5 Best Paints for Basement Floor in 2023
Painting your basement floor waterproofs your home and protects it from mold and fungal growths.
The paint seals the concrete and prevent rising damp, while providing your basement floor with a non-skid surface.
Painting your basement floor ensures that the foundations remain waterproof, and you don’t have to deal with any musty odors in the space.
We rounded up the best basement paints in this review.
We’ll go through the characteristics of each product to help you find the paint that’s right for your application.
The Best Paint for Basement Floors Review
Here are our top choices for the best basement floor paint. Some of these paints will suit painting both your basement and your driveway as well.
Choose the product that suits your application, and use this information to make an informed decision on your purchase.
Paint
Benefits
Best for
INSL-X Sure Step Acrylic Anti-Slip Coating Paint
KILZ Interior/Exterior Enamel Porch and Patio Latex Floor Paint
KILZ Interior/Exterior Slip-Resistant Decorative Concrete Paint
INSL-X Tough Shield Floor and Patio Coating Paint
KILZ Interior/Exterior Basement and Masonry Waterproofing Paint
INSL-X Sure Step Acrylic Anti-Slip Coating Paint — Best Anti-Slip Paint
One of the biggest concerns for any homeowner painting their basement floor is a non-slip surface. Slips and falls can be dangerous, especially when your downstairs alone in the basement.
The INSL_X Sure Step Acrylic Anti-Slip coating paint is outstanding for use in the basement. This paint also suits other exterior applications around the home. Use it to paint your patio, and it’s one of the only paints that suitable for painting your driveway as well.
This paint has excellent color retention and resistance to fading under the strong sunlight. The formulation also features excellent abrasion resistance and stops water ponding. The fast-dry of this product reaches a full cure in four to five days, but you can walk around on it after 24-hours.
INSL_X Sure Step Acrylic Anti-Slip coating paint comes in five ready-mixed color options, as well as white.
Pros
Cons
KILZ Interior/Exterior Enamel Porch and Patio Latex Floor Paint — Best Multiuse Paint
KILZ is back with another outstanding basement paint range. We think that KILZ offers the best formulations in the industry, and they have a product to suit any application. If you’re looking to paint your basement floor, patio, or porch, you can rely on KILZ Interior/Exterior Enamel Porch and Patio Latex Floor Paint.
This formulation features latex to help you fill any small cracks or fissures on your basement floor. There’s no need to spend hours filling in the cracks when you can simply roll over them with this paint.All KILZ paints are sprayer-friendly, and we recommend you use this applicator when painting your basement floor.
This paint is resistant to scuffing, scratching, fading, peeling, and cracking. The formulation also has excellent resistance to mold and mildew as well. This formula is suitable for use on both wood and masonry, making it one of the most versatile basement paints in this review.
Pros
Cons
KILZ Interior/Exterior Slip-Resistant Decorative Concrete Paint — Best Driveway Option
Give your concrete surfaces new life with the KILZ Interior/Exterior Slip-Resistant Decorative Concrete Paint. This product has specialized formulation for use on driveways, pool decks, as well as basement and garage floors.
It’s another versatile formula from KILZ and an excellent choice for any exterior or interior application that calls for durable and long-lasting paint. This paint fills in cracks and small holes in your basement floor, without the need to use fillers to level it out before painting.
This paint provides your basement floor with a non-slip surface, and one gallon will cover around 350-square feet. The protective finish enhances the look of your basement floor, and the paint reaches a full cure within 72-hours after application.
However, you can walk around on the surface lightly 24-hours after painting. This paint comes with a textured, matte finish, and you can apply a second coat if necessary after 36-hours.
Pros
Cons
INSL-X Tough Shield Floor and Patio Coating Paint — Best Durability
The next INSL-X product in this review is the INSL-X Tough Shield Floor and Patio Coating Paint. This paint gets our vote for the most robust and most durable paint available. If your basement floor takes a beating with floor traffic, then this is the paint for you.
