versatility: suitable for an ordinary apartment, business facility or industrial premises;
- low thermal conductivity: will provide a warm floor;
- high noise insulation: an additional barrier for neighbors from noisy children;
- plasticity: it is pleasant to walk on this floor barefoot, because it absorbs the stress of walking;
- anti-slip surface;
- long service life;
- easy installation and dismantling;
- Availability of many colors and patterns.
Nowadays, the choice of linoleum is very large.
Each of us knows firsthand about the advantages of linoleum: there is practically not a single person who has never lived in a room in which this flooring material is laid. But linoleum also has some disadvantages, which, with the proper approach, can become allies instead of enemies in this finishing war.
All painting jobs start the same way: first you need to determine exactly what surface to paint on. This nuance is very important, since the correct selection of paints and varnishes and working tools depends on it. Without knowing the surface material, you can not only waste money and time, but also ruin the floor covering itself. Those who neglect such subtleties reap the fruits of frustration the hard way: the paint peels off after a while. So it’s best to approach this matter thoroughly and figure it out yourself.
Linoleum consists of several layers:
- protective, or wear layer - is a thin layer of transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the durability of linoleum and its mechanical stability depend on its thickness;
- the pattern layer is varied and of any color, which makes it easy to choose the one you need;
- front layer – a PVC layer that serves as the basis for applying the pattern;
- a layer of fiberglass - the basis of linoleum, on which all layers are assembled, determines the strength of the entire linoleum;
- backing – the last layer of foamed PVC.
Indeed, the quality of the linoleum itself depends on the thickness of each layer, therefore, the thicker it is, the better. However, painting thick and soft material will not work. Unfortunately, the paint, not having such elasticity, will peel off in a short period of time. Therefore, it is even good that you will have to paint already caked linoleum, which fits tightly to the surface and is quite hard.
Components of household linoleum in the diagram
It is also worth considering certain properties of linoleum, namely the fact that the protective layer is often rubbed with wax, which, if not removed, will prevent the paint from drying. Therefore, pre-treatment of the surface is necessary before painting.
Required tools and materials
Before you begin work, you need to prepare everything you need. We will need:
- bucket with water;
- rags;
- soda ash;
- silicone sealant or putty;
- primer and varnish (if acrylic paints are used);
- masking tape;
- gloves and mask;
- tray or container for paint;
- roller and brush.
To save time, prepare all the necessary tools in advance
Which paint to choose?
So, the answer we are interested in has been received - linoleum can be painted! But now you need to find out which paint is suitable for covering it. In construction stores and on the market you can find a large number of options with which you can breathe life into old linoleum. Let's look at the most popular of them:
- Alkyd paint. The material is based on alkyd varnish. Paint should be applied to the prepared surface. It has a high-quality composition, a wide color palette, dries quickly, and is easy to use. The surface becomes more durable to mechanical stress and is resistant to temperature and light changes. Linoleum coverings painted with alkyd paint do not allow water to pass through and retain their color brightness longer. The only drawback of this material is that it has a pronounced pungent odor.
- Acrylic paint. If you turn to professionals with the question of how to paint linoleum, the answer will be simple: “acrylic paint.” To date, it has established itself as the most durable material. The composition has high adhesion to any surfaces and increased abrasion resistance. Linoleum painted with acrylic paint will last for many years. The material is easy to apply, non-toxic, and dries quickly, allowing you to do the flooring yourself.
- Oil paint. If repair work is carried out within the framework of austerity, then painting linoleum with oil-based materials will not greatly affect the family budget. The composition has good adhesion to the floor covering and is distributed evenly over the surface without streaks. But this paint has a large number of negative characteristics: it takes a long time to dry (about 24 hours), has a strong toxic odor that is felt during work and for a long time after it, and wears off quickly.
- Heat-resistant paints and varnishes. To give linoleum greater heat resistance, compositions are used for painting that protect the floor covering from constant exposure to UV rays and various temperature changes. This paint can be used to cover linoleum in the kitchen and bathroom. To treat the floor covering, you can use not only thermal paint, but also varnish.
In addition to the listed paints and varnishes, other compositions are also available on the markets, but they are used much less frequently due to high consumption and high cost.
