I have the cinder block basement walls sealed professionally three years ago. On their side they have a low planter about 2 deep with bamboo that they water regularly. We are building a privacy fence using cinder blocks for the posts. We have been cleaning them with bleach water with some success, but some areas are very stubborn. The main difference between painting and staining is that paint adds a thin layer of color on top of the surface, while staining soaks the color into the surface. I recently bought a 1980s cabin basement that has rough cinderblock surface, never painted. Thanks for responding! Also, the previous water penetration has left some mildew stains and efflorescence. My painter is saying that applying a new latex coating on top of the existing water-based paint will lead to cracking and recommends stripping the previous coatings and applying a new oil-based finish system. What Paint Can I Use To Paint Over Varnished Wood? But as a general rule, you will have to use a primer before painting your cinder blocks. I have painted my basement with 3 coats of Sherwin Williams Luxon Concrete block primer and sealer and a finish coat. The mortar still looks wet where the wall has been core filled. I never heard of it, might something more regional. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; cinder Block-fill primer is apparently also taboo and other products. 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. I have a mural painted on an exterior cinder block wall and want to protect it. I think adding the stone will be fine. Make sure the walls are clean before starting the painting. We thought we would do that on the west side 5016 face and paint the north and south sides with regular paint. Shinier the better. The exposed concrete block under the deck if it is visible then is should be painted the esthetically match the rest of the house. Would you advise i prime the walls first before applying two coats final coats or can I just clean the prepare the walls then apply two quotes as per the specification. Hi have a couple of homes in sunny hot Arizona needing painted TSP, hot water and a scrub will be your best cleaning option. Use a semi-gloss paint to help with the moisture. Paint peeling off caulking is a compatibility issue. Son has a house built in the 1960s. Great article! I have new foundation split face block walls that I am going to paint. 1) Depends, if the block was previously painted and most pores filled then block fill primer isnt needed. Very old paint might give adhesion issues. I ended up getting water on the wall in some spots as a couple minutes later, the Greige paint had brown streaks in it. Youll have to decide how big the section is. I have changed the outside grade and landscaping to get water away from the house and I havent had water come in for the last 2 years except for heavy rains i will get a wet wall. If so, could we tint it and not top coat it for a while? Count on split-face block needing twice as muck primer and paint when compared to smooth block. Does the cement block exterior wall need to be dry to paint? Make sure to rinse well. Varathane Spar Urethane, water-based exterior, works well but pricey. Thanks for in advance for your advice! The material just sits on top allowing the pores to remain open. Sherwin Williams ProMar 200 or better. What kind of sealer/paint should I use? During the preparation pay attention to any loose mortar and large cracks. Hello, I have a a 5040 block building with 16 foot tall walls. My concern is the longevity of the paint for the exterior wall. Just plain paint.
Also, I was going to repaint the house in spring but u suggested the 123 will harden. How do I estimate paint consumption? This procedure works equally well on interior block surfaces. And finally, spray or roll? We just added 5 rows of new cinder block to our existing wall. However, some of the white oil-based has peeled off also to reveal the old dark green concrete stain. The efflorescence will need some washing, white vinegar, no-rinse TSP and warm water will work for most deposits. Its been getting down in the mid 40s at night so I decided to use Zinsser 123 since it doesnt have the 24-hour requirement.
We are finally getting around to painting it. Most often, walls made out of cinder blocks will be located and found in the exterior, as they can resist weather conditions really well and perfect for outdoor use.
For the other mentioned options; Prime the block then apply drywall compound to smooth it out. Youll need to push the primer, at least 1 coat, into the block to fill the pores. Lastly, how many coats of primer and paint? Overnight will work. What Kind of Paint Do You Use on Laminate? 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 Work the material well but dont over work it, you will know when that happens. The existing wall is painted, most likely with an acrylic paint as the paint chip is a regular Valspar paint. We want to paint the exterior cinder block foundation on our home. The waterborne urethanes will work well but nothing lasts as long as you want. But can you paint cinder block walls that are placed in the exterior? Thank you so much for your time and expertise! Is it safe to seal and paint if planning to add something on the top of this in a 1-2 years? I assume it has lead paint, but it seems very intact. It looks new and wonderful and we saved thousands of dollars doing it ourselves. Zinsser 123 is tintable to a point but should be painted over within a month, can get really hard after a while and might have problems with paint sticking, producing even more peeling. Can I Use An Orbital Sander To Remove Paint? Sometimes water based paint is thinned anyway so I dont think it would cause early paint issues. I dont think normal calculations for paint coverage apply due to the porosity in the block. Test after the primer dries to see if it is sealed enough.
