How to Paint a Cinder Block Wall

Prime the wall before you paint.

Ordinary, drab cinder block walls are not particularly beautiful. Fortunately, you can transform the appearance of block walls by refinishing them with the appropriate paint. Before you slap a new finish on your cinder block walls, understand a critical point. Unlike porous surfaces like wood and drywall, cinder block is poorly-suited for paint adhesion. You must condition the walls by applying a base primer before you paint, or flaking will ensue. Once the cinder block is properly prepared, it will take a new finish. Choose a particular paint, based on the wall's location.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy-duty fabric drop cloths
• Professional painter's tape
• Masking paper
• Latex primer
• Wooden stir stick
• 5-gallon bucket
• Roller frame
• Nap roller cover
• Roller extension pole
• Roller screen
• 2- to 3-inch latex paintbrush
• Satin or semi-gloss latex paint
• Acrylic latex primer
• Acrylic latex paint

Instructions

1. Apply masking paper and painter's tape to areas adjacent to the cinder block wall. Cover the ground with drop cloths.

2. Open the bucket of latex primer and stir the contents for at least three full minutes, using a wood stir stick. Pour two gallons into a clean plastic 5-gallon bucket.

3. Fasten a nap roller cover to the roller frame. Connect the frame to an extension pole.

4. Dip the nap roller cover into the bucket and saturate it with primer. Remove excess, dripping primer from the nap cover by rolling it against the roller screen.

5. Coat the cinder block wall with primer, using the roller. Start in the upper-left corner of the block wall and roll vertically, moving from your left to your right. Dip the roller as it becomes parched.

6. Apply primer to tight, awkward areas, inaccessible to the bulky roller, using a 2- to 3-inch latex paintbrush. Wait a minimum of two hours for the primer to dry.

7. Wash your painting tools with water.

8. Coat the cinder block wall with paint, using the clean roller. Start in the upper-left corner of the block wall and roll vertically, moving from your left to your right. Dip the roller as it becomes parched. Allow the paint to dry for two hours. Add another coat if the primer shows through.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose an acrylic latex primer and paint if you are painting exterior cinder block.

• Choose a satin or semi-gloss latex paint if you are painting interior block walls.

• Never paint a bare, unprimed cinder block wall, or shedding will ensue.