The most important consideration is the quality of the paint. Above all, I want to be able to clean the blocks periodically with light pressure-watching (to remove the inevitable mold, moss, and algae). If you have a lot of stains then the restoration primer would be better. Whats best to use especially with having to hang posters with tape on the wall in a few weeks? Lighter colors with a good sheen is a good idea. It can depend on the type of paint that you are using. No paint or even deck stain. Was told a latex without primer would work. I think adding the stone will be fine. Powdery deposits or a powdery surface should be primed after washing. I dont think this would be useful in your situation. Interesting choice that will look good, as compared to regular paint. And that is, that the typical paints used for painting exterior walls arent always the best at adhering to masonry surfaces such as cinder blocks, as they struggle against the rougher texture. You can always add color as an accent; shutters or front window trim or corner trim or front door and/or garage door(s) can be used as accents. It was pricy so we are hoping to get it right the first time ; ). The exposed concrete block under the deck if it is visible then is should be painted the esthetically match the rest of the house. This is a great site with excellent information! amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Also, the previous water penetration has left some mildew stains and efflorescence. What primer would you recommend? The Minwax Polycrylic is interior use so not a good choice for exterior use. Thank you! You advise is highly appreciated. Im not sure if it has been painted since it was built. My understanding from your article is we should use an acrylic block primer and we will need to use your roller and brush technique because we dont own a sprayer. Specifically, you will need to use filler block primer, as it has been formulated to fill in the porous surface, and to seal it off so that the paint can adhere on top with ease. We had a new concrete block addition as well as stuff that had not been touched in 20 years of Florida sun. Make sure to use enough paint and work it well to fill these pores. If you have stains coming through the primer spot prime or seal the stains with either Zinsser Cover Stain or a shellac primer. Or are we stuck with trying to paint over the chipping red areas in grey? Ill pressure wash, let dry. Its been a year since your last comment, so I hope youre still around. Patching only needed for major damage, the glue and tile will hide a lot. Sanding the block walls seems like it wouldnt work. If there is a very hard enamel like paint, epoxy maybe, then priming will be needed. I plan to scrape away all loose paint and then will do a wash with TSP. For a dark finish color start with a tinted primer. 3 Common Causes (and How To Solve Them), Are Paint Rollers Reusable The Ultimate Guide, Why Is My Water Heater Smoking 5 Reasons + Fixes, Tankless Water Heater Keeps Tripping Breaker (Fixed), Water Heater Pilot Light Wont Stay Lit After Thermocouple Replacement, How Much Weight Will Particle Board Hold The Ultimate Guide. Staining your cinder blocks can also be a very easy alternative to painting, as it will not require any primer beforehand! Im trying to paint an interior bathroom of an old house. A semi-gloss will be more resistant to cleaning chemicals and higher humidity compared to other sheens. With interiors your paint choice depends on the use of the wall, room or area. This is a two-person operation. Then apply a good quality paint. After this first coat dries, a couple hours in warm temps, go back over and just spray to help fill in where needed and provide a more even color. How about this; Working small sections at a time, spray heavy coat then quickly backroll (keep a wet roller in a 5 gallon bucket with some primer, this way the roller wont dry out). Thanks again for your help. This system is troweled on and dries really fast, hard to work with when by your self, but doable. What kind of sealer/paint should I use? I am also not opposed to other brands. Thank you for all your incredible guidance! The primer will also then provide a solid and smooth surface on top of the cinder block, to which the paint will very easily adhere, without being absorbed into the concrete. Ive previously sealed murals with a polycrylic matte topcoat applied with an airless sprayer, with good results, but still see fading quicker than Id like. There will be periodic maintenance as all stains or coatings will need to be refreshed time from time. Scrape and/or sand to remove loose paint from wood surfaces. High temperatures do affect painting, including concrete blocks. That takes care of the exterior. Do you have to prime cinder blocks before painting? We have pressure washed it and it has rained every day since. Any good quality paint will work without major priming or prep work, assuming the walls and