You have several choices but if water seeping isnt an issue then a good universal acrylic primer will work. Im looking to paint the cinder block walls in the basement of our 1959 house. 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. Also, any greasy or oily deposits will need to be cleaned with TSP, trisodium phosphate, and primed with a stain blocking primer. Any peeling needs removal and at least spot priming. Interior surfaces can receive any sheen to match your decor. I am preparing to install a resistance pool in the 3rd garage space and want the area to be as waterproof as possible. Now is a good time to replace rotten wood or if it isnt that much you can try wood hardener instead, epoxy wood hardener is the best (PC-Rot Terminator is really good). This will make it a lot cheaper, and a lot easier, as its just the primer that needs to be specific. If you think there is excessive water vapor in the block wall then use the Dryloc, better product all around. I still need to paint the main 14 x 22 garage section. Correct, if the caulking is in good shape and paintable then only apply new caulking were needed. ;/. A good oil base primer, like Zinsser Cover Stain, or a good acrylic primer like 123 or Gripper will allow you to use any paint you want. The main concern is sealing all sides and the top to prevent water or moisture from entering the wall. A good primer to use for chalky surfaces is Zinsser 123. The new paint should stick just fine. Getting ready to repaint interior cinderblock walls that currently have a semi gloss finish. Also, look to the cause of water infiltration of your basement walls. Is there a way to remove this ugly grey residue from the red brick? Landscaping, such as inadequate drainage, or a leaking gutter can cause big problems. Hi, first of all I am impressed with the site content and you taking time and answering questions! Thanks! I plan to scrape away all loose paint and then will do a wash with TSP. Who ever put it there should clean it up. But what about staining? The primer (block fill) and paint dry too fast, not penetrating or sealing well plus all around looking bad. Thank you. Im torn between using a vinyl wall cover and wallpaper, using portland cement to smooth out the grooves, or just throwing in the towel and tiling over it. The backer-rod needs to be slightly thicker than the expansion joint, example- a 3/4 inch joint needs 1 inch foam backer-rod. The first phase of my garage fixup is to paint it white inside and white and red outside and add lighting. 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. House was built in 1966. If it softens then it is a latex (regular) type of paint and no priming is needed. We live in South Louisiana what is the safe relative humidity for prime/painting cinder block walls. The cracks are bigger than a hair line crack and are vertically as long as the 2 to 3 ft wall. Block and other masonry surfaces is exactly what it is designed for. Drylok can stop moisture from coming through the wall and bubbling your paint. One of your posts said polyurethane caulk needs to be primed. I scraped off all loose concrete and power washed it today. 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. In this case priming isnt needed. Do I need to prime before putting on a new color? Back rolling is a great way to produce a better looking result even without the need for primer. I would like to seal it for moisture and also paint it. My husband said latex would be ok, but I am afraid that it will peel as it did on the interior bedroom wall. Could try priming with Drylok masonry primer then painting. An alternative to using Dryloc as the finish paint is use a good elastomeric coating over the blockfill primer. High humidity and cool temps can extend the drying time but acrylic primers, and paints, dry fast and are ready to top coat in just a few hours. At this point it would be a good idea to spend a little extra and apply Dryloc. Some of the blocks appear to have a light green ?plaster? You have a choice as to the finish; Use a primer then paint (regular paint or elastomeric coating) or use a masonry stain. The stain will be soaked into the surface of the cinder block, to give it that permanent new color, but it will not affect the structural integrity of the cinder blocks in the slightest, so you can rest assured that no damage will be caused by staining your cinder blocks! I want to repaint it. Is it possible to do a faux wood painting technique on a cinder block exterior? You could use 1/4 tape and add grout lines, look like pieces of rock. The roller cover needs to be a thick nap and of the highest quality. The big thing is making sure the tops of the walls are sealed, roof or metal caps depending on the building construction. Hello, and thanks for sharing this helpful info!
