Painting concrete floor in a utility room

TUS

Or am I better off with a belt sander?

Gloomendoom

An orbital sander will probably be better than a belt sander IMHO.

With regard to sealing, I just use the floor paint thinned down 50/50 with thinners. It really soaks into the concrete.

x2 on the drying times. It takes ages... days!

DVardysShadow

I would not use sand paper or a belt sander on a concrete floor. I would use a wire brush or a wire brush attachment on an angle grinder.

As for PVA, even watered down, I would avoid it. It is strongly condemned on these forums for 'sealing' plasterwork, because the paint peels off. And I can't see any reason why it will not have the same effect on a concrete floor. I would use the floor paint itself, with 5 or 10% white spirit added as a sealer - on the same basis as you use thinned emulsion to prepare fresh plaster.

tr3mor

Just get some cheap vinyl instead. Much easier and will keep the dust down.

TUS

Thanks for the advice, esp RE: thinners. Will avoid the PVA option now.

Vinyl/laminate/tiles are a no go unfortunately as the room has a large drain cover (rectangular thing) which needs to remain accessible. So a repaint is necessary.