Carpet
We love the idea of covering stains and reviving a carpet with upholstery paint. It saves hundreds of dollars and the hassle of getting rid of an old carpet.
Kathie Smula of Spray It New upholstery paint says carpets with a short pile are the best candidates for painting; long-pile carpets become hard and matted when painted.
Prep:
- Thoroughly clean the carpet before painting. You don’t have to steam clean it, but scrub up the worst stains and vacuum so dust and dirt don’t mix with the paint.
- Skip priming and just spray paint two or three coats, depending on how deep you want the color. Make sure it’s dry to the touch before spraying another coat.
Tips:
- Don’t confuse upholstery paint, good for carpets, with fabric paint, good for T-shirts.
- If you get heavy handed and paint clumps, loosen the area with a bristle brush and dab up excess paint.
- Six cans of spray paint will cover an 8-foot-by-10-foot carpet with at least two coats.
Vinyl Floors
Painting is an inexpensive way to get a few more years out of old vinyl floors in kitchens and laundry rooms.
Prep:
- Wash the floor with a TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) solution to get rid of built-up dirt and grime.
- Rough up the shiny surface with 180-grit sandpaper. If some nooks and crannies remain glossy, apply a deglosser (paint stores sell it) to remove shine.
- Prime with a latex primer.
- Paint with a porch/floor paint.
Tips:
Save your back when sanding floors by using a sanding pole, like the ones drywall installers use.
Highly textured vinyl floor may require another sanding and a second coat of primer.
Their team specialize in North Central New Jersey including towns such as Boonton, Chatham, Madison,Chester,Convent Station, Denville, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding Twp., Mendham, Montville, Morristown,Morris Plains,Morris Twp., Mountain Lakes, Parsippany, Randolph, Rockaway, Whippany.
