How to Refinish Exterior Cement Basement Walls

Refinishing exterior cement basement walls is not a hard task. With few simple paint tools you can complete the job in a day or, at most, a weekend. Painting the exterior basement walls will help keep the concrete from eroding and retaining moisture over time.

Things You'll Need

• Power washer
• 6-inch roller pad
• 6-inch roller frame
• Paint tray
• 2-inch angled paint brush
• Garage floor and concrete paint

Instructions

Power Wash and Paint

1. Power-wash the exterior basement walls. The exterior basement walls are usually constructed out of concrete blocks. This part of the house collects the most dirt and is also prone to the growth of moss. Use the power washer to completely clean the basement walls. You can also use a scrub brush and a bucket of water if you do not have a power washer.

2. Allow the exterior basement walls to completely dry before painting. The concrete may appear to be dry shortly after washing, but it is a porous material. It is best to wait at least 2 hours before painting.

3. Use garage floor and concrete paint for durability. This type of paint is designed to adhere to concrete more effectively than exterior latex house paint. Even though this paint can be cleaned up with water, it is a strong epoxy-based paint.

4. Use the 6-inch roller pad and frame to paint the large areas of the concrete. Use the paint brush to paint the top of the basement wall and the portion closest to the ground. Using the paint brush in these areas will keep you from hitting the brick, siding with the roller or dragging dirt into the paint.

5. Allow the paint to completely dry. The humidity will affect the drying time. Some concrete paints will dry within 2 hours. The paint will be completely dry when it is no longer tacky or sticky to the touch.

References

• More Ways to Paint Concrete