• Basement floors can be painted to make them more attractive and easier to clean.D?ement floor, great for backgrounds and textures image by Andris Daugovich from Fotolia.com
  
  Basement floors are made functional and attractive with a bit of paint. Concrete floor paint can help waterproof your basement floor and is nontoxic when dry. These paints make the floor easier to clean as well by creating a smoother surface. You can use various grades of paint for your concrete basement floor.
  
  

Water-based Concrete Paint

• The least expensive concrete paint is water-based latex, which is a good choice if the concrete in your basement is new. Water-based concrete paints can be found in most home improvement stores and are intended for domestic application. This type of concrete paint is available in a variety of colors as well, but water-based paint does not seal against moisture and is not as durable as other types of concrete paint. If using this in your basement, apply at least two coats for maximum coverage.
  
  

Oil-based Concrete Paint

• An oil-based paint is comparable to water-based paint in price but is more durable when used on concrete floors. Where latex paints can chip over time when exposed to moisture, oil-based paints last longer and can withstand moisture. To prepare the surface of the floor, apply an oil-based primer before painting to fill in small holes or pores in the concrete. Oil based paints are available at most home improvement stores and will clearly state on the label that they are intended for use on concrete.
  
  

Epoxy Finishes

• Epoxy is the best choice for painting a basement floor because it provides the most durable finish, but it is also the most expensive. Epoxy paints don't chip like latex paints tend to do, and they set as a resin, which gives them better adhesion to the cement and a hard finish. This paint has very strong fumes, so if applying in a basement, open windows or use an exhaust fan if you have one. Epoxy paints are available in three types: solvent based, water based and 100 percent solids, and they are categorized by how much solids or epoxy they contain. One hundred percent epoxy is the purest and is typically only used by professionals in industrial applications because it hardens very fast. Solvent based is also used for industrial purposes and is not recommended for home use because of the strong fumes the solvents produce. Both 100 percent and solvent-based epoxy paint are only available at industrial supply stores. Water-based epoxies are often used in home applications, such as basement floors, and can be purchased at any home improvement store.
  
  

Things to Consider Before You Paint

• Home Master recommends that to keep paint looking new, you should apply a concrete sealer over the top, which will help to prevent wear to the surface of the floor and help waterproof the floor as well. When you buy a sealer, which is available at most home improvement stores, ensure it is compatible to the paint you will use. (If using oil-based paint, a latex sealer won't work; you'll need an oil-based sealer.) Prepare the surface by thoroughly cleaning and ensuring you have no dust, which will affect how the paint adheres to the concrete.