Painting a cinderblock wall

[MotionMan]

We just had a new cinderblock wall installed that I want to paint.

It is 40' x 6'.

What kind of paint do I need to use?
Can I use a paint sprayer?
Anything else special I need to know?

MotionMan

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Here ya go.

 

[edro]

Are you trying to keep moisture out?
If so, use a penetrating primer/sealer, such as Zinsser or Drylok first.
Then use standard paints on top.

I wouldn't use spray paint, as cinder block is very porous and a brushed/rolled on paint would fill a lot of the voids that spray paint wouldn't.
If you roll it on, use a thicker nap roller.

 

[MrChad]

There are primers available for concrete and masonry that will dry tacky so latex paint will adhere properly.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Block Filler with a 1/2 inch nap. After that the wall is sealed and you can use whatever paint you want.

 

[glen]

I painted my cinder block house with a roller.
My neighbor, also cinder block, used a sprayer.
The sprayer is the way to go.

 

[MotionMan]

I painted my cinder block house with a roller.
My neighbor, also cinder block, used a sprayer.
The sprayer is the way to go.

What kind of prep did you do?

MotionMan

 

[vi edit]

Yep. Masonry primer (roll it on) then use whatever you want. The masonry primer is too thick to spray. It's almost a paste. Make sure you have the store shake it up for you and use immediately.

 

[edro]

Make sure you have the store shake it up for you and use immediately.

Right! Trying to mix that stuff by hand takes a while and is never as good as the store's mixer. It separates much more than regular paint too.

 

[glen]

What kind of prep did you do?

MotionMan

The walls already had some sort of prep on it.
I would guess it was Drylok from the look of it.
Calla couple of paint stores and see what tehy say about prep work.
If you can spray it, do so.
Otherwise, roll the prep work and spray the paint with a rented sprayer.
It took a month almost to paint my house, and the exact same house brick for brick is next door. They had a sprayer and did 2 coats in 3 days.