Lee. The cabin has had a mouse problem and we have been eliminating them, but do to the infestation, there are actually trails along the block at the top of the walls where these dirty little things travelled over the years. 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. Any good quality paint will work without major priming or prep work, assuming the walls and existing paint is in good shape. No peeling , no mold and very few cracks to patch. Use a plastic spoon and mineral spirits to tool and smooth the sealant. Acrylic paints will out last standard oil base finishes when use on the exterior. What is the best type if paint for this. Lee. I have been looking for tutorial on how to paint interior cinder block for days, and finally got here, so lucky! Also, if Im using a block filler, do I need to prime first, then block filler, then topcoat? Yes, vacuuming is fine. Which do I use? first then prime and paint. When you applied the Bondcrete; Did you apply thickly and work well with a thick roller? Depends on what the original paint is and the shape or condition of the original paint. Also, I dont want to lose the look of the split face block. Not oil based? Since the blocks in some areas are not smooth, I was going to apply 2 coats of acrylic block fill primer This is my very last question, I promise, with my fingers somewhat crossed. Paint could go 5-6 years but could become a nightmare with heavy prep before repainting. 3 Reasons You Should Not Use Drano in a Toilet. Is it necessary to use a primer? I want to paint a newer block wall that separates my neighbor and I. Its about 50 ft long and has not been painted or treated before. Can we add sand to the primer or paint to achieve the desired effect? Spot prime the stains then paint. Plus paint will do a better overall job. Test kits are cheap and available at your local paint store. Staining and sealing can be done with a garden sprayer, if it has a good spray fan. Was scraping the efflor.. and behind that is the bare cmu. In most cases the primer and paint should be applied to concrete block with an airless sprayer and back rolled. Trying to do it as cheaply as possible as I have many other projects going. Thanks for the quick reply. Im getting older and just want it to last forever and not have any issues. Block fill doesnt stick well to previous coatings, like old oil based paint. First carefully scrape any loose paint, wash if needed (no-rinse TSP works good). Im attempting to repaint the bathrooms at the shop where I work. Its a old ground face block from the 50-70s. Oh and I have a graco sprayer with a 515 tip, will this work and should I back roll the primer and paint? I have hopefully a quick question I have removed old stucco or alike (looked awful so I could not resist) and I am down to some of old paint and original cinder block from 1950s. If you think this will come back elsewhere in the near future then spot priming and spot painting is a better bet. With a vertical wall the paint/glaze mix or gel stain might want to sag.
Thanks. The wall was previously painted and spot patched for cracks by previous owner. Ive scraped the paint and wire brushed the blocks. My house is 3yrs old and I recently added moisture proof drywall over the lower 6 of the original drywall. I have a couple questions as I read through the different posts: Though now I have another concern. Ive already pressure washed w/just water, scraped with wire brush & scraper. Im not sure if it has been painted since it was built. I started prepping a concrete block wall that is part of a semi-finished stairwell outside my house that leads to an unfinished basement (the blocks are below ground). 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. If I use a quality paint will my paint job last . Unpainted concrete block needs to be primed before the application of the finish paint. Do you foresee any problems with only prepping the 3 panels Im concerned with? Possible french drain with sump pump could also help, if applicable. What do I prime it with? The mildew stains might need an additional treatment with a shellac or oil based stain blocking primer, BIN or Kilz. Graining will be a problem, normally this is done on a piece that is horizontal. Your call. Same goes for under the deck, a pain but if it is visible then it should be painted. It will work fine as a 2 coat system as long as it is applied thick enough and worked into the pores. Or are we stuck with trying to paint over the chipping red areas in grey? The only other option is to scrape and paint. With that said, sounds like you are have a good understanding your needs and doing everything correctly and in proper order. What are your thoughts on Loxon primer, maybe even the combined primer and topcoat version. If its not fully dry is that an issue? You advise is highly appreciated. Thank you. We had a new concrete block addition as well as stuff that had not been touched in 20 years of Florida sun. 1) Yes, the block walls can be painted. I dont know if a bonding primer is needed, I would think not. Go ahead an caulk everything in before the primer, this is fine. I think I am now ready to paint and wanted to know if using an elastomeric paint would be a good choice? If you want to prime use the Zinsser 123. Are you saying I still should remove all the caulking, and prime it & seal it, and then recaulk my window? I just dont know what paint to by at Lowes. #3 Paint will work reasonably well but will require periodic maintenance, remove loose paint and primer before painting. But adding a texture could be problematic.
