Types of flooring

Asphaltum

This is a bitumen based material widely used for roads and roofing purposes. Asphaltum is not a suitable surface for painting except with solar reflecting roof paints and line markings on roads. New surfaces up to six months old should be sealed with a coat of shellac knotting and emulsion paint first, to help prevent discolouration. Bituminous Paints are derived from asphaltum.

Ceramic and glazed tiles

These are clay tiles that have a glaze applied before firing. They produce a very hard dense finish that can not be painted successfully on floor areas.

Concrete flooring

This can successfully be painted with single pack coatings as well as two-pack floor coatings as long as the surface has not been power floated (see above). The single pack coatings will not offer the same amount of durability as the two pack coatings.

The surface needs to be thoroughly cleaned to remove all dirt, grease, oil, etc. before application of the appropriate Dulux/Glidden system.

Granolithic

This is a jointless flooring made from sand, cement and granite chippings floated over a concrete floor. It produces a smooth, very hard wearing surface which cannot be painted successfully.

Linoleum

A composite of wood flour, cork dust and linseed oil on a hessian backing. Can be painted but on a floor area will offer only limited success and therefore not recommended.

Powerfloated concrete flooring

This is produced when a cement screed is abraded and polished to produce a very hard wearing smooth dense surface that is very difficult to paint. Successful painting even with two-pack systems can only be achieved by producing a mechanical key to the surface either through a 'floor etchant' or 'track blasting'.

Slate

This is a natural material and is mainly used for roofing although it can be seen on window cills, lintels and sometimes floors. Today it has largely been replaced by synthetic materials some of which look remarkably similar to the real thing. Adhesion is difficult to very smooth dense surfaces such as natural slate however, further information can be provided by the Dulux Advice Centre.

Steel floors

Most types of steel floors can be painted provided that the steel is in good condition, the surface is adequately prepared and any bare steel is primed with the relevant primer. If the steel requires protection from corrosion then film thickness should be specified reference; BS 5493 : 1977 Protective coating of iron and steel against corrosion. For further information on types of steel see reference section for metals.

Terrazzo

This is coloured stones laid in a cement screed.. When the screed has set the stones are abraded and polished. The coloured stones can be random or placed in a mosaic pattern. A smooth, very hard wearing surface is achieved which can not be painted successfully.

Vinyl floor tiles / coverings

Can not be painted.

Wood / wood boarding floors

Most wood and wood boarding floors can be painted/lacquered with Dulux/Glidden single pack floor paints or Dulux Trade Diamond Glaze. Some woods should be treated with caution such as Teak or resinous soft wood. All traces of polish, grease and dirt must be removed before painting. For further information on types of woods and wood boarding see the reference section for wood.