existing paint is in good shape. I have a wooden deck attached the block wall . We repaired an outside wall and are anxious to put the house back together before school starts as it is a bedroom. Just plain paint. Trying to do it as cheaply as possible as I have many other projects going. Thank you for taking the time to answer questions. Some paints work better for high humidity areas. Is there a paint that would glue the peeling down where its easily pressure washed off and hold the paint where its not? I live in a fairly wet area water does sometimes get into the stairwell, though mostly on the stairs, not through the walls. I recommend Seal Krete concrete sealer or something like it. Same goes for under the deck, a pain but if it is visible then it should be painted. Caulking windows and doors is the same on a concrete block building as with caulking any interior or exterior surface. Acrylic paints will out last standard oil base finishes when use on the exterior. If spraying, backrolling will be needed. Make sure to rinse of any dust or surface contamination first. Are you referring to Acrylic Zinsser? I typically use both acrylic and latex paint, with a retarder to prevent it drying too quickly. Sealing each block before assembly would be preferred. These concrete blocks have never been painted. We can have single digit humidity and paint that drys so fast it cracks if to thick, the surface hardens while the inside film is still a liquid. And lastly, is there a decorative paint-on product you would recommend? Not oil based? Can I later paint over the 123 with Seal Krete when the temp gets warmer? During the preparation pay attention to any loose mortar and large cracks. A properly painted concrete block wall will be virtually maintenance free for many years, but the same wall not properly painted can be a maintenance nightmare. The power washer can be used to remove loose paint from the block (be careful) but can do a lot of damage to wood. 2. I had a hot tub removed from center of the deck, so it shouldnt be too hard to crawl under it. Now Im getting a little worried, b/c after I finish my block wall, I had plans to paint the rest of my house, and I hadnt thought /or planned on having to recaulk the rest of my windows. I get easily confused about anything, my understanding of what I hear or read is often inaccurate, but I persevere, dont want no potty, but do like others to be patient & I guess tolerable of me. Test kits are cheap and available at your local paint store. First Id like to say this page has been a fantastic resource, thank you! But now when It gets wet the white streaks are coming out of the bricks how can we stop this. Perma-Flex is used as the top coat and is tinted. Staining and sealing should do well with cleaning (low psi) and weather. I dont know their products but buy the best you can afford. Trapping water in concrete, block or otherwise, will degrade the walls over time causing all kinds of future damage. Same hold true for the elstomeric. Bleach and TSP is the best solution but you can also use bleach with no-rinse TSP substitute or a mild dish soap. Graining will be a problem, normally this is done on a piece that is horizontal. Thanks! Sound like a good plan. What paint should I use on top of it? If it is hard to reach and not all that visible then I wouldnt do it. I dont know if what is on the wall is a block sealant or plain old paint? At this point I would powerwash, remove only what will come off easily, spot prime then paint (either paint everything or paint only the spots where it is primed. I really am thankful for all your help, this is a great resource site, and I appreciate you willing to assist & share your knowledge & expertise. Regular wall paint can be used and any sheen, whatever you prefer. I ended up power washing the day before and it most not have rained much if at all overnight as I didnt have to redo it the next day. Spray only, generally doesnt work well. Make sure to rinse well. Id now like to paint them. A roller will do this just fine. Another question, there is only 1/8 of extra space for paint. If its not fully dry is that an issue? The poly caulk needs priming with the same oil based primer prior to painting. A couple things to consider are temperature and humidity; warm temps help with drying out the surface but high humidity can be a problem, slowing down the drying or stopping it altogether. Ive already pressure washed w/just water, scraped with wire brush & scraper. Paint wont stick to silicone caulk and most polyurethane caulkings. Thank you. One vendor suggested using a colored stain and top-coating with a sealer which would finish-out glossy (and hence be cleanable). You probably wont need the block filler after priming with the oil based primer as this will fill a lot of pores. Then, its all about making sure the cinder blocks are in good condition for painting, and about applying the necessary amount of layers of paint to achieve the