How to Paint a Stone Basement in Winter
Most people love the look of a stone basement and would shudder at the thought of painting over such an expensive, valuable surface. However, over the years, many stone basements become dirty, dingy and stained, creating an atmosphere that resembles more of a dungeon than an extra room. A fresh coat of paint can rejuvenate the look of an old stone basement, but you have to know the proper preparation and application techniques or you're likely to end up with a finish that won't hold up over time. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Space heater
- Chemical degreaser
- Coarse brush
- Pressure washer
- Blue painter's tape
- Latex primer
- 5-gallon bucket
- 2 nap roller covers
- Roller frame
- Roller extension pole
- 3- to 4-inch latex paintbrush
- Latex paint
Instructions
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1
Run the heater the entire time you are working on the basement. Use a space heater if you do not have central heating that vents into the basement.
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2
Scrub away any greasy or oily areas from the floor using a chemical degreaser and a coarse brush.
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3
Clean the walls and flooring using a pressure washer. Allow the surfaces to dry before continuing.
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4
Protect any areas you do not want painted by covering them with blue painter's tape.
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5
Pour latex primer into the 5-gallon bucket. Fill it about halfway. Attach the nap cover to the frame. Screw the frame into the extension pole.
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6
Apply primer to the walls of the stone basement using the roller. Begin in one corner and roll vertically, working from left to right.
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7
Apply primer to areas of the stone basement walls that proved inaccessible to the roller using the 3- to 4-inch latex paintbrush.
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8
Apply primer to the floor of the stone basement using the roller. Start in one corner and work from left to right. Be careful to avoid becoming trapped by painting yourself into a corner.
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9
Use the paintbrush to apply primer to areas of the stone basement floor that were inaccessible to the roller. Allow the primer to dry for four full hours.
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10
Clean all painting tools using warm water.
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11
Apply paint to the walls and flooring of the stone basement in the same manner as you did primer in steps five, six, seven, eight and nine. Use a new nap roller cover.
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Tips & Warnings
Although paint will dry even in cold weather, it may not cure properly unless temperatures are warm. If temperatures are below 40 degrees, it's vital that you heat the basement before, during and a few hours after the application process.
