Wall Preparation for Painting

• 1). Clean your basement walls to remove stains, dirt, mold and mildew or efflorescence, which is a whitish residue that indicates water and humidity seepage through the concrete, bringing with it minerals. Apply straight vinegar heavily with a spray bottle and allow it to sit for five or 10 minutes. Alternatively, use a specialty concrete and grout cleaner that contains phosphoric acid, applying it according to product directions.
  
  
• 2). Scrub the walls using a stiff-bristled brush or scouring pad. Squirting additional vinegar or cleaner as you work ensures saturation. This step, often referred to as acid etching, primes the wall for painting and is essential to protecting your paint. The finish does not stick to oils and dirt, so efflorescence cause the paint to bubble and peel away in few years.
  
  
• 3). Use a rented power washer to rinse the wall if you have concrete floors with drains. For carpeted and finished areas, fill a bucket with water and wipe the walls down with a sponge or cloth. Changing the water frequently ensures a thorough rinsing. Allow the walls to air dry completely and determine the efflorescence is gone. Repeat the cleaning as needed if contaminants remain.
  
  
• 4). Fill cracks and gouges larger than one-eighth inch thick with a mortar, or an epoxy and latex cement designed for concrete crack repair. Pack the blemish with the concrete material using a trowel or putty knife. Stuffing the opening ensures all air pockets are gone. Allow it to dry for the time specified in the product instructions, and then sand smooth with the surrounding wall. Hairline cracks don't require a patch, as they will fill during the waterproofing treatment.
  
  
• 5). Squirt caulk around any openings, such as dryer vents, cable line openings and windows, as necessary. This waterproofs your concrete basement walls further while increasing energy efficiency.
  
  
• 6). Spread a plastic sheet or drop cloth across the floor and furniture if splattering and dripping paint is an issue. Tape off areas such as window or door trim to make painting easier.
  
  

Sealing and Painting

• 1
  Consider painting your walls with a theme or special effect.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Pour a paint tray full of a silicate-based penetrating sealer. Use a roller, switching to a brush in small areas and corners, to apply an even layer of sealer to the concrete walls. Apply the thickness of coat specified in the product instructions. Work from the top of the wall down and across in sections. The sealer also acts as a paint primer. While various waterproofing sealers exist, silicate-based sealers react with lime and alkaline materials and also expand and harden to seal and bond the concrete.
  
  
• 2). Apply a second coat unless one layer is specified by the manufacturer. Generally, two thin coats are superior to one thick coat when working with sealers, primers and paint. Allow the walls to dry between each layer of sealer and of paint.
  
  
• 3). Switch to a fresh roller and fill a clean paint tray with your choice of paints. Specialized masonry paint is ideal. Roll and brush the paint on, covering the walls with two thin layers, as you did with the sealer. Allow each layer to dry between applications.
  
  
• 4). Texture the walls if desired by blotting the final layer of paint with a sponge, touching with a trash bag or tissue paper, or spotting with splashes of another color, applied with a makeup brush or small sponge. Only your imagination is the limit.