How to Paint a Concrete Block Home
While it is not considered a traditional finish for the outside of a home, concrete block construction offers a number of benefits worth considering: it is very durable, offers a good deal of extra insulation from heat and cold and is relatively easy to paint. It is critical to get the painting right, however, because unfinished or improperly painted concrete block construction can result in a lot of maintenance problems and ultimately may compromise the integrity of the home.
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Things You'll Need
- Pressure washer
- Masonry cleaning solution
- Acrylic block fill primer
- Caulk gun
- Polyurethane caulk
- Elastomeric caulk
- Acrylic outdoor paint
- Paint sprayer
- Paint rollers
Instructions
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1
Pour some of the masonry cleaning solution into the water chamber of the pressure washer, according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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2
Pressure wash the entire surface of the block walls (avoid spraying windows). Hold the spray tip about 12 inches from the surface, and move it back and forth horizontally. You can move the tip closer to concentrate the pressure for stuck-on bits of dirt and old paint.
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3
Allow the walls to dry thoroughly.
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4
Spray on a thick coat of the acrylic block fill primer. Coverage should be about 1 gallon per 200 square feet. Allow the primer to dry completely according to manufacturer's instructions.
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5
Caulk all expansion joints in the wall with polyurethane caulk.
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6
Caulk around windows and doors with elastomeric caulk.
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7
Roll on the acrylic paint, preferably with lamb's wool rollers, which will last longer and provide more even coverage than synthetic rollers.
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Tips & Warnings
Pressure washers and paint sprayers can be rented from local equipment rental firms.
Make sure to do all painting and caulking during stretches of dry, sunny weather.
References
- Photo Credit Pavement image by Ungor from Fotolia.com
