Concrete floor paint: which to choose, Tile Finish floor coating or Mineral Finish

Why a bare concrete floor needs coating

Concrete is porous, like a dry sponge. Spilt coffee and splashes of oil soak in easily and become permanent stains. A raw cement surface also keeps shedding dust, so every time you walk barefoot, the soles of your feet turn grey.

Coating a concrete floor seals those pores. You get a floor that looks good and stays clean, that is easier to wipe and mop, and that comes in whatever colour you like, so you don't have to live with whatever grey came from the cement works.

Which concrete floor paint suits your home?

First ask yourself what kind of floor you want: smooth, glossy and easy to wipe like a café floor, or matt with depth like the floor of a minimal home in a magazine. Those two answers lead to different products.

• Voqe Tile Finish: semi-gloss, smooth, easy to wipe, around 24 shades
• Voqe Mineral Finish: matt, with hand brush marks, no two floors alike, 38 shades
• Voqe Wall Paint: designed for walls, not a floor paint

Tile Finish: one kit for coating tiles and floors

Voqe Tile Finish is a two-part, semi-gloss coating made for tiles and floors. It gives a smooth surface with a slight sheen that wipes clean easily, ideal for kitchens, laundry rooms or any corner that sees daily use.

The large kit in 3.028L/0.757L costs ฿2,200, and the 170ml/42ml trial kit costs ฿285 so you can try the colour on your real floor first. Cement-toned shades such as Wet Cement or Khao Kho Fog give a clean polished-concrete look, while Oatmeal and Phu Kha Stone bring the warmth of a comfortable, lived-in home.

Mineral Finish on floors: matt, soft and one of a kind

If you want a floor that looks handcrafted rather than razor-smooth, Voqe Mineral Finish works on both walls and floors. The mineral surface is smooth and seamless, and you can carry it from the wall down onto the floor in the same shade, so the room reads as one continuous surface, the way architects love.

Floors should be finished with Voqe Mineral Sealer (clear, satin) or Voqe Mineral Wax (clear, semi-gloss) to help protect the surface. Try Charoenkrung Plaster for the grey of old cement, or Toasted Rice for a light brown like toasted rice.

Preparing a concrete floor before coating

A well-prepared floor is half the job. For drying times and mixing ratios, follow the label and the product page.

• Sweep and wash the floor thoroughly, removing oil and adhesive residue
• Repair cracks and holes so the surface is level
• Wait until the floor is completely dry; a new concrete floor must be left to cure first
• Ask our team whether your floor needs a primer first
• Test with a trial kit in a small corner before doing the whole room