Tools and Materials Needed
- High-adhesive primer
- Roller, tray, extension pole
- 3-inch paint brush
- Apple green latex paint
- Sandpaper
- TSP Cleaner
- Low-tack tape
- blue/grey latex paint
- White latex paint
- 1" paintbrush
- Air brush kit
- Green, burnt sienna and yellow paint
- Water
- Leaf stencil
- Plastic dropcloth
Getting Started
- Tape the moldings to protect them while painting the floor.
- Sand the floor just to get rid of the shiny surface. Wash thoroughly and let dry.
- Apply a good coat of high-adhesive primer, using a paintbrush to get into the corners. Let dry 48 hours.
- Apply 2 coats of a light apple green latex paint. Let cure 48 hours again.
- Tape a 11/2" border around the floor. Paint the blue/grey on with a brush, and then go over it, drybrushing with white paint, just to give a nice mottled effect. Let dry.
- Set up the air brush kit according to the instructions that come with it.
- Tape and cover everything. The paint spray will travel through the air so you want to protect surfaces not to be painted. Tape down the stencil you want to use. Tape down drop clothes around the stencil.
- Water down the latex paint with water until it has a very watery consistency. Paint that is too thick will clog the sprayer.
- Spray very lightly, in layers over the surface. You can build up colour, rather than spraying uniformly all at once. Stay back about a foot from the surface being sprayed. Work in a well-ventilated area with a mask, and protective clothes.
- Clean the sprayer when you change colours. Have a canister of water handy, and dip the sprayer in the water, spraying out any paint in the mechanism. Attach the nozzle to the new colour pot.
- Protect areas not to be painted with pieces of paper as you move along.
- Lift the stencil. Let dry thoroughly.
- Protect with at least 3 coats of floor varnish. Use water-based varnish, as oil-based will yellow and change the light colour of the floor.
Topics covered by this article include: Painting...