This acrylic enamel and waterborne formulaprovide a durable finish, with excellent abrasion resistance. The surface is resistant to spills of detergents, greases, and oil, providing an easy-to-clean surface that you don’t need to scrub.
The paint resists water ponding and features outstanding wearing qualities for exterior or interior use. However, this paint is not suitable for use on driveways or garage floors. When dry, you get a non-slip surface that’s rugged, and a gallon of the paint covers around 350-square feet.
Pros
Cons
KILZ Interior/Exterior Basement and Masonry Waterproofing Paint — Best for General Use
The final product in our review of the best basement paints is KILZ Interior/Exterior Basement and Masonry Waterproofing Paint. This product is a premium exterior and interior paint that’s best for general use around the home. You can use this paint to paint your basement floor, the walls, or the ceilings if need be.
This painting features nano-particle technology. This formula forms a protective barrier between your garage floor and the surface of the paint. It’s entirely water resistance, and very durable. Use this paint on fresh drywall or masonry for the fantastic visual finish.
Make sure you apply this paint on a correctly prepared surface.Fill in all the cracks in the basement floor using filler, and ensure you scrub the floor clean with a degreaser before painting. With a properly prepared surface, KILZ Interior/Exterior Basement and Masonry Waterproofing Paint will be a good choice for your masonry walls, basement walls, cinderblock, and retaining walls, as well as brick and stucco.
However, you mustn’t apply this paint to floors or walls that experience water leaks or ponding. This floor paint requires the use of a primer after preparing the painting surface. Make sure that you prime all of the chalky, uncoated, and patched areas before you start painting.
This paint does not spread well, and it’s relatively costly to paint a floor. We find that the paint fills in porous surfaces well, but we only get coverage of around 100-square feet per gallon. This paint is only available in white, but it’s affordable compared to the rest of the KILZ range.
The general use of this formula makes it ideal for use with a paint sprayer, as are all of the other KILZ products in this review. While we think this is an excellent general-use paint, we prefer spending the extra money to buy one of the more specialized KILZ products.
Pros
Cons
A Buyers Guide to the Best Paint for Basement Floors
In this section, we’ll give you everything you need to know about painting your basement floor. From why you need to invest in high-quality paint, to tips on clearing your room for priming, and the best tools for the job
Why You Need to Use High-Quality Paint
When painting your basement floor, you must work with a premium-quality paint. High-quality paints have better wear resistance in high traffic areas, and they last much longer than cheaper brands.
All of the products in this review have outstanding manufacturing quality and long service lives. With these paints, you have to paint your basement floor less often, saving you money over the long term.
The Advantages of Using a Spray Gun
We always recommend people paint their basement floor using a spray gun. It’s not entirely necessary to use one, but it’s so beneficial for the task at hand. With a spray gun, you’ll finish the job in less than half the time, and use less than half the paint.
The savings you make on your time and paint will more than pay for the rental of an air compressor and spray gun for the day. However, a spray gun and compressor are handy to have around the garage, so consider investing in a system for your home.
Prepping Your Basement for Painting
To test your floor for water leaks, lay down some plastic wrap over a square-foot area, and secure it with duct tape to the floor.
Make sure you get out all the air pockets and then leave it for two days. If you find that there’s moisture collecting under the plastic wrap after a few days, then avoid painting the floor.
After testing the concrete on your basement floor for moisture, it’s time to start your preparations for painting. Preparation is key, and you’ll need to follow these tips to ensure your project is a success.
Equipment – Visit the hardware store and buy the following;
- Degreaser solution.
- A roll of plastic wrap.
- Wide-masking tape.
- Polyfiller concrete patching paste.
- A foam paint roller.
- A wide paint brush.
- A squeeze mop.
- A 5-gallon bucket.
Clear and clean – Clear the basement of everything, empty it until there is nothing left. You need to work on a bare floor, so make sure everything is clear before you start.
