PAINT AND POWER TOOLS-NOT DIAMONDS-ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND!
DO-IT-YOURSELF "PLANK" FLOOR- FAKE & FABULOUS
THESE DAYS, UNDERTAKING A REMODELING PROJECT CAN BE A BIT DAUNTING FROM A FINANCIAL POINT OF VIEW. SO, WHEN THE TIME CAME TO PROCEED WITH THE FLOORING OF THE GUEST HOUSE (SINCE IT WAS A GARAGE THE EXISTING ONE WAS CONCRETE) I OPTED FOR MY FAVORITE FORMULA "FAKE & FABULOUS". TRANSLATION? INSTEAD OF GOING FOR VINTAGE PLANKS, WHICH I COULD HAVE BOUGHT FROM A LOCAL SALVAGE WAREHOUSE AT A STAGGERING COST OF $4,000 (OUCH!) I SETTLED FOR 1/2 INCH PLYWOOD (YES, GOOD OLD PLYWOOD) FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $200 (YEAH!) FOR 400 SQUARE FEET.
HERE ARE THE EASY STEPS TAKEN TO GET THE PLANK LOOK:
*CUT PLYWOOD SHEETS TO FIT THE AREA.
*INSTALL THE PLYWOOD OVER THE CONCRETE WITH LIQUID NAILS (THAT IS THE NAME OF THE GLUE. IT COMES IN A LONG TUBE)
*SECURE THE PLYWOOD FURTHER WITH FLUTED CONCRETE NAILS. WHEN HAMMERING THE NAILS BE CAREFUL TO WEAR GOGLES BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE HEAD COMES OFF AND COULD END UP IN YOUR EYE.
* APPLY A COAT OF DARK GRAY (ACRYLIC) AND LET IT DRY COMPLETELY. USE A BRUSH, NOT A ROLLER. NOT ONLY YOU WILL USE LESS PAINT (HENCE MORE ECONOMICAL) BUT IT WILL ALLOW YOU TO GET IN ALL THE PLYWOOD CRACKS AND KNOTS, WHICH WILL HELP IN CREATING THE "OLD" LOOK.
* USING A BRUSH APPLY A LIGHT COAT OF WHITE PAINT IN QUICK MOTION AND KEEP GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. UNLIKE WHEN PAINTING WALLS, YOU CAN'T GO UP AND DOWN OR RIGHT TO LEFT BECAUSE YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THE NATURAL GRAIN OF THE PLYWOOD IN ORDER TO GET THE DESIRE EFFECT. LET DRY.
*USING A YARD STICK, THE GRAY PAINT, AND A NARROW-TIP BRUSH PAINT/TRACE VERTICAL LINES TO FORM THE PLANKS. THEY CAN BE ANY SIZE YOU LIKE AND DON'T HAVE TO BE ALL THE SAME WIDTH. I MADE SOME LARGER AND SOME THINNER. LOOKS LESS PERFECT. LET DRY.
*FINISH WITH SEVERAL COATS OF CLEAR POLYURETHANE APPLIED WITH A BRUSH. LET DRY BETWEEN EACH COAT. I PUT 4 COATS ON MY FLOOR. THE POLYURETHANE NOT ONLY PROTECT BUT ALSO MAKES THE WOOD WATERPROOF AND WASHABLE. SO EASY TO KEEP CLEAN!
I LOVE THE RESULTS BECAUSE THE VERY IMPERFECTIONS INHERENT TO THE PLYWOOD (TEXTURE, CRACKS, KNOTS, "WARTS AND ALL".....) ARE WHAT MAKE IT PERFECT TO MIRROR REAL TIME-WORN PLANKS.
JUST REMEMBER: IF I CAN DO IT YOU CAN TOO! ANY GIRL CAN!
PAINT AND POWER TOOLS --NOT DIAMONDS--ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND
