What primer or base coat will effectively cover and seal tar residue on my kitchen floor so I can paint and stencil it without bleed-through?
I’m on the hunt for a base coat or primer to paint the floors in my house. The photo I have isn’t the best, but trust me, the rest of the room looks way better now, except for the floors. We’ve been peeling back layers of flooring in our 85-year-old house to reveal the original hardwood in the kitchen, but I just can’t seem to fully remove this tar residue. I’m seriously considering giving up and just painting and stenciling the floor instead. I have a favorite brand I like to use (Heirloom Traditions All-In-One), but I’m worried about how to seal the tar without it bleeding through. We’ve tried everything from strippers to sanders, but nothing seems to work, and I’m at my wit’s end. My husband is disabled, and physically I can’t keep fighting this battle. Can anyone recommend a product that will cover and seal the tar so I can finally paint over it? Thanks in advance.
Do you think it’s possible to hire someone to sand the floor for us?
I can’t do that, that’s why I’m reaching out to the DIY community haha
Grab a heat gun and start scraping haha. You’ll be amazed at how much you can remove with that heat gun. 
And make sure to grab one of these pull scrapers, it’s much better than pushing a scraper. Plus, it does a more effective job. Just get some extra blades because you might need them quickly with all that tar. 
Do you think using this would be gentler on my elbow? 😥 It’s really sore from working on this…
Definitely grab this heat gun 
Someone mentioned using a propane torch… Please don’t do that haha, you should use a heat gun to avoid starting a fire 
As a captain in our local fire department, I can assure you that we won’t be using a torch for this project 🤣
Remember to engage your shoulder strength when pulling and be cautious of straining your wrist and elbow when pushing 👍
I’ve found that an old steam iron and a damp cloth actually work better for this task
Have you considered using Tar remover?
I’ve used a massive amount of floor adhesive remover.
For fun, you could try using some Lestoil. If it’s tar-based, it may be effective without affecting your sense of smell.
I’d consider using a product designed for tar.
Your best bet might be to cover it with something you can paint. Additionally, have you attempted heating it with a torch and scraping it off? I know it sounds risky, but that’s what I would do, haha
I’ve attempted various methods… and my back, knees, and particularly my elbow are shot 😥 just trying to make it look nicer for a little while, until we can properly redo it
Have you thought about vinyl plank flooring? There are some beautiful options that are affordable and easy to install, priced at less than $2 per square foot.
It’s not quite level. I had a bad experience with the last guy I hired to level it, and he’s nowhere to be found… We can’t afford another one right now, so we’re trying to make the best of it and improve it temporarily 🙂
For vinyl plank, perfection isn’t necessary. It’s flexible. Just add adhesive to the badly unlevel spots
I hear you. It’s pretty unlevel
You can just get some peel and stick tiles and add extra adhesive, or use adhesive with regular vinyl tiles. Just lay them down. The ideal solution would be to redo the flooring for a perfect result, but this is a quick and easy option that will likely last for years. Buy affordable tiles and give it a shot! Test it out in a closet first.
I considered that, and I’ve tried peel and stick in the past. It wasn’t smooth enough. Painting it would just be a temporary fix for now… I know the real solution, but I’m trying to improve it for the time being. 🙂
Forget the hassle and go for carpet! Even artificial turf would be an improvement over the current flooring.
That’s why I’m wondering how to seal it before painting it for now… Who thought it was a good idea to install carpet in a kitchen?
You can’t seal it with the remaining backing glued to the hardwood floors. Use luan sheets under the vinyl plank flooring instead
Hopefully the layers of flooring you removed weren’t asbestos from 85 years ago. It’s likely that they were! Stay safe.
Ald Zaccaro got it…. any ideas on how to seal it up?
Maybe you should focus more on what you breathed in while removing the flooring…
Ald Zaccaro how do you know for sure that I didn’t use proper PPE…. ot any useful suggestions? By the way, I’m a firefighter. I’m pretty sure I’ve dealt with worse.
I’m not exactly sure what you mean by seal it? If it were up to me, I’d go with either luan or 1/4 plywood first, then put down luxury vinyl planks…
Ald Zaccaro don’t worry, it’s not you, it’s me… 🤣 just wondering how to seal this to paint it temporarily… until I can do it properly
Hope you’re doing well… cover that floor with luan and install vinyl planks.
You shouldn’t seal it with all that tar and adhesive… cover it up with luan and lay down vinyl planks instead.
Check out this floor I leveled and put down vinyl planks on.
