Can You Paint Vinyl Flooring?
If you want to give your vinyl flooring a new lease of life, you might start to search "can you paint vinyl flooring" to give you an idea on whether you should and the best way to go about painting vinyl floors. You'll be glad to know that you can paint over vinyl floors, but you need to be careful to use the right materials and follow the right process to get the best finish possible.
Is it recommended to paint vinyl flooring?
As a general rule, it's advised that you shouldn't paint over vinyl floors. However, there are ways around this to get a great finish that lasts. If you're going to paint vinyl, just be aware that it requires specific preparation and the right materials to get a finish that holds up. The main risk is peeling or chipping if the surface isn't properly prepped, so follow our steps below carefully.
If you'd rather explore other options, take a look at our vinyl flooring range for a fresh start without the prep work.
How to paint vinyl flooring
We recommend following this step-by-step guide on painting vinyl flooring to ensure you get the best results.
Prepare your flooring
The first and one of the most important steps before painting is to prepare your vinyl flooring. You have to carefully clean your flooring to get rid of any dirt and dust before you begin, as this can affect how well the paint is applied later. Check out our guide if you're not sure how to clean vinyl flooring.
After cleaning, you'll need to sand down your flooring to help remove its shine. If you have sandpaper around the house, great! If not, you can pick up some sandpaper for relatively cheap, around 180-240 grit is ideal. Once the sanding is done, make sure you clean the floor again to pick up any particles that have been left behind before you begin painting.
Sanding vinyl flooring takes a bit of time but it's an essential step that really makes the difference between a paint job that lasts and one that starts peeling within weeks. Don't rush it.
Priming & Painting
Now you can get on to the exciting part of the process - priming and painting your vinyl flooring! The first step is to get a decent floor primer, which can be obtained in a local store or online - you'll only need one coat of this (although you can do 2 if you really want to!) which can be applied using a simple roller.
What's more important is getting the right type of paint for your vinyl flooring - because your floors are prone to getting dirty, trodden on and are in generally high traffic areas, you'll need to make sure you buy floor paint, which is more durable and can stand up to being constantly walked on!
You can apply this using a roller, once your primer is dry (it might be worth testing a small area to make sure you like the colour before you do it on the whole floor.) Once you're ready, you can stick painters tape to the floor trim to make sure you don't splash any paint and get to work! Apply as many coats as it takes to achieve an even colour, but make sure to wait for the previous coat to dry before you start the next one.
Which paint should you use on vinyl flooring?
Not every floor paint is suitable for vinyl. Three types actually work:
Chalk paint
Easy to apply with a soft matte finish. Good for decorative projects and low-traffic rooms. Needs a topcoat of floor-grade polyurethane or wax to survive longer than 12 months.
Porch & floor paint
Water-based acrylic designed for high-traffic use. The most forgiving choice for DIYers and the best balance of durability and cost. Dulux Ultimate Floor Paint and Ronseal Diamond Hard are proven on properly prepped vinyl.
Two-part epoxy
The most durable option with a professional finish and excellent wear resistance. Also the most expensive, hardest to apply, and unforgiving of surface prep shortcuts.
When NOT to paint vinyl flooring
Painting is not the right answer in any of the following situations:
- Worn or torn vinyl - paint amplifies surface defects, it doesn't hide them
- Lifting or bubbling vinyl - the paint will lift with the underlying vinyl within weeks
- Saturated or damp vinyl - even slight residual moisture will prevent the paint from bonding and will trap mould under the new finish
- Heavy-textured embossed vinyl - paint collects in the embossed pattern and highlights it rather than smoothing it
- Vinyl in wet rooms, kitchens or bathrooms near sinks - standing water and steam break the paint bond faster than any other condition
In any of these situations, replacing the vinyl is cheaper over a 3-year horizon than painting and repainting it.
If you follow this guide, painting your vinyl floor shouldn't be a problem! If you take care and don't cut corners, you should end up with a floor as good as new which can last you years to come.
FAQs
How long does painted vinyl flooring last?
Realistically, 2-5 years. A two-part epoxy with proper prep on a clean, flat vinyl can last 5+ years in a low-traffic space. Chalk-paint finishes with a topcoat last 1-2 years in bedrooms, less in kitchens or hallways. If the floor sees daily pet claws, dragged chairs or wet shoes, expect closer to 12-24 months.
Do I need to sand vinyl flooring before painting?
Lightly scuff-sand with a 180-240 grit pad or sanding sponge - just enough to dull the sheen and give the primer something to grip. You are not trying to remove the top layer; you are breaking the surface. Wipe clean and de-grease with sugar soap before priming.