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Amazing Painted Plywood Subfloor: A How-to

Several months ago I started plotting how to get beautiful floors for not much money.  I was fed up with my nasty, stained carpet but didn’t have the money for the hardwood floors I was dreaming of … or any other decent flooring for that matter.

But that gross carpet had to go, so I decided to paint the plywood subfloor in my living and dining rooms.

 

Painted plywood subfloor. Tired of your dingy old carpet ? This is a super cheap way to get amazingly beautiful floors when you don't have the money for hardwoods or tile.

Many months later, I am finally done and I think I’m kind of in love with these painted floors!

This was not a quick and easy project but it was incredibly inexpensive.  And it was sooo worth the effort.  Keep reading for the full tutorial and supply list.

 

This post contains affiliate links and the beautiful stencil I used was provided to me by Cutting Edge Stencils.  See my full disclosure here.

Supplies needed to Paint Plywood Subfloors

Zinsser oil-based primer

Porch and Floor Paint in 2 colors (Valspar Porch and Floor Paint in ‘Chimney Smoke’ and ‘Crucible’)

Paint roller and tray

painter’s tape

Stencil (I used this Allover Paisley Stencil. I also have a list of other great floor stencils here.)

Small foam paint roller (to use with the stencil)

Rust-Oleum Varathane Crystal Clear Water-Based Polyurethane in Satin Finish

Varathane floor finish applicator

hammer, pry bar, needle-nose pliers, flat head screwdriver

small palm sander

 

Painted Plywood Subfloor

carpet before

 

First step, rip out your old carpet and carpet padding.  Remove all of the tack strips using a hammer and pry bar.  

There will probably also be hundreds of staples left in the subfloor from the carpet padding.  You can remove these with a pair of needle-nose pliers.  If there are any staples that are stuck, just pry them up with a flat head screwdriver and then pull them out with the pliers.

 

bare floor

Then it’s time to patch the seams and staple holes.  (This is the only part I really wasn’t pleased with.  I used Flexible Floor Patch and Leveler.  This was not the right choice.  It is good because it flexes with the floor and all that stuff.  But it is horrible because you can’t sand it smooth).

*Update – I found a much better product for filling the holes and seams of the subfloor – check it out in this post.*

Then you can sand the floor.  We just used a small palm sander but of course a large floor sander would work much faster. 

Just remember that this is plywood – it is not going to be silky smooth.  The point of sanding is to smooth out major rough spots and smooth any wood filler you used.

Before painting, you need to prime the floor with a quality primer.  The quickest way to do this is to use a roller with an extension handle and then cut in around the edges with a brush.  

(Quick tip: if you don’t have an extension handle, most broom handles can do the exact same thing.  Just unscrew the handle from your broom and screw it into the handle of your paint roller.)

I used Zinsser Oil-based Primer.  This is my favorite primer because it sticks to anything and is very durable.  Just beware, this is an oil-based product so you definitely want to make your space is well-ventilated because the fumes can be strong.

subfloor primed and ready to paint

And finally, it is time to paint the floors!  First, paint the background color onto the floor.  I used Valspar latex porch and floor paint in ‘Chimney Smoke’.  (In case you are wondering latex paint works just fine over oil based primer; you just can’t do oil based paint over water based primer.  I chose to use latex paint instead of oil because it is easier to work with and easier to clean.)  

You will probably need to paint a couple of coats to get good coverage.

I chose to paint a double border around the the edges of my room and I am so glad I did.  The border really makes the paint job look classy and it also made stenciling the floor much easier because I didn’t have to go all the way to the wall.  

To paint the border, use painter’s tape to tape off the area you want to paint.  Seal the edges of the the tape by painting over them with your base color.  (Yes, first you paint over the tape using the paint color you already painted the floor.  This will seal the edges of the painter’s tape so that none of the second color leaks under the tape.  This is the secret to getting perfect lines when you use painter’s tape.)

Once that is dry, paint the border using your second paint color.  I used Valspar latex porch and floor paint in the color “Crucible”.  Finally, carefully remove the tape before the paint fully dries. (Removing the tape before the paint dries will keep the fresh paint from peeling.)

how to paint a border over your base color
 
Time to stencil!  Stenciling the floor looks intimidating and incredibly time-consuming, but it actually goes pretty quickly.  I used the Paisley Allover Stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils which I love, but if you are looking for other stencils that are perfect for floors, I shared a bunch of my favorites here.
 
