You can rejuvenate or transform your old, worn or mismatched rubber floor mats by refinishing them with the appropriate type of coating. Unlike wood, which is porous, rubber is poorly-suited for adhesion. You must choose the appropriate type of finish, or you will ultimately end up with peeling and flaking. In addition, because the mats lie underfoot, they are exposed to a large amount of wear and tear. You must ensure that the coating you select is formulated to remain durable in the face of heavy use.
Things You'll Need:
- Spray Rubber Paint
- Respirator
- Professional Painter'S Tape
- Water Hose
- Heavy-Duty Fabric Drop Cloth
- Dish Soap
- Coarse Sponge
Wear a respirator if you are painting in a poorly-ventilated area.
Wash the rubber floor mats with dish soap, using a coarse sponge. Rinse the mats with a water hose. Wait two to four hours for the mats to dry.
Place the rubber floor mats on a heavy-duty fabric drop cloth.
Cover portions of the floor mats you do not want painted with professional painter's tape.
Coat the clean rubber floor mats with rubber spray paint. Hold the can 8 inches from the mat as you apply. Wait 2 hours for the mat to dry. Add another coat if the coverage from the first coat was poor. Wait 6 hours before replacing the mat.
Warnings:
- Never paint a dirty rubber floor mat, or the finish will flake. Do not use an ordinary acrylic latex or oil-based paint on rubber floor mats, or the finish will ultimately fail.
Resources
Writer Bio
Ryan Lawrence is a freelance writer based in Boulder, Colorado. He has been writing professionally since 1999. He has 10 years of experience as a professional painting contractor. Lawrence writes for High Class Blogs and Yodle. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations with a minor in history from the University of Oklahoma.
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