Floor cloth, as the name suggests, is a cloth used as either a floor covering, or a cloth used to clean your floor with. Floor cloths, used as early as the 18th century in England to either protect an expensive rug or converted into a lavish floor decoration were initially used by the affluent. Now, pre-primed canvas floor cloth is commonly used for numerous and varied projects and applications.
Used often times as a paint floor cover or that can be decoratively designed for nice and aesthetically appealing floor cloths that function as area rugs, this fabric material is quite versatile in how it can be utilized.
Pre-primed canvas floor cloth has little exception to regular styles of floor cloths or drop cloths. While pre-primed canvas floor cloths have an advantage in being coated in acrylic gesso, they are still used similarly to uncoated canvas floor cloths.
Floor Cloth Canvas: How it’s Made
Floor cloth canvas starts off as most canvas does. Canvas itself has been a staple fabric for centuries. Manufactured as early as the 13th century, canvas was initially made into practical applications like sails, tents, and bags. After its practical uses however, canvas fabric was also used for painting.
Canvas is made with woven fibers, usually cotton or linen and weaved in a plain style. Tighter woven canvas is duck canvas. Pre-primed canvas coated in gesso (while used for different things) is usually used as artist canvas. The gesso coat exists so that the paint or material being used by the artist doesn’t deteriorate the canvas itself and it can last through time.
Manufactured similarly to unprimed canvas, pre-primed canvas floor cloth bares its advantage by being coated. Depending on the weight or style, pre-primed canvas floor cloth is a great solution for many different projects.
Pre-Primed Floor Cloth Canvas Weights
Pre-primed floor cloth canvas extends to different styles and weights, depending on your need. Some variable weights of pre-primed floor cloth canvas are:
#6 Cotton Duck: #6 cotton duck is a cotton canvas that weighs about 21 ounces per square yard. This heavyweight cotton duck variety is ideal for durable utility bags or industrial coverings. This canvas, when applied with coats of gesso becomes pre-primed canvas that works well for floor cloth.
#8 Cotton Duck: #8 cotton duck is the cotton canvas that weighs about 18 ounces per square yard. We carry a primed variety of this weighted canvas for floor cloth.
#10 Cotton Duck: #10 cotton duck is the ideal cotton canvas for pre-primed floor cloth canvas styles. When primed, its uses stretch from painted floor cloths to rugs and other elaborate coverings.
While pre-primed floor cloth canvas is usually sold under a heavier weighted canvas, lighter canvas varieties are sometimes used. Undeniably, using lighter canvas isn’t traditionally ideal however due to the durability of a heavier duck cotton canvas.
Pre Primed Canvas Floor Cloth vs. Unprimed Canvas
As previously mentioned, the biggest difference between pre-primed canvas floor cloth and unprimed canvas floor cloth is the gesso coating. The coating on pre-primed canvas floor cloth acts as a protecter and sealer. It helps a canvas floor cloth stay viable for longer than an untreated canvas floor cloth.
While unprimed canvas floor cloth is still paintable or used for various projects, pre-primed canvas floor cloth will typically outlast unprimed canvas. Unprimed canvas floor cloth is still great for things like canvas rugs and drop cloths, but they will deteriorate over a period of time a bit more quickly than pre-primed canvas.
Pre-primed canvas floor cloth is minutely heavier than unprimed canvas because of the coating. Depending on the number of coats of gesso the weight difference is only slight. Therefore, this doesn’t truly affect all of its fine offerings and will work amazingly on a number of fun projects.
Durable Pre Primed Canvas Floor Cloth Uses
Pre-primed canvas floor cloth is a do-it-yourselfers’ dream fabric! Its versatility allows for great applications, like:
Floor Cloth: Make a painted floor cloth or use without decorating to protect your floor! Our durable pre-primed canvas floor cloth is perfect for keeping your floors in mint condition.
Murals: Want to create a large statement piece? This durable, long lasting pre-primed canvas floor cloth is wonderful for making large mural work that you won’t miss.
Paintings: Create a decorative painting with acrylic paints from our pre-primed canvas floor cloth! Coated twice with gesso, your painting will last on our canvas floor cloth for years to come.
Projection Screens: Use our pre-primed canvas floor cloth as a cloth projection screen! This natural alternative is great to use for your next big family movie night or event.
Industrial Coverings: Lastly, keep your precious equipment in working condition with the use of this pre-primed canvas floor cloth. Built to withstand harsh elements, this floor cloth will keep harsh conditions off your valuables.
Unsure on pre primed canvas floor cloth being everything you’ll need?Click here to contact us today. Our fabric experts are ready to help you find the right material for your project and your budget.
Floor cloth – How to Craft Your Very Own With This Easy DIY Plan
We are often asked about ways to add character and functional style to homes with our canvas material. One of the easiest ways to do this is by crafting your very own floor cloth – a sure-fire method for adding “extraordinary” to the ordinary room. You do not need an interior designer or decorator for this project, only the right products and a little “know how.” Luckily, in this feature, we will show you both!