After clearing, it’s time to start cleaning. Sweep up and dirt and dust, and then wash the floor with a light degreaser to remove stains and oils.
Repairs – Make sure that you repair any visible holes or cracks in the floor using polyfiller. Make sure it’s dry before priming the floor for paint.
Taping –Tape off the edges and corners of the room using wide masking tape. Tape around the base of any supporting beams as well.
Tips for Priming Your Basement Floor
Before you start painting your garage floor, you’ll need to prepare it for paint with a primer.Some formulations don’t require a primer, so check with the product you’re interested in purchasing.
However, if you do have to use a primer, then follow these tips to prepare your basement floor for painting.
Avoid painting a basement floor that gets wet regularly. It’s best to waterproof your home before attempting to paint the basement. Painting a floor that gets wet from underneath will result in the paint bubbling, lifting, and cracking.
Painting bare concrete will absorb a lot more paint than a wall. The paint seeps into the cracks, fissures, and air pockets of the material.
However, this effect does a marvelous job of sealing the floor properly. Make sure you choose a basement floor paint and primer that has a reasonable coverage rate for bare concrete applications.
Tips for Painting Your Basement Floor
After priming your floor, the next step is painting.Painting goes relatively quickly compared to painting a wall or ceiling. If you want the best results, then we recommend you use a spray gun.
There’s less waste with a spray gun, and you get even coverage over the basement floor. Spray guns will also cut your time spent on the job in half.
Follow these steps to painting your basement floor.
Step 1 – Make sure you go around the base of any supporting beams first. Follow that by painting the edges of the room before you start with the floor. Trying to go back to corners after painting the floor is not an option until it dries.
Step 2 –Pour and Play. The best part about painting a floor is that you don’t have to worry about making a mess. Pour out the pint onto the floor, starting on the far side of the room if you aren’t using a spray gun. Then sweep thepaint around the floor like you were mopping up after a spill.
Step 3 – Make sure you don’t use a cheap fabric roller; you’ll end up getting lint on the floor, ruining your paint job.
Step 4 –Let the paint dry overnight to a full cure. If you’re using high-quality paint, then there should be no need for a second coat.
Step 5 –Test the surface the following day to see if it’s dry.Press onto the paint with your fingernail, and see if it leaves an impression.
FAQ – Painting Your Basement Floor
Here’s a list of commonly asked questions people have when preparing to paint their basement floor. If you have a query, check this list for an answer.
Q: When I moved into my new home, the basement had a fresh coat of paint. Now it’s bubbling and lifting everywhere, what’s happening?
A: This is a trick many people use to cover up the condition of the basement when selling a home. The seller might have told you they put a fresh coat of paint down for you to do you a favor. The reality is that they are covering water damage to the basement floor. Contact a professional to assess your basement floor for any serious damage.
Q: Can I use basement paint on my garage or driveway?
A:In most cases, no. There are a few products that might be suitable for this task. However, most paints can’t withstand the pressure of a car sitting on it overnight.
Q: How is basement floor paint different from wall paint?
A: Basement floor paint is much more durable than the paint you use for painting walls around your home. Most basement paint formulations also include anti-slip technology that makes the paint feel slight rough underfoot.
Q: Can I paint my basement floor if the basement is humid?
A: If your basement is overly humid, there’s a good chance that you have a water problem somewhere. You should never paint a basement floor that seeps moisture. Before you decide to paint, make sure you use the plastic wrap test we mentioned earlier.
Conclusion
Painting your basement floor is a must if you live in colder regions of the United States. A painted basement floor can cut down on your heating costs during the winter by providing it with insulation from the cold weather.
Any of these products will do a great job of painting your basement floor. However, each of them has unique features that suit different applications. Choose the product that’s right for your use.
The information in these reviews should be sufficient to help you make an informed decision on the right paint for your basement. Follow the tips for priming and painting, and your basement will be looking fantastic in no time.