If you paint a border like I did, you only need to stencil inside the border.  Place your stencil in one of the corners of the room and use a few pieces of painters tape to hold it in place.  Load a small amount of paint onto a small foam roller and roll it over the stencil.  You want to be careful not to put too much paint on the roller at a time – too much paint can cause your stenciling to look messy.  
 
You should be able to paint the stencil with one thin coat of paint.  It might take a couple of tries to figure out the perfect amount of paint to use each time, but then it will go very quickly.  (Want more tips for perfecting your stencil technique?  I’ve got lots of tips right here.)

stenciling a plywood subfloor

The final step is sealing the floors.  This might seem like an afterthought, but sealing the floor is actually one of the most important steps of the whole process.   It not only protects all of your hard work, it also gives the painted floor that beautiful shine you expect from a nice floor.

Once the paint is fully dry, carefully remove any dust from the floor surface before sealing.  (A microfiber cloth is great for this.)  Then carefully apply your floor sealer.  

I used Rust-Oleum Varathane Crystal Clear Water-Based Polyurethane in Satin Finish and would highly recommend it.  I applied it using a Varathane floor finish applicator to get a really smooth finish.  I applied four coats of the sealer to make sure the floor was well protected, waiting the recommended amount of time between coats.  

After the final coat, I waited an additional four days before moving my furniture back into the room.  That was probably longer than necessary, but I wanted to be extra sure everything was protected!

 

painted plywood subfloor

 

I painted the floors in my living and dining rooms which combined are around 400 square feet.  This process took me many weeks – mostly because it was around the holidays so I had a lot of other things going on and took lots of breaks.  I would say you would need at least a two week window though, mostly because of the drying times for the various layers. 

My total cost was between $300 and $400.  (I already had some materials on hand so it really depends on if you count those.)  This total cost includes the filler, tape, sandpaper, primer, paint, and sealer.  So in the end these floors cost less than $1 per square foot start to finish.

 
 painted plywood subfloor
 
 

Now that is a beautiful floor!  And not only because it was so inexpensive.

 

Thinking about painting some floors of your own? Or just wondering if a painted floor can really last?  Be sure to check out these tips and updates:

Painted Plywood Floors Update: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly  

The Absolute Best Floor Stencils and Tips for a Perfectly Stenciled Floor

Painted Plywood Subfloor: Three Years Later, The Final Update

15 Gorgeous Painted Floors: Ideas for Every Type of Flooring

 

And if you are still nervous about painting your own floors, I’d love to help any way I can.  You can email me with questions at [email protected]

 

Comments

  1. Good Time Charlie says

    Wow, this is absolutely amazing! You started a revolution of how to get around expensive floors! I can’t believe those are stenciled plywood. It is absolutely gorgeous. I would be way in love if those floors were in my home! Visiting from AD2D

    Reply

  2. Tina Schiefer says

    First, Donna @ Funky Junk painting her stairs, and now YOU re-doing an entire floor!!!

    That was a LOT of tedious work, but dang it, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do…and it turned out FABULOUS!!! REALLY!!! GREAT JOB!!!

    Reply

  3. KristenK says

    Girl I had to come back and tell you that this is making ALL the rounds today. I think it’s popped up at least 25+ in my radar today alone :) woot!

    Reply

  4. Rae Ann says

    Holy moly! Those floors are gorgeous! How did you get pictures of my carpet for your before picture? Ick. Mine looks just like that. I am praying for hardwoods!

    Reply

  6. Megan says

    As a long time floor painter ( I painted my first floors over 25 years ago–and have done it in every single house since then) I want to add a couple tips: I had the very best luck when I finally quit adding floor leveler. Just get the biggest baddest floor sander you can, and get it flat with that. Trust me. anything that goes thinly over the floor will ultimately chip away with heavy furniture placed over it. Don’t be afraid to wash the wood well…just let it dry completely before you paint. Also, had the best luck with ‘marine epoxy’ (boat paint) from any high-end paint store because it goes on and stays on…but it only comes in high gloss, a look I happen to love. Good luck!

    Reply

  8. Pam @ Frippery says

    Your floors are fantastic. I started with my upstairs hall a while back but it is no where near as smooth and beautiful as yours. Glad I saw this before beginning my bedroom.

    Reply

  10. BRENDA says

    You have absolutely “FLOORED” us all with your awesome, beautiful paisley floor!!! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOB YOU BOTH HAVE DONE–YOU DESERVE NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE BUT TO BE “CELEBRATED” BY ALL OF US–YOUR ADMIRERS!

