Painting Basement
Concrete Walls
Overview:
Painting
basement concrete walls can be a difficult task. The
concrete foundation is make from either poured concrete or it is
constructed of concrete blocks. Both of these surfaces are
difficult to paint. Choosing the right paint and application
roller can make the task easy for most DIY homeowners. I
recommend a latex enamel paint which dries to a hard finish
that can withstand heavy scrubbing.
The best
paint for painting basement concrete walls is latex enamel
paint although some homeowners prefer concrete epoxy paint.
I prefer the latex enamel because it is easy to work with
and easy to clean up using tap water. There are two basic
ways to apply paint to concrete; with a brush and / or a
roller.
The brush is used to paint around the edges of what
you are painting. The size of the brush depends on the
detail of what you are painting and the area. As there are
latex brushes and oil brushes, choose the right brush for
the type paint you are using. Rollers come in different
sizes from nine inches to three inches.
The pile on a roller
is called the nap. Although the thicker the nap the rougher
the finish will be and it also determines the amount of
paint you want to put on the wall. Concrete walls have a
rough surface and are very porous. A high nap roller is
required to insure that the pours are full of paint.
Concrete walls should be thoroughly washed before painting to remove
any dust, dirt, or concrete residue; otherwise you will be
just painting dirt. Any residue on the wall will prevent the
paint form sticking to the concrete. If the foundation is
cracked or damaged, it will require a cement repair before
painting. It isn’t necessary to apply a primer before
painting concrete walls. Concrete block walls are more
difficult to paint than a poured concrete foundation and
will require more than one coat to fill the pores. As most
basements are damp a dehumidifier should be placed in the
room to reduce the moisture content before painting.
Apply
the paint using a high nap roller. Roll the paint using both
horizontal and vertical strokes to ensure that all the pores
are full of paint and the rough surface is covered. Apply a
second coat after the first coat is dry for the best
results. In some cases a third coat may be necessary to
achieve a professional looking job.
Related articles:
Latex Enamel Paint
Framing
a Finished Basement
Insulating Finished Basements
Basement
Moisture Problems
Pealing
Concrete Floor Paint
Polishing Concrete Floors
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