smoothest finish possible. The primer (block fill) and paint dry too fast, not penetrating or sealing well plus all around looking bad. Do I need to prime the walls first? You should be fine since the surface is already sealed as long as it is dry to the touch. The walls are cinder block and except for a few areas have been painted many many times. Sealing the deck frame will accelerate rot by trapping moisture in the wood. My question is whether I should use a different primer and then do a topcoat? Acrylic Latex Paints are the best option for painting Cinder block walls. I was hoping to skip the priming/sealer step and do 1 coat of paint. If your foundation has sealer, like black tar, then these areas will need scraping and priming. No actual water just damp feeling. Any clear concrete sealer will do the trick. Sand added to the primer wont look like stucco. Hi, Thanks for this page. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I want to make sure I understand the process for what steps I should take with regard to painting and sealing these indoor/garage foundation blocks amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "housepainti0e-20"; First and foremost, let me thank you for your time and the wealth of knowledge you provide on this site. Choosing a good quality paint and applying 2 coats on everything will help. However, some of the white oil-based has peeled off also to reveal the old dark green concrete stain. Very old paint might give adhesion issues. I think you will still need 2 coats for a good looking wall. An alternative to using Dryloc as the finish paint is use a good elastomeric coating over the blockfill primer. The cracks are bigger than a hair line crack and are vertically as long as the 2 to 3 ft wall. I have not worked with unsealed concrete block before and I have a couple questions. High humidity levels will slow down the drying and curing of all primers and paints which could be a real problem if there is rain or other adverse weather on the way. If you want to prime use the Zinsser 123. But dont worry, this doesnt mean that you necessarily have to buy specific specialized masonry paint. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One of your posts said polyurethane caulk needs to be primed. LC. And if I do the above, do I caulk it before I prime & seal the block, or after. Do I need to prime before putting on a new color? The block if fully cured and has a stable PH and open pores. We considered stuccoing it but our smart guy has suggested we do an Elastomeric coating. Right now just fixed the damaged areas, Cement All from Home Depot works well. Youll have to decide how big the section is. Glidden really isnt that good. Thank you for all of your helpful information. Also, I dont want to lose the look of the split face block. removing them exposed some block but mostly glue. There isnt a primer that can penetrate through paint and glue it down, wish there was. I did notice that the block wall beneath the deck is painted, so I guess Ill have to crawl under the deck & paint that part of the wall too. Prime the whole thing with an oil based primer, like Zinsser Cover Stain. But as a general rule, you will have to use a primer before painting your cinder blocks. Getting ready to repaint interior cinderblock walls that currently have a semi gloss finish. I would like to seal it for moisture and also paint it. You have many choices, as which to use. How to Use a Paint Sprayer with an Air Compressor. It goes up about 15 inches on the walls (interior) and my contractor says it can be painted over with no problems. Staining is an easy alternative to painting that offers a very similar, almost identical, end result. Im looking to paint the cinder block walls in the basement of our 1959 house. Required fields are marked *, You may use these HTML tags and attributes
. Yes, vacuuming is fine. I want to repaint it. Thank you so much! Mold along the edge, especially with carpet, is also an indication of problems. Use non-sagging polyurethane for expansion joints and elastomeric around windows and doors. The best primer designed for this purpose is Acrylic Block Fill. Signs of excessive water will be staining and bubbling of the finish coat. With a good prime and paint, how long would the paint usually last before start to chip off and make the wall look ugly! Was going to caulk some hairline cracks, but I just remembered you said to do that after putting on my Drylock (primer & sealer). Luckily, you dont actually need to buy any type of special paint for cinder blocks, as any regular type of paint will work just fine! Upon inspection, I had some efforescence that I removed with a wire brush and spot patched cracks with UGL Drylok Fast Plug Hydraulic cement. You might even notice that most graffiti drawings are painted on cinder block walls with spray paints! Simply wash with warm water and paint with elastomeric paint? At this point it would be a good idea to spend a little