It might seem a little weird, but you can actually add sand to floor paint, and it is something that gets done a lot more often than you might believe. In fact, it isn’t all that weird at all to be adding sand to floor paint, because it has a very specific purpose and uses: adding friction.
Basically, if a floor is particularly slippery, which in itself can become a bit of a hazard risk, one of the most common solutions is to paint it while adding abrasive particles to the floor paint.
These abrasive particles will add grip and traction to the painted surface, giving the floor a router texture, and making it a lot less slippery, therefore solving the problem!
There are many different types of abrasive particles that can be added to floor paint for this, and there are also specific products formulated as additives to be mixed into the paint and produce the same results.
However, sand remains the most popular and most accessible choice, and it can be very easily added to floor paint to create the necessary grip and traction for a successful anti-slip effect.
You can buy special floor paints with sand already mixed in, but these will be more expensive. And the great thing about sand is that it isn’t exactly rare to find.
You can just collect some sand yourself, and DIY mix it into the floor paint you are going to use, making sure you are doing so in the right ratio. Usually, the ratio is one pound per gallon of paint.
Then you just mix it as well as you possibly can, and you paint the floor. It’s the easiest way to add a uniform textured surface with an anti-slip effect!
Can you put sand in garage floor paint?
Garage floors can be really slippery, especially when they get wet or when the car is bringing in mud or other types of dirt.
And the problem with a slippery garage floor is that it’s a bit riskier in relation to backing the car out and driving it in, as there will be less traction for the wheels to grip on to for control and steadiness.
Not to mention that a garage floor that is too slick and smooth can get pretty squeaky, and there’s nothing worse than the echoing sand of tires screeching on a sleek surface.
To ensure safety, and for the best and most optimal conditions, it is recommended that you paint your garage floor with the right type of paint, that adds a coating of anti-slip or a rougher texture.
There are plenty of options for this and plenty of specialized products, but do you know what’s easier? Simply put sand in your garage floor paint. Yup, that’s right.
You can either buy fine-grained silica sand that is designed to be added to floor paint, you can buy paint that already has mixed-in sand, or you can collect your own sand and add that to your normal floor paint. Up to you! Whichever you choose, here is how to do it:
Choose your materials. To prepare the sandy garage floor paint, add one pound of sand for each gallon of paint. It might take a bit of maths to get this right, but this is the optimal ratio for the best possible result, and for the paint to have the exact right texture for anti-slip.
Before you apply this mixture of paint and sand onto the floor, make sure you have done all of the necessary preparation! This includes thoroughly cleaning the garage floor and repairing any uneven bits of surface or damage. If needed, then you should also apply a primer to the garage floor, before the paint.
Once everything is ready and primed, apply the mixture of paint and sand! Make sure it is thoroughly mixed so that the sand is spread through the paint in an even and uniform way. It’s very easy for the sand to end up at the bottom of the can of paint, so keep stirring every now and then!
Once applied and dried, the layer of floor paint will have a rougher texture thanks to the particles of sand. This texture is what will provide a superior grip and traction, for an anti-slip effect.
Can you mix sand with acrylic paint?
The answer to this is yes! Sand will actually mix in really well with acrylic paint, so it’s a great combination. If mixed thoroughly, the acrylic paint will then have a uniform amount of sand within it, and it will provide whatever surface it is you are painting with a rougher texture.
This combination of acrylic paint and sand is a perfect option for making surfaces non-slip, for providing them with a better grip or traction, or for giving them that textured appearance that can be very appealing to some!
Can you put sand in paint for texture?
Yes, you can absolutely put sand in paint for texture! In fact, the origins of mixing sand and paint were specifically for the purpose of creating texture.
This mixture of paint and sand was then most often used to paint ceilings, as the textured result was ideal for hiding imperfections and damage that were done to the surface! It was also very common for painting walls, and for making floors non-slip.
Nowadays, sand is most commonly used in paint to add a non-slip effect to floors, as the rough texture provides superior grip and traction. However, it can also still be used for visual purposes, as many people favor the textured feel and look that this mixture provides.