If a lot of water droplets form under the plastic then wait a bit. If your foundation has sealer, like black tar, then these areas will need scraping and priming. Is there a way to seal these blocks so that I can carry them around without getting chips and dust absolutely everywhere? Hi, I have a couple of follow-up questions. Thank you very much! There isnt a primer that can penetrate through paint and glue it down, wish there was. It had a small backsplash from the 50s. My house was built in 1985 and the basement is unfinished with cinder block. No actual water just damp feeling. Signs of excessive water will be staining and bubbling of the finish coat. I have 67 feet of an exterior 40 year old cinder block wall on my property. The biggest problem you will have is paint bubbling from water coming through the walls. No need to go with flat unless that is your preferred sheen. The dry lock can be painted over if wanted. cinder fences This is because the concrete surface of the cinder blocks is rough and porous, so you need a primer to create a smooth and solid surface that the paint can adhere to without being absorbed! (Sump pump installed with drain tile) The walls are crumbly in some spots and there looks like there may be mold. The house doesnt have any moisture problem by condensation, guess its not a problem solved with paint. Its just a bit drab, so Id like to lighten it up. Sandblasting is an option as long as no damage occurs. Powdery deposits or a powdery surface should be primed after washing. I have some Kilz Mold and Mildew Primer and the Restoration Primer. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Interesting choice that will look good, as compared to regular paint. Shouldnt window caulking have been done differently, not attached to loose paint? Theres always better primers, STIX by Insl-X is really good but expensive. Problem for another day! Do I need to be concerned about heat resistance when I select a paint? I am assuming the last paint was acrylic because that is most of what is peeling away from the white oil-based underneath. I have a cinder block construction barn. 
Polyurethane caulkings must be primed before painting, oil base primer. Using the Dryloc isnt overkill but might not be necessary. This would be a good idea if you add grout lines. If this isnt a well protected wall then your hard work will most likely crack, peel, flake or fade sooner than later. I recently gutted and renovated my kitchen. The biggest thing with cinder blocks is their pores, lots of them. For a better seal use Drylok as a primer. My plan based on what Ive read above and researched is to pressure wash the exterior walls and then apply the acrylic block filler as a primer and then come back over with DryLoc waterproof paint. I dont know if what is on the wall is a block sealant or plain old paint? Maybe oil-based Zinsser? Use a very good caulk, prefer urethane sealants whenever possible. It looks awful, it is the first week of September in Michigan, I work and I am not a young gal anymore. I would love to use an airless paint sprayer too if I can find one that the primer will work with. A roller will do this just fine. Im not familiar with Bondcrete but from what I read it should have sealed the pores and act like a block fill primer, neutralize the surface ph and ready it for the paint. Hi,
Cinder blocks are just concrete, so any paint that works for concrete will work perfectly for the cinder blocks. Plus it does this faster and easier than most paints. The rest shouldnt need priming but you can test the original paint by rubbing the paint some alcohol, rubbing or denatured. When it still leaked I called the waterproofer. I see Lowes sells Valspar Masontry, Stucco & Brick paint that contains a primer which allegedly works in one coat. The paint contractor is going to power wash scrape and then caulk and do 2 coats of the Elastomeric coating in the way we have read to do it, spray back roll cure between coats. And he could be right. A standard universal acrylic primer will be fine. Choosing a thicker paint, like an elastomeric coating will also help fill the pores. 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. It would be best to apply the texture (new stucco finish coat or ??) Same hold true for the elstomeric. We have to reseal basement cinderblock. Or use your mortar mix, add extra portland cement and lime. Prime everything. Should I put a finish coat over the dry lock in the back room or will that work fine as a finish coat? It may not display this or other websites correctly. Do you recommend paint or stain for unpainted exterior split faced block. High temperatures do affect painting, including concrete blocks. One vendor suggested using a colored stain and top-coating with a sealer which would finish-out glossy (and hence be cleanable). You will encounter two types of block, smooth and split-face. Essentially, you can use regular paint, as long as you use the right type of primer! The previously painted blocks shouldnt need anything as long as they are clean and in good shape. Any good quality acrylic paint will work just fine without sanding. This type of primer will soak into all the pores of the rough texture of the cinder block surface, sealing them so that the paint doesnt get absorbed into them. The only primer that can glue down edges is Peel Stop, used on old homes that have old cracked paint. Use a acrylic block filler primer to fill the pores then paint. The sheen isnt a problem. If you were to stain your cinder blocks, then there isnt really any need to use a primer. Is that a good plan or is that overkill? It will show. Or, should I use some other brand for best adherence longevity? The interior is easy.