extra and apply Dryloc. I added a washer/dryer in there 4 years ago and I moved it today to prep for repainting and found same thing on the ground, bubbled paint and crumbled concrete. Would you recommend removing the paint somehow so I dont cause any damage to the concrete block? Interior garage walls are unpainted cinderblock which we want to paint. https://www.paclandinc.com/portfolio/culver-city-90232-cmu-slump-block-wall/, 2) We had some sidewalks repaved and there is concrete overspray all over the surrounding natural brick raised planters. LC. Something else? We washed, we peeled, we sealed, and we painted. Is there a way to remove this ugly grey residue from the red brick? The homeowner wants a stucco finish but stucco is unavailable in our area. Theres always better primers, STIX by Insl-X is really good but expensive. Do not use an Elastomeric coating. If needed use an acrylic block filler over the primer but you could just apply 1 or 2 heavy coats of elastomeric, Sherwin Williams Sherlastic is good and inexpensive as well. Second to quality paint is quality caulking. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; They have a thin layer of white paint which was done at least 15 years ago. We have a block house built 1978. Make sure to clean the surface well, no dust or soot. Im painting my cinder block garage and have already primed the whole thing and put a first coat of masonry paint on a few weeks ago. It had a small backsplash from the 50s. And the thing with exterior paint is that it is extra important for it to properly adhere onto the surface, or else it will be very vulnerable to the weather conditions, and to peeling or cracking. A traditional stucco can be sealed with paint or clear sealer once fully cured, 30 day minimum. The base coat, I have used Insul-Bond Dry Base, can be applied directly to the block and is used to level the surface. First wash everything and kill the mold. I poured what the sprayer pick up couldnt get to into the paint roller tray, then ended up dunking the intake tube into a bucket of water and proceeded to use the water to force the left over water in the spray hose out onto the wall. Check for cracks that are not fully sealed and use caulking to seal them up prior to painting. A good washing will save a lot of time later. The main concern is sealing all sides and the top to prevent water or moisture from entering the wall. It was primed and then painted with acrylic paint. We have repainted our 1959 Florida concrete block house with great success! Hi, first of all I am impressed with the site content and you taking time and answering questions! Polyurethane sealants are very sticky and reduced with mineral spirits. There.s nothing wrong with the Valspar product. I cant imagine any builder using cinder block for basement walls. Especially if you use a quality paint, like Sherwin Williams Interior Super Paint or better. Im an artist in Arizona and have a client who has requested a mural in the center 3 panels on her unpainted/unsealed split block wall. I am attempting to paint some concrete walls in the basement of our 1965 home. How long to wait before painting ? So if you want to achieve the best and most professional results, it is best to use either acrylic latex paint or more specialized masonry paint. For the other mentioned options; Prime the block then apply drywall compound to smooth it out. Hi, Ive no particular question to ask at the moment, but Im interested in using block in future, so Ive been reading many of the questions and answers here. Can I put a sealer over it? Paint and primer, such as Loxon and Resilience, are above ground only. Wonderful site, Thank you! It would be best to apply the texture (new stucco finish coat or ??) I have been looking for tutorial on how to paint interior cinder block for days, and finally got here, so lucky! Im wondering whether the sealer will hold up to cleaning, whether it will yellow from exposure, and how renewing it (if necessary) will look. Are there any visual cues to show if the block is now retaining moisture (pulling from the ground im assuming)? What would you recommend in this scenario? I have no idea how old they are, but the paint is thick & has crackled/chipped in various places. Use a commercial style pressure washer and at least 2500 psi. Googled waterlox and all I found was wood finishes. UV Protection: Not a whole lot of good choices. It just ticks me off when people take shortcuts b/c they dont want to do quality work. Dipping and rolling will be slower and more labor intensive, but when painting the interior of occupied block buildings and homes rolling can be the best application method. This will produce a good foundation for the new paint. Thank you for the great article! I have a total of 23 windows. Whoever owned the home prior painted them incorrectly and they are chipping and flaking and water has gotten in at some point. Thank you! Both of these allow water vapor out but block new water from entering. That said, I want to ask a quick question and make sure Im on the right track I just purchased a cinder block building that the exterior has the split face blocks that were previously painted. 