How to repaint the slate floor?

[Sipi]

Hi,

I would like to repaint our slate floor in a grey color, but I'm unsure about the steps to take. We've been living in the house for 12 years and have never sealed the floor. Some spots seem shiny, so maybe a sealer was used in the past. Do I need to strip the sealer, or can I sand it off? I would prefer not to use chemicals. Do I need a primer before painting? What type of paint should I use? I would like to keep the natural grout, so I believe I would need to paint each square separately and then apply the sealer all over. What sealer would you recommend? I prefer a satin finish over a glossy one. Thank you for any advise.

Thank you!

[JacobZ]

Hi @Sipi,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

The Dulux Concrete & Paving Range looks like the best option for you. It is a three-step system that is comprised of a cleaner, a primer and your paint topcoat. There are options for both sealed and unsealed surfaces.

You should start by determining whether there is a sealer present or not, as this will advise us on the best method moving forward.

To determine if the slate is sealed, pour a small amount of water onto the surface; if it beads up and rolls off, it's likely sealed, while soaking in indicates a lack of or worn-out sealer.

If the flooring is sealed, you can use the sealed surface system, comprised of Dulux Concrete And Paving Sealed Surface Cleaner, Dulux Concrete And Paving Sealed Surface Primer and your topcoat such as this Dulux 4L Concrete & Paving Satin Coloured Sealer.

If the surface is not sealed, you can use Dulux Concrete And Paving Bare Concrete Etch And Clean and Dulux Concrete And Paving Bare Concrete Primer with the same topcoat.

Let me know what you think, and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[Sipi]

Thank you Jacob for your reply. Which option should I choose if some parts are sealed and some are worn off?

[JacobZ]

Hi @Sipi,

Upon review, regardless of the sealer situation, the sealed surface primer would be better on slate.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[Sipi]

Thank you!