No, to ensure the best finish, you should always remove contaminants such as oil and dust to prevent the paint from bubbling or flaking. You can remove light stains with a strong detergent and some manual scrubbing. However, for larger oil spills, you should use a degreaser that’s been developed to break down and remove the stain, for example, Watco Bio-D which eliminates the need for a second-stage cleaner. However, at this stage you are still unable to remove the stain, apply Watco Oil Block Primer to seal in the oil and provide a good base for painting.

No, this residue could be laitance which is created when surplus water and cement dust rise to the surface during trowelling and curing. If you do not remove it from the surface by etching the concrete then the paint will not adhere properly, leaving it to flake away when exposed to traffic.

If you are not sure whether the residue is laitance or dust, simply scrape the edge of a coin across the surface. If the fine powdery film is easily removed, it’s laitance.

Powerfloated concrete floors should be shot-blasted to achieve the best result, because this provides a key so that the paint will bond effectively. However, for smaller areas which are hard to shot-blast or where shot-blasting is not appropriate, use Watco Powerfloat Primer which prepares the surface and is easily applied with a roller.

When you paint a floor, you ideally want the surface to be smooth and even because on rough surfaces, the paint can sit on ‘high spots’ and can quickly wear off under traffic. So, before you start, we recommended using a leveller to smooth the surface as part of your pre-painting preparation.

As with any floor coating, always clean and prepare the surface first before pouring the leveller onto the surface and then smoothing it out. Use a leveller that is fibre reinforced to make it stronger and to give it a more durable surface that is resistant to shocks and abrasions, for example, Watco FlowTop.

Yes, floor paint can help to create a cohesive finish in this situation. To keep costs under control, you can simply resurface the high traffic areas of the floor and leave the areas covered by racking or where there is low traffic passing over. You can then paint the whole area of floor and the sections that have been resurfaced will blend in with those that have been left untouched.

There could be several reasons for this. For example, if you have washed the floor in preparation for painting, due to rising damp or because the area is enclosed with no ventilation, but the important thing is to remove as much of the damp as possible before painting the floor.

First, remove any standing water from the floor. If the amount of water is minimal then you could simply use something absorbent to ‘mop’ the water up, but for larger areas it is best to use a wet vacuum to remove it, followed by a dehumidifier. You can use heaters to draw the moisture out of a damp floor, but you would need to open doors and windows to allow the moisture to escape.

Where there is residual damp on floors or walls, use a water-based paint such as Watco Dampguard Advanced to provide a hard wearing and chemical resistant surface that resists fungal growth and allows moisture vapour to escape from the surface.

Most screeds are made up of sand, cement and water which makes them very porous. This means that they tend to act as a sponge and will soak up the paint, making it appear patchy. We recommend thorough preparation of the surface before painting, using Watco 4 Hour Epoxy Primer, to achieve an even, long-lasting finish - and to avoid the need for multiple coats.

Applying paint to your floors has many benefits in both industrial and commercial settings. One of the main reasons is that painting the floor helps to protect it from pedestrian and vehicle traffic. If your floor is not protected then it will start to dust, break up and wear down. This makes the space look poorly maintained and can lead to surface damage that will need repairing. Painting a new concrete floor will help to protect the surface and it’s also an ideal way to apply line markings which helps to keep workers and pedestrians within pathways and protected from vehicles or hazardous areas in busy industrial settings.

If you add another layer of paint to a floor that already has a coating on it, you will risk ending up with an unsightly mess as the paint will simply stick to the old paint or sealant and then lift off once in use.

Glossy painted or sealed floors should be abraded using a power sander to dull the gloss and provide a good key which enables the new coat of paint to bond and last.

Once the area has been abraded, wipe the surface to remove any dust. If the floor is dirty, it’s best to clean it using a solvent-free degreaser such as Watco Bio-D that can easily cut through general dirt, grease and oil without discolouring or softening the existing paint.

First, clear the floor area and give it a good clean with a stiff broom. When sweeping and cleaning the floor, pay special attention to hard-to-reach corners and roller door tracks where dust and debris can build up over time. Scrape up any hard dirt and grease.

Once all the stains and dirt have been removed, rinse and then completely dry the floor before preparing it with an etchant such as Watco Etch & Clean to key the surface so that the paint will adhere to it well. To achieve an even coverage when etching the surface, use a plastic watering can (with a rose spout) and wait for the solution to stop frothing and turn from pink to white/clear before flushing the floor with clean water.

Some products that you use for the preparation and stain removal process may contain chemicals that can be harmful if inhaled or come into contact with the skin. It’s best to wear the recommended PPE when applying chemical-based products and consulting each product’s safety data sheet for more information. Protective clothing also helps to keep yourself and your clothes free of staining when preparing and painting your surfaces.

The proper preparation is important when painting your new concrete floor to ensure that it doesn’t end up flaking and peeling.

If you are not working against a deadline, new concrete should be left to dry for around four weeks in the summer and six in the winter to allow it to dry out completely after it’s been poured. Once the concrete floor is dry, you need to mechanically abrade or etch it prior to painting.

However, if you need to speed up the process, use Watco New Concrete Primer which reduces the waiting time to approximately ten days.

While powerfloated floors are extremely durable and can easily withstand the weight of machinery and vehicles, the non-porous surface makes it difficult for paint to penetrate and bond properly.

Shot blasting is a quick and effective way to remove old coatings or dirt from concrete floors, particularly in large areas.

To get the best results, heavily contaminated floors should be reasonably dry when applying Watco Bio D.

Apply Watco Etch & Clean and scrub with a soft broom or machine then leave for 15 minutes.

We recommend you don’t paint a floor that has been treated with a PVA sealer as it is not strong enough to provide a sound base.

We don’t use strong solvents in our coatings so you can use a Watco paint such as Watco Epoxy Gloss Coat, Safety Coat or even Epoxicote High Build for heavy traffic areas without worrying about a possible chemical reaction.

No, latex levellers or underlayment's cannot be painted or used as a wearing surface. They are simply used to smooth the concrete ready for a vinyl, tile or wood surface to be laid. Only use latex levellers or underlayment's to smooth a surface before applying a wearing surface. If you paint them, they will simply break and lift once the floor is used.

To prepare the area, simply sweep the floor and make sure there is no loose surface material or contamination from oil or grease. Once cleaned, use a soft broom to brush the primers over the surface to create a thin and reasonably even film. When ready, mix the supplied resin and powder for approximately three to five minutes until an even colour and creamy consistency is obtained. To apply just pour and spread the Watco Flowtop to the required thickness. Work the spiked roller over the area immediately after application to release any trapped air for a professional finish.

When selecting a paint for your porous floor, select a two-part epoxy primer that is designed to reduce the porosity of the screed and helps to strengthen and bind it together before coating it, e.g. Watco 4 Hour Epoxy Primer. A suitable coating can then be applied to add further strength and help to prolong its appearance.