100% lambs wool covers work best. Its so much paint where it is painted that where the bare brick has been exposed its a noticeable difference in depth. And be mindful of the weather. Damage to the cement foundation could happen if moisture is trapped in the walls. Use a gas powdered sprayer on the exterior for added power and convenience. 1) in my scenario, is it better to use a block filler primer or a typical masonry primer before painting? Basically, yes that simple. I really do appreciate your help and support, but still s/w unsure of how to approach my task. 3) The paint could be removed with abrasive blasting. The paint is not peeling. Primer? Vertical walls need just a good washing. When it still leaked I called the waterproofer. In a previous post you noted the acrylic block fill doesnt adhere as well to previously painted services. This can be sprayed directly on the block without the need for a primer and looks good. Silicone isnt paintable and there is no primer that will stick to it. Sometimes water based paint is thinned anyway so I dont think it would cause early paint issues. amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products"; If you are going to put concrete sealer on it, do you suggest pressure washing beforehand? Hi i am about to paint the exterior of my block home I have pressure washed Im just wondering how long I need to wait until I can paint after pressure washing? The concrete stain will color the cinder blocks, giving them a mottled look in the color of your choosing. Shinier the better. You can use a regular paint. I recommend paint most of the time. Seal-Krete masonry sealer would work well or any exterior grade acrylic clear-coat will work, could even use a varnish or poly. The mildew stains might need an additional treatment with a shellac or oil based stain blocking primer, BIN or Kilz. Normally prime first then caulk, but it can be done before the caulking. Staining and sealing can be done with a garden sprayer, if it has a good spray fan. I recently bought a 1980s cabin basement that has rough cinderblock surface, never painted. Thank you very much! I am looking to paint a painted cement block townhouse. The rest shouldnt need priming but you can test the original paint by rubbing the paint some alcohol, rubbing or denatured. What Kind of Paint Do You Use on a Porch? The house is old and the concrete blocks are painted (likely in the past 25 years). If the block is unpainted (never been painted) then a block fill primer is needed to fill the pores. Or, should I use some other brand for best adherence longevity? How is the best way to prep for a new color coat? Should I use a drylock or regular paint? Would just a coat or 2 of primer sufficiently prepare the surface for my needs? The Benjamin Moore Aura is very good paint and will hold up well, better than Sherwin Williams Emerald and most other top-of-line paints on the market today. Either a block fill primer or no primer depending on your situation. We installed decorative concrete block (breeze block) in our carport in Seattle a year ago. I need advise, im about to paint a hospital which was previously painted years ago. A lot of work for sure but it will last. I dont know of any other easy to apply product that will look as good as the Roller Rock. Or is there a different prep method for that? Getting the pores sealed it very important with block walls. Thanks. All of these will require similar approaches when preparing the block for the protective finish coat. The material just sits on top allowing the pores to remain open. I had a stroke a few years back, just before my windows were installed. I am a face painter, so whatever I use needs to be latex-free since I touch strangers faces all day. We are finally getting around to painting it. Other than cleaning, what should I do to prep for painting? Sound like you already know what your doing. The mortar (glue) used sticks directly to the block. You might need to look for a local stucco supplier for the materials or use Rapid Set Motor Mix or Cement All for the base repair and possibly the texture coat as well depending on the look your after. Otherwise, the wall seems to be fairly solid. Hope to use a regular paint due to cost, as opposed to a specialty type. We used to have a product called waterlox that filled the pours of concrete, waterproofed basements and came in colors. Thanks, Every paint store will have an exterior acrylic primer. Apply to all surfaces, inside and out several coats, until saturated with sealer. 