How to Paint a Clay Basement
Older homes may have a sense of charm and individualism, but you pay for that by having an out-of-code building, crumbling infrastructure and out-of-date hardware. Basements in homes built before 1950 can be nothing more than dirt holes, cinder blocks on dirt or even clay bricks. Red clay bricks were a common building material in older homes, and they need to be waterproofed and painted to protect them from damage due to water leakage or mold. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Waterproof masonry sealer
- Masonry paint and primer
- 2 to 3 paint rollers
- 2 to 3 paint pans
- Wire brush (optional)
- Wet sander (optional)
Instructions
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Make sure the clay in the basement is not crumbling. If it is, you cannot paint it and may need to replace it. Your walls must also be dry. If there is water leaking through the clay, stop it before you seal the walls and paint them. If you seal the walls while they're wet, the sealant may not stick, and if it does, it may trap the moisture in the walls causing rot and decay. Take care of both of these problems before sanding, scrubbing, sealing or painting your clay walls.
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Remove any old paint or sealer by scrubbing with a wire brush. Depending on the instructions for your masonry sealer, you may need to water sand the wall to roughen up the surface. A wet sander works by shooting out water as you sand. You will only need a light sanding. You can purchase or rent a wet sander, depending on your needs. Allow your walls to dry for several days before painting.
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Apply the waterproof masonry sealer according to the manufacturer's directions using a paint roller. Pour a small amount of sealer into the paint pan. Roll the roller into the sealer, and roll it onto the wall. Apply 2 to 3 coats, allowing each coat to dry for 24 hours between each coat. Colored and clear sealers are available. If you would still like to paint or over the sealer, proceed to the next step.
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Paint the clay walls using masonry primer and paint. Masonry paint comes in several different types from oil to latex. Some paint includes the primer; other brands sell the primer and paint separately. If you have separate cans of primer and paint, apply the primer first by pouring a small amount in the pan and rolling the roller in it. Apply the primer to the wall. Follow the same steps with the paint once the primer has dried after 24 hours. You may need to paint 2 to 3 coats, allowing each coat to dry for 24 hours between applications.
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Tips & Warnings
Check for white streaks on your clay, which is the primary sign of water damage on masonry such as clay walls. It is called efflorescence and can show a greater problem of water damage. You may need to call a professional to check your walls for structural damage before you paint.