Ald Zaccaro those look amazing, I’ve used them in the past, just trying to patch up this kitchen until I can properly fix it 🙂 the house is uneven and the last person I hired did a poor job, so I’m saving up to get it redone
Consider tiling over it
If only I had the money to hire another contractor to fix what the previous one didn’t, and then tile it, that would be great 🙂
She mentioned that she has attempted that before.
I’d suggest applying a leveling floor paint.
If you’re looking to paint, try this product. It doesn’t need priming but you should still clean the surface first. Not sure if your usual prep work will do the job? Take a photo and ask the experts. This paint is perfect for cabinets, furniture, floors, showers, lights, and hardware. It’s the All-In-One Paint by Heirloom Traditions roup
This is my go-to brand, but I’m concerned about sealing this mess that I physically can’t remove
Sealing it won’t work. It will keep bleeding through. You need to use at least 1/8” plywood and staple it thoroughly. Alternatively, you can try using diesel or kerosene. Remember, it takes oil to remove oil. You’ve come this far, so go the extra mile.
I’m like, my head is all for it, but my elbow is not having it lol
Before skim coating, I recommend trying an Industrial Adhesive Remover like ood-one or Zep Citrus.
I used a scraper/chisel and a hammer to remove the paint. I painted it black with porch paint. I’ll need to apply another coat because of the dogs, but I’m satisfied with the results overall!
Finished
It might be safest to leave it alone in case there are harmful substances like asbestos or other chemicals. How about laying down a thin plywood sheet that will require sanding before priming and painting the floor. I really enjoy the look of painted planks. I even created faux lines to imitate that style in my kitchen.
I’m planning on stenciling mine to create a tile-like effect 🙂 Your floors look amazing, but I struggle with keeping straight lines 🤣
Here’s a little trick for the lines: rab a pencil and ruler or straight edge (it doesn’t have to be perfect at all!). Use them to create your guidelines and then paint over them by hand. Natural planks are not perfect, so the pencil lines just serve as a guide. Another option instead of painting over the pencil lines is to use a Sharpie, but make sure to test the color in an inconspicuous spot first. Black can be very stark, so I opted for a brown paint (before I discovered the Sharpie idea). It’s a simple process, but you’ll find yourself on the floor like a kid working on the lines. I recommend using an old pillow for your knees and butt because the floor can be tough. Finish it off with clear coats. Light traffic is okay after a few days, but it’s best to let it cure for at least a week before placing heavy items on it (even longer if possible). Personally, I waited a couple of days, dragged in the fridge, and ended up with a drag mark that I just couldn’t fully erase.
I would suggest tiling or flooring it with hardwood, LVP, or cork. Dealing with chemicals or heavy-duty sanding is just too much work. I’ve been in this situation a few times myself. Best of luck! Keep us posted on your progress!
The best choice would be to have it resanded. Sanding is an option, but I get that you’re tired of it. If there’s enough wood left, it’s a cost-effective and speedy solution. Avoid using any chemicals or strippers. My top recommendation is to cover it with a high-quality, waterproof floating floor (not just water resistant). There are some good options available. I personally don’t like any of them, but they serve a purpose. Another, pricier alternative is to put in pre-finished flooring.
I’m relieved to hear that I’m not alone in disliking these floors. It seems like everyone else adores them, but I just can’t seem to share the sentiment. I do recognize that there are specific situations where they can be beneficial, but I’m puzzled by the widespread love for them. It appears that these floors might fall into the category where a floating floor could be a better fit. I suspect that removing that tar would be more costly than installing new flooring.
Your best option seems to be covering it with thin plywood…and customizing it with paint. This approach will give you the aesthetic appeal you desire now, and it will also be easier to remove when you’re prepared to address the original floors properly. Lay them down, paint them, and get creative with stencils!!! Afterwards, show us so we can give you a thumbs up emoji!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d2k84OITgE
Most likely, this is asbestos mastic, so it’s a significant issue to address. I’d suggest placing something over it to conceal it, such as a thin subfloor layer, and then go from there.
☝🏻this! 100% Mastic
We ended up taking it off with a heat gun and scraper. It was a lot of work, but definitely a labor of love.
I used the adhesive remover in a different way, but I had a smaller area to work on. I would move the congealed glob each day to cover a new spot. Since I was working on a closet floor, I could close it off while working. I used a no-fume stripper, so it wasn’t very strong.
I heard that Home Depot sells peel and stick vinyl tile for a good price. I think it was around $40 for a box. We used it in our bathroom until we could redo the floors. We only needed about a box and a half for our large area, and it looks like marble!
Putting on some paint was definitely a much easier option
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How about trying an old steam iron and placing a wet towel down to steam and scrape off the tar? It’s slow and tedious, but I think it could work. Otherwise, we might just put vinyl down over it.