Step-by-step instructions for painting linoleum
You can begin the painting process only after the treated cracks and torn areas have completely dried. Our example uses acrylic rubber paint. It dries quickly and has no odor, unlike oil or polyurethane paints. It took us a little less than 3 liters to cover two layers of floor area of 18 square meters.
Step 1. First, attach masking tape around the entire perimeter of the room to prevent paint from getting on the walls or baseboard. Then it can be easily removed.
Apply masking tape around the perimeter of the room to prevent paint from getting in
Step 2. For better adhesion of the paint to the surface, treat the linoleum with a primer. This is especially necessary when using alkyd pentaphthalic enamel or oil paint.
As a primer you can use:
- oil (top) varnishes;
- resin urea-formaldehyde varnish (MCh 26);
- pentaphthalic or glypthal varnishes.
Among the listed products, we select those that form a matte film.
The primer is most convenient and quick to apply using a wide roller
In our case, we use a universal acrylic primer. Its consumption was less than 1 liter. It is most convenient to prime using a roller. They can also be used to paint the floor in the future.
Step 3. If necessary, the paint must be diluted with a special solvent and stirred thoroughly.
Stir the paint so that it is uniform and without lumps
Step 4. Pour paint into the prepared tray or tray.
It is most convenient to use a special tray or tray for paint.
Step 5. Painting should begin on the side opposite the door, gradually moving towards the exit. On a large surface, it is most convenient to use a fairly wide roller with a long handle. First we paint, moving the roller in a horizontal direction. Then immediately, before the paint begins to dry, we level the coating using vertical movements. We apply the paint evenly to avoid the formation of smudges and “steps”. Try to cover the entire surface in one pass to avoid noticeable transitions.
floor paint
The coating of the first layer is very dense and completely covers the old linoleum
However, it is better to paint the floor in two layers. Since two layers of paint will last longer, and the coating will look smoother. In our case, the first layer dried for about an hour and a half. Then we applied the second layer using the same principle as the first.
Between the first and second painting, we recommend putting the roller in a clean bag so that it does not dry out.
Now you can see two layers of paint when it is completely dry.
The coating is matte-silky, as indicated on the can.
Step 6. The final stage in painting the floor is coating the surface with varnish. We used acrylic parquet varnish.
parquet varnish
This type of varnish has virtually no odor
For our floor, exactly 2 liters were enough to cover two layers.
We cover the floor with varnish in the same way as with paint using a roller, starting from the far wall and moving towards the exit.
First, apply the varnish in a horizontal direction, and then level the coating with vertical movements. The drying time between the first and second coat is 2 hours. The second layer of varnish was completely dry after 4 hours.
After paint and varnish, wash the roller with warm water and soap
Then we squeeze it out with our hands and a disposable kitchen towel and hang it to dry.
Wring out the roller well
Step 7. Remove the masking tape from the baseboards or put them in place and enjoy the result. We bring the furniture into the room after the time indicated on the varnish packaging.
If the old skirting boards look unimportant, it is better to install new ones
Surface preparation
In order for the updated linoleum to please the eye for a long time, and the paint not to crack or scrape off over time, you first need to treat the flooring material well. The task is to remove all factory wax from the surface and clean it from dirt and dust. Unlike preliminary manipulations with laminate or oiled wooden parquet, this is much easier and faster to do.
Before painting, you must carefully prepare the linoleum
Surface preparation before painting occurs in the following order:
- Clean the surface. Not only from dirt and oily stains, but also from wax. To clean the wax, add a glass of soda to a bucket of hot water and wash the floor with this calcined solution. To achieve the best effect, use a brush.
- Wash the floor with water without leaving any streaks. Dry.
- Check for cracks and peeling of linoleum. If there is, then seal it with putty. Seal any loose joints with acrylic sealant.
- Prime the surface. As a primer, use either a regular primer or varnish. Painting can be done without this step, but this way the paint will lie smoother and adhere better to the linoleum.
After the primed surface has dried, you should begin painting the linoleum.
Cleaning linoleum from excess paint
In the process of updating the linoleum covering, you may encounter the problem of accidental staining or contamination of areas that should not be painted. It is important to remove the paint so as not to damage the material. Any stain can be wiped off with a napkin or a clean cloth, but only if you do it right away; if the stain was not removed in a timely manner, then the dried paint will have to be removed in other ways.
