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How To Paint a Basement Wall

How To Paint a Basement Wall

What You Should Know Before You Begin

Walk around your basement, running your hands on the top and bottom of your walls to check for moisture. Seepage can further damage walls by getting trapped under your paint, so the first order of business is finding and repairing any leaks. If you’re a contractor, you can do this yourself, and if not, find a contractor experienced in finishing basements.

Place furniture in the center of the basement away from the walls, or move them into another room. Lay drop cloths along the walls to keep paint from hitting them. The thicker your drop cloth, the more effective it will be against the viscous primers and paints you’ll be using.

Open any windows in your basement to promote air circulation. If you’re painting concrete walls or cinder block walls, masonry paint can be toxic. For basements without windows, point fans at an open basement door to remove fume buildup. 

Safety gear–gloves, long sleeves, a mask or respirator, and goggles or glasses–will help keep sealer, primer, and paint off your face and skin. Use a paint scraper and wire brush to remove the old paint off the walls. Use your paint scraper to remove all of the old paint off the surface of the walls with back and forth strokes. If your basement walls have never been painted before, feel free to skip this step.

Steps To Painting A Basement Wall

Remove Debris

Use sandpaper with a grit of 40-80 to sand down the walls with circular strokes, covering each area three to four times. Complete this step even if your walls are not painted. Wear your safety gear to keep dust and debris from irritating your skin or eyes.

After sanding the walls, take a dry cloth and wipe down the walls, removing any excess dust and debris. Wipe down baseboards if they’ve collected dust, and if you don’t have a drop cloth, vacuum your floor to keep from kicking up dust onto your fresh paint job.

Apply Cement

Using hydraulic cement, fill in any cracks in your grout, cinderblock, or concrete walls. You’ll need a mud pan, and a putty knife or trowel to apply the cement. Use the putty knife to smooth the cement over and scrape excess concrete off. For thin cracks in plaster walls or stucco walls, use waterproof caulk. For holes in your drywall, use a standard joint compound to fill them in.           

Apply Paint

Painter’s tape will not stick to concrete or cinder block walls, but you can apply it to baseboards and wood joists if you have them. Use painter’s tape on window frames and anything else you want to keep dry. 

Lay down a coat of waterproof primer with a paint roller. Use white primer if your walls are going to be a lighter paint color, and gray primer if you’re going with something darker like red or blue. For concrete or cinder block walls, apply a layer of masonry sealant instead of primer. 

Roll over each section two to three times to ensure every pore is being filled in with sealant. Wait 24-48 hours for your primer to dry before moving on to the next step. If you’re using sealant, wait 24-72 hours before moving on. 

Apply the Final Coat of Paint

Using a natural roller with a thick nap, roll the paint onto the larger areas of the walls with vertical strokes. Cover each area three to four times to ensure the pores are getting filled in. Avoid the three to six inches from the edges of the walls–you can hit these areas later with a thin brush.

For concrete or cinder block walls, avoid using foam rollers because the porous walls will rip the fabric apart. Be sure to purchase several rollers in case one or two become shredded. 

Use an angled brush to finish the trim. Wait two to three days before applying a second coat using the same exact method as before. Wait another two to three days before moving furniture back along the wall after the paint has dried.

Is It Okay to Paint Basement Walls?

Check for Water Damage & Mold

As long as you follow the steps outlined here, it is perfectly fine to paint your basement walls. The most important thing is to check for water damage and mold before painting basement walls. If unchecked mold and seepage is still prevalent after your paint job, it can ruin all your work.

What Type of Paint Should You Use for Basement Walls? 

For concrete and cinder block walls, use epoxy paint. Epoxy paint is durable, stain-resistant, and can cover up the porous surfaces quite well.

What Tools Should You Use?

You can mostly use the same tools you would use to paint walls in the rest of your home to paint basement walls. It’s just important to make sure you have the proper tools and paint for the kind of basement wall that you have. If your basement walls are made of drywall or plaster, normal foam rollers or brushes are a great choice. If they’re made of concrete or cinder block, however, nap rollers are the best option.

How Pizzazz Painting Can Help Finish Your Basement

Pizzazz Painting is South Jersey’s premier name in interior, exterior, and commercial painting. Our painters are masters of their craft, and have the high-quality materials necessary to turn your basement walls into a work of art. No matter how big or small, Pizzazz Painting we’ll make sure your basement walls are thoroughly cared for from start to finish.

Call Pizzazz Painting today to speak with one of our painters in Moorestown, and get started on the path towards a more vibrant home.

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