Also do you recommend Valspar or a different paint? Bleach and TSP is the best solution but you can also use bleach with no-rinse TSP substitute or a mild dish soap. The wall has been painted by the previous 0wners, but Im looking to apply a new color. Use an acrylic bonding primer, Zinsser 123. You can prime and paint immediately. I also dont know what the material is and am hesitant to keep messing with it. The block if fully cured and has a stable PH and open pores. Thank you so much for your help. nice thread. Id like to make one wall look like each block is a piece of wood. Just getting ready to move into a house with a exterior fireplace box and chimney of cinderblock that has been previously been painted which has now been severely worn away. What is the Best Paint for Cinder Block Walls? It has been repainted a number of times and layers are peeling off. You should be fine since the surface is already sealed as long as it is dry to the touch. Thank you again. Apply to all surfaces, inside and out several coats, until saturated with sealer. 100% lambs wool covers work best. The only difference with what I outlined is I prefer to caulk in everything after the primer, often Im dealing with a degraded substrate and need to stabilize it before caulking. Priming depends on the sealer used and the condition of the block. I have a 30 year old cinder block shop, outside painted white and the inside is unpainted. I realize that I will need to clean off any drywall patching mud and paint that has landed on the blocks but it will not be possible for me to wash the area as I have heavy equipment that will be difficult to move at this time. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. 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. Painted walls will need all loose and peeling paint removed. The worst that can happen is you will need to repaint that wall sooner than you expected due to thinning the paint too much. 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 have a recently constructed cmu shop and just finished aggressively pressure washing the interior walls for paint. Make sure to use enough paint and work it well to fill these pores. Want to know best process to get this one home repainted. I would wait for a few days, maybe 5-7 days, for excess moisture to leave then prime and paint as usual. Regarding my 2 windows in my block wall, are you saying if its a good acrylic caulking & is stuck good to my window, which it is, to leave it & just apply more of the same caulking? Greetings, we just purchased a house in SoCal and we would like to have my backyard exterior block wall painted. This is a huge house and its breaking u$ ! Your email is never published nor shared. Temperature, wind sun exposure all change how fast the primer will dry. Stain can provide a look that paint just cant, like a semi-transparent masonry stain or white wash. 1 very good option is using a quality exterior flat mixed 50/50 with Seal-Krete. Im looking for a semi gloss finish. Prime the whole thing with an oil based primer, like Zinsser Cover Stain. An oil based general surface primer will be good, like Zinsser Coverstain or equivalent. The paint is not peeling noticeably anywhere. Will Zissner 123 primer and then a good acrylic paint cover the mildew stains and new mortar joints? Originally I was planning to paint the blocks a color, but now I am not sure that would be a good choice whether paint would be permanent enough or easily renewable with good appearance. wait a couple weeks before applying acrylic blockfill primer, recommended before any paint is applied. You might have to use a mild acid and wire brush to remove the residue. Can I put a sealer over it? Advice appreciated. Aghhhhh. If I forget about color and just go with sealer which one? Above all, I want to be able to clean the blocks periodically with light pressure-watching (to remove the inevitable mold, moss, and algae). Help, Help, Help!!! Im painting a block wall house that is in good condition. But, with proper prep and choice of a high quality materials maintaining the walls shouldnt be a problem. Cheap synthetic roller covers become compressed easily and will be frustrating to work with. Wed like to bring them back to natural grey. (One of your posts suggested using a satin or semi gloss finish for easier cleaning.) Drylok is a great primer that can help stabilize masonry surfaces. amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; In this cane a good interior acrylic satin or semi-gloss will work well. I am in the process of finishing my garage walls and inside garage foundation blocks. First and foremost, let me thank you for your time and the wealth of knowledge you provide on this site. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 