Cleaning methods:
- Mechanical method. Stains are removed with abrasives;
- Chemical substances. Special chemical compounds are used.
Mechanical elimination is the most optimal way to solve the problem, because chemical compounds risk damaging either the material itself or its protective layer.
The most suitable cleaning chemicals are:
- Acetone;
- White Spirit;
- Special composition for removing construction paints and varnishes.
Acetone is one of the most effective and at the same time most dangerous substances. When mechanically scrubbing, vegetable oil will help improve the result if you apply it to the surface before scrubbing and repeat the procedure 2-3 times.
Acetone is one of the most effective and at the same time most dangerous substances.
Original ideas for updating linoleum
There are a lot of the most incredible and attractive ideas that allow you to update the old coating yourself. Solutions that will make linoleum sparkle with new colors:
- Application of interesting ornaments with a stencil;
- Gluing pieces of linoleum of a different, preferably contrasting color;
- Self-adhesive floor covering.
Linoleum will sparkle with new colors when the floor is covered with self-adhesive.
Requirements for paints and varnishes
Despite the fact that modern coloring compounds are quick-drying, they have no odor and they are all safe, choosing the right one is not easy.
Paintwork materials must have the following characteristics:
- Increased adhesion;
- Abrasion resistant;
- Health safety.
Paints and varnishes must be resistant to abrasion.
Painting process
To get the job done quickly and efficiently, watch a training video on the Internet, read a few articles, or get advice from professionals. When the answer is received, the theory has been mastered, paint and brushes have been purchased, begin the painting procedure.
The work can be divided into several stages:
1. Cover the baseboard or the joint between the wall and the floor with masking tape. This will protect them from unwanted paint. At the end of the painting work (when the surface is dry), the tape can be removed. It can also be used to create a pattern on the floor.
2. Pour the paint into the tray and dilute (if necessary) with solvent. Mix the composition thoroughly with a brush.
3. Start painting from the far wall to the door. It is better to carry out the work using a wide roller with a long handle. Try to apply the paint in an even layer so that there are no bumps or “steps”.
4. Wait until the material is completely dry on the surface. If minor stains are visible or you want a more saturated color, dye again. Leave the surface to dry.
When painting flooring, complete each step in one go. You should not paint linoleum in parts, otherwise transitions will be visible on the surface.
As you can see, it is possible and even necessary to paint linoleum. This will allow you to update the appearance of the coating while spending a minimum of money. Try to follow all the recommendations indicated above, and then the next painting will not be needed soon.
Laying Lenolium (1 video)
Different types of paints (25 photos)
How to refresh old linoleum with your own hands
Despite the obvious advantages of such a material as linoleum, over the years it loses its original appearance. In this regard, the question arises of how to refresh it yourself without turning to professionals.
You can refresh linoleum in the following ways:
- Using restorative wax;
- Cleaning with special detergents;
- Polishing with flax oil or drying oil;
- Washing floors with a special decoction of milk diluted with water and potato juice.
If all of the above methods do not bring results, then the only option left is painting.
You can refresh linoleum using restoring wax.
Is it possible to simply coat linoleum with varnish?
Anyone who wants to renew their linoleum flooring will be wondering whether it is possible to apply varnish to the surface. According to experts, this depends on what kind of varnish will be used, because some paints and varnishes are not suitable for linoleum.
Advantages of varnish:
- Polishes the coating, adds shine;
- Protects and extends service life;
- Prevents slipping and formation of defects;
- Prevents the accumulation of static energy.
The varnish polishes the coating and adds shine.
Possible problems and advice from experts
First of all, it is necessary to follow the varnishing scheme. The first layer is applied by moving the roller parallel to the plane of the window opening. Next, we wait until it dries and lay the second, finishing layer, this time rolling out the liquid with a roller perpendicular to the plane of the window opening.
Important! Regardless of the number of layers, the finishing installation of the varnish composition is carried out in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the window. Only in this case will it be possible to avoid streaks and tool marks on the surface.
It is necessary to dry linoleum with the windows and doors closed, no heating devices, otherwise the surface will be covered with dust and instead of gloss there will be a gray spotted mass. If you dry the coating too quickly, cracks will definitely appear.
Furniture can be brought into the room no earlier than after 5-7 days, depending on the temperature and humidity.