2 heavy rolled or back rolled coats of primer should work. Some sections the cement blocks were just painted. Each time I put the Glidden paint on, it bubbles and will not stick to the wall or primers. One way to lessen the look is to sand back or feather the edges of the peeling areas. The caulking around the window, rather the caulking on the side of the window, looks good & is stuck well, its a very good 50 year caulking. The bottom two feet of the block have efflorescence and the paint is bubbled but there are also areas where the block is actually crumbling. Unpainted concrete block needs to be primed before the application of the finish paint. Youre doing a good job with the prep. Work the primer as well as you can into the pores, if needed apply 2 coats. After hours hes hardly touched on the total job. Sound like your sprayer should work fine. Prime everything. I will be purchasing some block sealer and paint. I have problems with my memory, thought process, words, thinking, etc. Im not sure what product was used but understand that it was from a professional commercial line. The walls are Ocala block. This wouldnt be easy and might not last long. No need to remove the deck posts, just paint whatever you can reach. It has been previously painted and also had water entering through the bottom 2 feet of the walls when we moved in. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. An alternative is to apply a very good paintable caulking over the silicone. So what Im left with is some bare cmu, some paint, and some concrete patch areas. Moisture has entered the walls leaving stains as evidence, so I will redo the roof, and then move to walls. 3 Reasons You Should Not Use Drano in a Toilet. What would you recommend for cleaning? The best stuff says "elastomeric" and the cheaper grade says Stucco and masonry paint. How long should I expect it too last? Im getting older and just want it to last forever and not have any issues. But, large stress cracks will need repair before any paint can be applied. first then prime and paint. I live in a dry climate in southern california. After cleaning and repairs, if needed, a good primer must be applied. But can you paint cinder block walls that are placed in the exterior? Would I be able to use a paint with a primer in it? Will we have to take down the columns and start over or is there a way to fit the primer and paint in that space? If I use a quality paint will my paint job last . The question is do we need to use an acrylic block fill on the new cinder blocks and a different primer, like Zinsser 123, on the previously painted blocks? Block Fill primer is thick and will require a powerful airless sprayer. They are one of the most versatile and commonly used products within building, and you can also achieve many different appearances with them, which is what makes them so useful. On interior surfaces use a scrub brush to fully remove stubborn deposits. I tried scrubbing it off with a wire brush but that didnt seem to do much, also the mortar is very crumbly so brushing that is pretty sketchy Thank you so much. The Behr paint is fine as long as there isnt water vapor in the block. Use acidic masonry cleaner to remove this unsightly mess. Do you recommend paint or stain for unpainted exterior split faced block. Do I also need to wash them with TSP or anything else? Thanks in advance! I want to power wash the first few feet of cinderblock around the garage in the morning, then paint the second coat within a couple hours. Use 3/41 inch for smooth block and 1-1/2 inch on split-face block. I can not imagine that I will ever successfully remove all of the glue. Better quality lasts longer. My husband said latex would be ok, but I am afraid that it will peel as it did on the interior bedroom wall. Good quality regular exterior house paint doesnt need priming over weathered vertical concrete. (As opposed to the glossy finish that paint has.) Dark color will fade faster but more life can be had with a shinier paint, satin or semi-gloss instead of flat. You can prime and paint immediately. Make sure the walls are clean before starting the painting. amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; Second, I doubt we will go this route, but if we choose to go with latex paint do we prime first then paint or do we need to put a water seal on, then prime, then paint? So far, Ive not had any issues using polycrylicmeaning no ones called me complainingwell not yet anywayYou are correct about the sparathane Varathane Marine spar urethane is the only stuff that actually lives up to its UV protection claims,.Ive only seen it in spray cans, and tbh Ive never looked for gallons of it, but now I will. Pre-fill the pores with a block-fill primer, standard acrylic will work for most circumstances. Spot prime the stains then paint. They will also be subject to sun exposure when it is not raining. What should I fill these cracks with before painting? Any thoughts, tips, anything you can offer? It was painted years ago, I have been pressure washing it. Make sure to rinse well. When in doubt use a low voc primer, Zinsser 123 or equivalent.
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