Help! Painting concrete

itsthelittlethings

To improve the heat proofing of my home I'm thinking of taking the carpet up and sealing the concrete with concrete paint. How much would I be paying a professional to do this? 6m x 5m studio with a small hallway.

GrubbyGirl_2

I've never heard of paint improving heat loss through concrete, where did you hear this? You might be better using an insulating foam board but that will increase the height of the floor. Or maybe some better quality carpet underlay

Grumpy_chap

Carpet itself is a good insulator. Who told you that painting the concrete would make a difference?

Probably a job to wait until the carpet needs replacing.

born_again

Cost will vary where you live.

Ms_Chocaholic

Can you buy a thicker underlay

eddddy

You mention it's a studio - so I assume that you live in a block. Are you on the bottom floor (i.e. the ground floor or basement floor), or is there another studio or flat below you?

If there's a studio or flat below you, it's likely to be heating up the concrete slab that forms your floor. And that concrete slab could act like a storage heater, which warms up your flat. So you might not want insulation.

But if your studio is on the bottom floor, insulation might be a good idea.

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6682201/help-painting-concrete

Definitely more info required!

What makes you think it needs painting, or that this will improve insulation? (It won't)

If you can get away with adding ~8mm height, then the low density fibre boards you can get for next to now't as laminate underlay should make a significant difference.

Expose concrete floor, brush and hoover up all the dust, 'broom' some stabilising liquid or SBR over the concrete, and allow to dry. Lay the fibre boards, adding dabs of glue to hold if needed.

Refit/new carpet and underlay.

To seal the concrete and lay the board (really light stuff, and cuttable with a craft knife) is DIY/handyperson work, a days worth.

I'd look for recommendations on, say, Facebook, and explain to the recommended person what it is you are after.

itsthelittlethings

I wish to cool my flat by taking the carpet up as it gets very hot in summer. I would then need to paint the concrete, if indeed it is a concrete floor. The flat was built around 2006.

eddddy

itsthelittlethings said

I wish to cool my flat by taking the carpet up as it gets very hot in summer. I would then need to paint the concrete, if indeed it is a concrete floor. The flat was built around 2006.

So when you said "heat proof" - you meant stop your flat getting hot. I think everyone thought you meant stop your flat getting cold.

We've had an usually hot summer, but have you spent a winter in your flat yet? You might change your mind, if your flat gets really cold in winter.

But back to your question about having a painted concrete floor, instead of carpets. It depends on the condition of the concrete. There might be unevenness, cracks or a powdery surface that needs dealing with before you paint the concrete.

You probably have underlay and a carpet at the moment which is hiding any imperfections.

Eldi_Dos

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82127147#Comment_82127147

As a compromise have you thought of getting a large rug for the room an then painting floor round the exposed perimeter.

This was the norm before fitted carpets became popular.