    Reply

  11. Brenda says

    Carrie, I am happily now your latest FOLLOWER and whatsmore this is my very first time doing this! I have had you on my fav bar forever, but now I feel like a real FAN!!!

    Reply

  12. TAnders says

    Carrie, do you think I can you essentially do the same thing on a countertop? I would love to paint my countertops until I can afford to refinish my kitchen!

    Thanks! Teresa

    Reply

  14. WhyCuzICan says

    OOOOOOOH MMMMMYYYYYY GOOOOOODNESSSSS!

    Visiting from the shoutout at Homestories A to Z today—-

    MOUTH GAPING OPEN! (no, I’m not kidding and yes I am SHOUTING!)

    Amazing!
    Suzanne in NW Illinois

    Reply

  28. Kelley @ TheGrantLife.com says

    Hi! Visiting from tt&j. LOVE THIS! I love the color and the pattern. I love how easy you made this look! Pinning this for sure!!

    Also.. I would love for you to link these up to my Friday party if you get a chance!

    Reply

  29. Domestically Speaking says

    GORGEOUS, stunning and amazing! I want to run downstairs and rip out my family room carpet right now. I’m going to have to talk my hubby into this. I’m putting your gorgeous floor in the PoPP Spotlight. Thanks for linking up.

    Reply

  32. The Pennington Point says

    It’s gorgeous! I have several painted floors in my house. Even though I originally did it years ago because it was cheap (that was 3 houses ago) I have them now because I love them! I change my bathroom floor fairly often. A whole new floor for the price of a can of paint and a little labor. You can’t beat that! Yours turned out just beautiful! Great job. Lisa~

    Reply

  33. Jan Elizabeth says

    Your floors are gorgeous!! I have an office floor I painted aqua, but every chunk (literally) out of the plywood shows and catches dirt. Now I think I’ll try your amazing method! I’m not sure a sander would get rid of the problem on my floor, but maybe the leveler…it’s only an office…I’ll let you know how it comes out. (And become a follower! :)

    Reply

  34. newfymom says

    What a great idea! It’s gorgeous! We lived with plywood floors for several years while renovating. Wish I’d seen this then! I landed on the Cutting Edge website a few days ago, and love their landscape mural kit. I think there’s one in my future!

    Reply

  35. Sherry says

    You make me want to rip out my identical ugly carpet and paint my floor! I wouldn’t have much time to get it done though…my business is in my home. I really love how it turned out. Beautiful!

    Reply

  36. Between Blue and Yellow says

    That looks incredible! How long before you could walk on it? I have considered this for my kitchen, but when you walk on it does it feel like weird? and Creaky?

    Reply

  38. Lindsay says

    My best friend and I have been contemplating this in our town homes. We’ve never come across someone who had an explanation of how and a show stopping finish like yours did. I am INSPIRED!!! Thanks for all sharing all your hard work.

    Reply

  40. tattered elegance says

    oHHH my GOSH! these are totally Fabulous!! I have a guest room that i ripped the ugly carpet up and now am left with even ugly plywood floors i never thought it would look so pretty painted~ im so gonna do this! i love everything about yours hope ya dont mind im gonna have to copy it! :) THANK YOU!!!

    Reply

  41. Bohemian says

    I’m adoring the Boheme’ Essence of these painted floors! You did a fab job. And thanks for the Tutorial.

    Blessings from the Arizona Desert… Dawn… The Bohemian

    Reply

  46. An Urban Cottage says

    I just found you through Dixie who just a comment above.

    You’ve done everything right and ended up with a beautiful result. Taping off and putting a border on the edges was the perfect solution to prevent having to stencil along the walls. Also smart to use two colors that are just a shade or two off. It prevents a busy pattern from getting too loud.

    Perfect job!

    Reply

  47. Pattie says

    You are one amazing lady, and you so deserve to be featured everywhere, This is truly the BEST DIY project I have ever seen…AMAZING take a bow
    Enjoy your new floors and your home

    Pattie

    Reply

  48. somewhat quirky says

    Very. Very. Very. Good. This project is right up my alley. Inspires me to do my kitchen floor. For once I’m thanking goodness my kitchen is very small!

    Reply

  49. Terry says

    I stumbled upon you from ProjectQueen. Your floors are truly amazing and beautiful. Everyone will want to have these from rich to poor. Wow-weeeee!

    Reply

  50. Vickie @ Ranger 911 says

    Absolutely stunning! You probably don’t want to hide them under any furniture or carpets, they’re that lovely!

    Reply

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