A few months ago, Lettie responded to an inquiry frequently sent to our social media channels, with contractors and homeowners asking about floor paints they can use for sports facilities.
More and more people are now getting into an active lifestyle for health reasons. Some also get into sports so they can spend time with their friends. Whatever reason people have for getting into pickleball, basketball, or whatever sports are out there, what matters is that folks are able to play on a well-painted space.
Using the Right Paints for Floors
A lot of games are just not meant to be played on bare concrete. For sports facilities, paints are used to mark the sections of the court, a visual way to implement the mechanics of the sport being played. Coated floors are also just generally safer to play on. And who doesn’t want to play in a colorful, more stimulating place?
Base your choice of paints on the need to have a strong, durable floor coating that can withstand foot traffic. Most water-based paints, while having good adhesion on concrete, aren’t formulated for foot traffic.
There are paints out there that have better abrasion-resistance, fit for the intense foot traffic that courts, gyms, and other similar facilities experience. These are, namely, epoxy and rubberized paints. While trading the conveniences of water-based paints, these products have the durability needed for surfaces that will be treaded on.
Paint Product Options for Floorings
Boysen Epoxy Enamel
The first product you can consider is Boysen Epoxy Enamel. It paints to a durable coating with good resistance against foot traffic and chemical stains. A paint for interior use only, this is a useful choice for roofed courts. In your home, this can also be a good floor upgrade for your dirty kitchen or garage. It dries to a glossy sheen, which is attractive for some, but note that it can create slippery floors when wet.
Boysen Acqua Epoxy
Another epoxy paint you can consider is Boysen Acqua Epoxy. Unlike the Epoxy Enamel, it is an epoxy-acrylic paint, having less odor and dries more quickly. Its acrylic formulation also gives it better UV-resistance, retaining its semi-gloss sheen better. This also makes it ideal for exterior surfaces subjected to foot traffic like a beloved basketball court, as well as exterior metal surfaces like metal decks or stairs. Again, note that floors painted with Acqua Epoxy also become slippery when wet.
Dutch Boy CRB Floor Coating
While the aforementioned epoxy paints were recommended by Lettie as floor paints for sports, you can also explore Boysen’s partner brand, Dutch Boy for their own offering of paints.
One of which is Dutch Boy Chlorinated Rubber-Based (CRB) Floor Coating, another floor paint option you can consider when transforming spaces into a sports court. Most homeowners opt for a rubber-based coating when painting floors due to its satin finish. Dutch Boy CRB paints for a less slippery surface, while still giving good chemical resistance. Its durability also makes it very ideal for garages and walkways in warehouses as well.
Tips when Using Epoxy and Rubber-based Paints
For Epoxy Enamel and Dutch Boy CRB, you may consider mixing it with their respective reducers to make application of the paints easier. Their reducers are also their corresponding clean-up solvent.
Another tip is to work over a roughened concrete floor to improve adhesion of coats. You can achieve this through either mechanical means like grinding or through chemical means like acid retching.
When using epoxy paints, don’t forget that it is a two-component system. You need to mix Epoxy Enamel or Acqua Epoxy with its designated curing agent or catalyst. Pay attention, as well, to their induction time of 20 minutes. This is the length of time you need to wait after mixing the catalyst with the paint, and before applying the paint to the surface.
Simple water-based paints aren’t enough to give your floors a durable, colorful coating. Choose products that provide resistance against foot traffic, stains and abrasion. Paints that don’t fade or crack quickly let you enjoy playtime for longer.
If you have clarifications on the painting process of epoxy paints, send your inquiries to [email protected]. For specific inquiries on Dutch Boy CRB, you may reach out to them through [email protected].
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