I bought latex floor paint, and it only comes in flat/eggshell (depending what brand I buy). The flat finish doesn't look that good, so I clearly need glossy paint. But glossy floor paint only comes in oil-based (read: messy clean-up). Because I am DIY in a room that is full of furniture, I only paint as much as I can clear at one time, that is, small areas. So an oil-based paint is unattractive to me because I'm doing a lot of cleaning for the amount of painting I get done; I'd far rather use a latex paint. But if I buy glossy latex, that won't be a "floor" paint, whatever that means.

So, two questions:

Would a glossy latex "wall" type paint be a problem on a floor? It's not really a high use area, certainly no hard shoes, and we can be careful when moving furniture or chairs.

If I have to go to the oil paint, having started with the latex paint (over a latex primer, no less), is it a problem to put it on top of the latex?

Thanks in advance,

KarinL

I think if I'm going to have to go to a third coat to get the gloss, I'll just get some glossy paint in the same colour and use that, even if it is oil based. I have painted oil over latex before and it's held up.

KarinL

I asked about using a glossy latex wall paint on the floor and they told me that the wall coating cures to a softer coating than a floor paint needs to do, so discouraged me from doing that.

They also suggested a glossy clear coat, but I think if I'm going to have to recoat anyway, I might as well add another coat of colour. And they weren't even sure that the latex clear coat comes in glossy. So I'll just buy the same colour in an oil paint.

So I guess I will have to come to terms with cleaning my brushes - or finding a way to store them from shift to shift - does the freezer trick work for oil paints, or is that only for latex? It is clear that the only way I'll get the finish glossy is with oil paint for floors.

And yes, it does have to be glossy. I actually found this out when I did the other attic room, but it had been so long and I was buying the paint in a hurry this time on the last day of my P&L paint store's retirement sale; I forgot I'd made this mistake before and neglected to ask what finish the latex floor paint had. The floor is tongue and groove, and with the flat finish (actually mine is eggshell), you can't see the boards at all; the floor might as well be plywood. When you put glossy paint on, you can see the boards and a bit of the wood grain - just like you can see the profile on mouldings better when they are painted glossy. And the smoothness of the glossy floor is just nicer to be on and to move things around on.

The first time I did this wrong, the glossy oil paint did go on OK over the latex, though I can't say I've subjected to floor to much of a test yet. I was curious too whether it's "recommended" or just possible!

Thanks for the help with this,

KarinL

As far as storing brushes used in oil-based products between work time on a project, I just put mineral spirits in a coffee can, swish the brush in it, and wipe it clean with a rag, rest it on it's side. Haven't tried the freezer trick on oil-based (only latex). Something tells me it might get funky and hard as a rock with oil products, but I could be wrong. ;)

As for storing brushes, thanks again - I thought it was for latex I'd seen that freezer tip. I think with oil based it will be about setting up a system, which I rarely have the foresight to do! The upside is that currently I'm painting with the so-called eco brushes where you buy one plastic handle with replaceable bristles. They don't exactly give the bristle portions away, but it isn't a killer if you dispose of one every few uses.

KarinL

KarinL