Floor cloths have a noted history, and date back to the 1400’s. They were used to create warmth in the kitchen, and to absorb cold drafts. They were introduced to Colonial America in the early 18th century, and were originally crafted (up-cycled and re-purposed, actually) from the dilapidated sails from ships. Functioning to cover dirt floors, they were stained and colored for early and primitive designs. Some floor cloths are still seen today in museums of natural history, and detail the impressive (yet rudimentary) hand painted or stenciled designs that included diamonds patterns, and geometrical squares and cubes.
#8 primed canvas – ideal floor cloth material
This canvas fabric material became known as “crumb cloths” as they were positioned underneath tables and which would effectively catch all of the food crumbs before being swept off and piled for discarding. Because of their interesting patterns and dyed/ painted designs (sometimes with bright colors), floor cloths were often used as art – floor art in bedrooms, hallways, kitchens and in studies (parlors). Floor cloths make for an easy and ideal addition to today’s modern kitchen. As they can be painted, are easy to clean and very resilient to everyday wear and tear due to the 18 ounce cotton canvas’ strong weave, they work very well under tables or even chairs. The canvas material is inexpensive, and super-easy to design. Crafters and DIY’ers (and those wishing to learn an easy and repeatable skill) will love this step-by-step instructional guide on how to create your very own and unique custom floor cloth.
Prepping the Floor cloth for DIY Striping
Here is a material list and required tools for you to begin the DIY floor cloth crafting project:
paint brush that handles acrylic paint (or paint roller)
other artist brushes for finer detail work
exterior paint
sewing machine (with needle gauge large enough to work with #8 canvas/ 18 ounce canvas fabric)
a pencil for marking lines and patterns/ proportions and setting
measuring tape
level
scissors and slicer
polyester thread (choose the color most suitable for your project – white is always less noticeable)
acrylic paints in a wide color assortment (acrylic dries well and quickly on the canvas fabric)
stencils and/ or inked stamps
painters tape ( to mark the edges of your designs onto the canvas fabric)
glue with glue gun (glue gun is optional)
graphite paper (also known as transfer paper – this allows you to replicate, transfer and keep your design)
polyurethane
Floor cloth DIY Prepping
The Process:
1. After you have decided the length and width of the floor cloth (and corresponding amount of canvas fabric required), you first will need to prepare the canvas by working from the center/ interior, and brushing a uniform coat of the exterior paint over the entire canvas fabric (our pre-primed canvas comes primed already, so need to worry about that step). In this first step, you should also now straighten out the edges removing any folds and wrinkles in the canvas fabric. Allow fabric to dry completely!
2. Using your measuring tape and a pencil, mark the measured hashes .5″ from the outside edge and along each of the 4 sides. Now, accurately cut along this measured line, and then measure once more an additional .5″ from the edge on all four sides again.
3. Trim the corners and then fold canvas fabric on the line. Using your sewing machine (and after the paint has dried), stitch them hem in place. If you have concerns about the hem fraying, you can use the white glue to bead along the cut edge of the canvas.
4. Now paint another (2nd) layered coat of the background color. Also allow this 2nd coat to dry completely!
5. Now is the time where we need to pick our design (most likely, however, you have already done so).
6. Pencil this selected design onto your floor cloth. If this step in the process is challenging for you, consider using a photocopy machine. If you do this, you can then use the graphite transfer paper and transfer the chosen design to the fabric material floor cloth. First-time DIY’ers may wish to use the simplicity of the stencil or the ink stamp to create your designs. Painter’s tape also works exceptionally well in defining your design and pattern.
7. To avoid smearing the designs, begin painting in the center and absolute interior of the canvas fabric and work outwards to the edges (and towards the 4 corners). This ensures an evenness of the design and ensures that no design smearing will occur. Always allow the canvas fabric to drive completely, and again, to mitigate against smearing.
8. After the material has dried absolutely and completely, it is time to apply the polyurethane with a clean brush. This will ensure that the design is preserved and will seal the design. Ensure that the poly is applied evenly throughout the canvas fabric and does not “pool” in any one location. Go slowly, and again evenly. We have found it best to either brush on the poly vertically or horizontally – choose one and stay consistent with your smooth brush strokes.
9. While allowing sufficient time between coats so that it dries completely, you may wish to apply a 2nd coat of the poly sealant. This ensures that the designs/ paint/ ink is well-sealed and that it will be preserved onto your unique and custom-made floorcloth!
If you are looking for something unique to you and to your space, then a DIY custom-made floor cloth is the ideal project. Inexpensive and easy to craft, they will provide a lifetime of functional use and really make an immediate impact to the visual appeal of any room. They are ideally suited to provide a complimentary visual effect and set the tone for an entire room and living space! Many people consider only adding a touch of design in furniture, wall art and wall decor, but now you are well on your way to also adding style and character to your floors as well with your very own custom-made canvas fabric floor cloth!
Floorcloth prepared for Striping
If you are looking for bulk pricing on your floor cloth canvas fabric material, or dyed fabric, email us at cs@canvasetc.com or by phone at 404-514-7116 and we would be glad to assist you!
Volume Discounts: 0-49 yards – list price 50-99 yards – 5% off list 100+ yards – 10% off list
