What to do with a bedroom cement floor?

Rachelle Morris
by Rachelle Morris
I am going to be redoing a couple bedrooms in our basement and they both have rug over cement floors. I am getting rid of the rug for sure. I was wanting to do the brown paper floors, but our two daughters whose rooms they are, aren't sure about them. So, what other options do I have? We will definitely have to seal and use a leveller on the floors, but then what? Has anyone used a leveller before and can tell me what to expect? Does it dry rough? Can I sand it? Should I sand it? What if I want to paint the floor? any and all ideas are very very welcome! thank you so much!
  9 answers
  • Carole Carole on Jul 27, 2013
    There was a post on here yesterday or the day before I think showing stencilled floors in a bedroom. It looked really good. I wish I had clipped it then I could point you in the direction and you could see what you think. I think the floor was a light grey colour over white or off white??
  • There are paints designed for cement and that would be great to use. Is there any moisture in the basement? That would be the first step. The leveler products you are speaking of work great and are quite expensive (you mix them and pour them). another alternative if you have higher ceilings would be to build up a subfloor and then decide on flooring. The click in place laminate floorings are so easy to use. Good luck!
  • Shari Shari on Jul 27, 2013
    Rustoleum has a new product out called Restore that is for painting decks and concrete. I think it's primarily intended for outdoor concrete patios etc., but you might want to investigate whether it would be suitable for your floors. It comes in lots of really pretty colors and your daughter's might have fun choosing a color to go with their decor. I've watched the application video and depending on how you apply it, it can be slightly textured or smoother. With some type of concrete paint, you would probably still have to seal but you probably could skip the leveling step. Here's the Rustoleum link if you are interested in more information on Restore: http://rustoleumrestore.com/dcr/ Also, if you are interested in a wood-look floor without the expense and upkeep of real wood, Trafficmaster has vinyl planks called "Allure" (sold at Home Depot). I have Allure in one of my bathrooms and I absolutely love it! When my "ship comes in," I will be replacing all my "click in place" laminate flooring (that I absolutely hate) with Allure. Allure is soft under foot, quiet to walk on, durable, water resistant, doesn't show dirt, and it's around $2.00 a sq. ft. (or less, depending on whether you buy an in-stock color or a special order color). In my opinion, for what it's worth, Allure would be a great option for kids rooms. Here's a link for a HomeTalk thread on vinyl flooring where I posted a couple of photos of the Allure vinyl planks in my bathroom: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/floors-ceilings/q-vinyl-flooring-597265
    Vinyl Flooring
  • Rachelle Morris Rachelle Morris on Jul 27, 2013
    thank you so much everyone! All the ideas are great! Carole, I did see that post and that is what started me thinking, but I am not use of all the steps I need to take. I will look into all the info. you have all shared. Here is a link to an article that just showed up on my Pinterest page.... http://paintedfurnitureideas.com/how-to-paint-your-garage-floor/ I think I could use the same steps as here.
  • Cement paint is the best idea. You do not want to use anything that has organic material in it. Carpet, wood, paper etc. All of which will cause mold development over time. Be sure your floor is not showing signs of efflorescence. That white powder that shows up from through the cement is a sign that moisture is entering into the basement. It does not just happen on walls as many think. A failing or raising water table can cause a normally appearing dry basement to become quite damp. Resulting in failed paint not to mention mold.
  • Rachelle Morris Rachelle Morris on Jul 28, 2013
    thanks! Does anyone know if you can just paint the leveller or is there another step before painting? thanks for all the ideas. I am overwhelmed with all of them. lol I will be making a decision pretty quick.
  • An acid cleaning is suggested. There are several brands available for you to consider. I would suggest you go to a paint only type store and not big box types for this product. They can show you exactly how to prep the floor properly not only for the job to look good, but to assure that what ever you end up using lasts.
  • If your concerned about your family health, I suggest you go to amazon or your local book seller and find and purchase a book called My House I Killing Me. From Jeff Mays if memory serves me. It goes into detail on how to keep your home safe and healthy. A great thing to know when doing any remodel or home improvement project.
  • Rachelle Morris Rachelle Morris on Jul 28, 2013
    awesome help! thank you so much!