DIY: Portray A Checkerboard Flooring (Suggestions + Merchandise I Used)

As of final evening, I’m about midway carried out with portray a checkerboard flooring within the studio. Right here’s the way it appears to date…

I’m actually happy with the way it’s turning out to date. The primary room, which is about 19.5′ x 21′, is about 2/3 completed. So now I’ve to place protecting paper down on this completed space, transfer my large rolling work tables and different objects to this aspect of the room, after which begin on flooring in the remainder of this room, the again entry, the storage closet, and the lavatory.

The ground on this room is purple oak hardwood flooring, and since this can be a studio the place I’ll be utilizing paint, resin, alcohol inks, and so forth., I wished a flooring that might very simply be spot sanded and retouched once I drip issues on the ground. Paint appeared like the plain reply. So let me present you ways I did it.

I began by sanding the ground to present the earlier end some “tooth”. Hopefully this may give the paint and primer extra sturdiness than it might have had I painted proper over the slick water-based polyurethane flooring with out sanding first.

Some flooring most likely wouldn’t should be sanded fairly that a lot, however I used to be additionally making an attempt to eliminate some water harm and different imperfections within the flooring, so I did somewhat extra sanding than was most likely crucial (as a result of I’m a perfectionist).

Then I gave the ground two coats of Zinsser B-I-N Shellac-Based Primer. This was solely my second time utilizing this product, however after getting used to the skinny consistency, I used to be very happy with the way it carried out the primary time I used it (on my entrance porch ceiling), so I made a decision to keep it up on this challenge as effectively.

After which I gave the ground two coats of paint, which I rolled on utilizing a 3/8-inch nap curler (these are the ones I use). And since the ground is a really giant space, I used a regular curler than you’ll use to color a wall. The paint I selected to make use of is Behr Porch and Patio Floor Paint in the low-luster finish. I began with the darker shade, which is Benjamin Moore Basic Grey, which I had them shade match within the Behr paint.

So as soon as the cupboards have been in place, I measured and marked the middle of the center cupboard utilizing my tape measure and a pencil, after which continued marking the remainder of the ground utilizing that very same measurement, utilizing a straight edge (a framing sq.) till I had a line drawn perpendicular to the middle level on the center cupboard.

Subsequent, I used my sq. sample (I used a leftover FLOR carpet tile as my sample, however you’ll be able to lower a sample out of cardboard, poster board, and so forth.), and lined up two factors completely alongside that line near the cupboards, and traced the sq..

Then utilizing the opposite two factors on the sq., I used these as my information to measure and mark a line equidistant from the cupboards that ran parallel with the cupboards. Once more, it was extra necessary to me that the checkerboard design appeared proper with the cupboards reasonably than it being completely centered within the room. Rooms are nearly by no means completely sq., so if the design was barely off in one other space, it might be method much less noticeable than it might be if the design was off with the cupboards on the principle focal wall of the room.

As soon as I had that line drawn parallel with the entrance of the cupboards, I then used my sq. sample (the carpet tile) to proceed the sample on that parallel line.

As soon as I had the squares traced on the middle perpendicular line and the all throughout the parallel line, I went again and simply fill in the remainder of the squares utilizing my sample.

Once I had the entire squares traced, I used painters tape to mark off the entire squares that will be painted my distinction shade (Behr Polar Bear), after which I started taping off the squares to be painted. It’s not environment friendly to attempt to tape off each single sq. to color them suddenly. It’s a lot simpler to tape off each different one and paint these, after which when these are dry, to return and tape off the remainder and paint these.

Earlier than I might paint, I first wanted to eliminate any pencil marks. Pencil marks will bleed via paint, so it’s going to prevent an enormous headache to eliminate them as an alternative of making an attempt to color over them. And don’t ever attempt to erase them with a pencil eraser or perhaps a high quality artwork eraser. These will simply smudge the graphite on paint, and go away you’ll a large number. I at all times eliminate my pencil marks utilizing a Magic Eraser. They work so quick and make straightforward work of eradicating pencil marks. And I didn’t simply take away the pencil marks going via the center of a number of the squares, just like the one you see right here…

However I additionally eliminated the marks alongside the taped edges. That method I can eliminate pencil marks and burnish the tape in order that it’s caught rather well to the ground multi function fast step. You may see how effectively the Magic Eraser eliminated the marks from the identical sq. pictured above…

After which I did yet one more step earlier than portray the squares. Whether or not portray a checkerboard flooring or portray stripes on a wall, I like to make sure that the sides of the distinction shade will probably be good by sealing the tape with the unique shade (Basic Grey) earlier than portray the distinction shade (Polar Bear). By portray the ground first with Basic Grey, after which sealing the tape with Basic Grey, that signifies that if any of the paint used to seal the tape bleeds below the tape, it’s going to simply mix proper into the unique shade and gained’t be noticeable. However because it dries, it’ll seal the sides of the tape.

The marking, taping, erasing pencil marks, and sealing the tape are all of the time-consuming elements of portray a checkerboard flooring. By the point all of that’s carried out, the precise portray goes in a short time. I gave the squares a primary coat of paint, after which allow them to dry for about 40 minutes.

Then I rolled on a second coat. Instantly after portray the second coat, and whereas the paint was nonetheless very moist, I eliminated the tape. You may see how completely crisp the sides are…

I let that first set of squares dry for about 24 hours, after which I taped off the remainder of the distinction squares and repeated that very same course of — eradicating the pencil marks, sealing the sides of the tape with the primary shade…

Adopted by two coats of the distinction shade, and eradicating the tape whereas the second coat was nonetheless very moist.

And there it’s! My new painted checkerboard flooring in my studio. I do know it’s a model new painted flooring, and it hasn’t even absolutely cured (I believe full remedy takes about 30 days), however I’ve already been very impressed with the sturdiness of this paint.

Cooper has even been in right here (my hyper 100-pound canine who gained’t let me contact his toes, so I can’t clip his claws), and the ground held up completely to his craziness.

I don’t plan to do a transparent coat on the ground as a result of that will simply complicate the touch-up course of, and would defeat the complete objective and my reasoning for having a painted flooring within the first place. In order that signifies that as soon as I get the remainder of the pencil marks off of this aspect of the room (the pencil marks that have been hiding below painters tape), I’ll be able to put protecting paper over this aspect of the room, get all of my stuff moved over to this aspect, and get began on the remainder of the ground. It’s been a sluggish course of, however not less than I’m making progress! And reality be informed, whereas portray a checkerboard flooring is a prolonged course of, the issue degree is kind of low. It’s been a enjoyable and satisfying DIY challenge to tackle.