Skip to main content

The question: I want to paint a beat-up, heavily trafficked wooden floor - and white to boot. What kind of prep does it need? And what kind of paint should I use to minimize scuffs and chipping

The answer: Heavily trafficking a wood floor could be a felony and, if it's beat up, all the more serious. So it's all about the pre-trial preparations. First, the surface needs to be stripped of all coatings and then covered with a sealer to level the surface. Second, apply another coating of epoxy for the benefit of both high-heeled visitors and your choice of colour: This will help with impact resistance. Finally, finish it with a high-gloss UV-stable polyurethane that is also non-yellowing. Ideally, your floorboards are wide ones so they'll undergo less cracking.

Follow architect and interior designer Dee Dee Taylor Eustace on Twitter: @ddtaylordd. Have a design dilemma? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.

Interact with The Globe