Many professional builders and decorators feel a bit uncomfortable about painting flooring, as they spend a lot of time making sure flooring is protected from paint and cleaning up spills quickly before they dry.  However painting a floor can be a quick and effective way to brighten up old surface, and will last well if the job is carried out with the right preparation, primer and paint.

Professional Tips
You can paint almost any flooring material available on the market from ceramic tiles through to hardwood and sheet vinyl, and high quality paint applied to clean flooring and covered with a couple of layers of urethane is virtually impossible to remove (so you have to make sure you do it right!).

As with all painting jobs the success of the overall finish lies in the preparatory work, so allocate at least a day to this task so that you can make sure all of the dirt, wax and polish that could inhibit the adhesion of the paint to the floor is removed before you start and the floors are squeaky clean.  If you are painting ceramic tiles or anything with a glossy surface then a quick rub down with some light sandpaper is a good idea, as this will dull the glazing and prepare the surface with some tiny grooves which will allow the paint to ‘stick’ better.

Primers
For that true professional finish you will need to apply a primer to the flooring before you start to paint, as this will help to smooth out any rough or porous surfaces and allow the paint to coat and dry evenly.  Sheet vinyl and ceramic tiles already have a non-porous surface so you will not need to prime these, but don’t forget the grouting between tiles is porous and so will need a coat of primer for the best finish.  If you have not sanded glossy tiles before you apply the primer then you may still be able to see this effect through the primer when you have finished the job.

Applying Paint
You can paint flooring using the same techniques you would apply to walls and woodwork, and a combination of quality rollers and brushes will get the job done well.  Spend at least $5 on a brush, as this will provide a much more professional finish and also it will be less likely to shed hairs as you are painting.  Choose a good quality paint that will go down smoothly and evenly, and provide a thick, lasting finish to the floor.  It is a good idea to try a little test patch of around 2 foot square before you start on the whole floor, and inspect this in different lighting to see if you are still happy with the color and finish before you move on.