Painting block walls

[durbancic]

Hey guys, will be closing on my new house Friday, and was just wondering how to tackle painting the inside of the garage. It is concrete block walls. I know from reading that I should do a semi-gloss or a gloss white paint, in order to have plenty of light. I would like to maybe do a grey on the bottom third of the walls. What would be the best paint to use, prep to do for these walls.

Also, should I paint the ceiling?? It is 2x6 planking in some spots, OSB in others.

-dan

 

[BillK]

Dan,
It has already been painted once, that will make it easier for the next coat. Go to a local paint store ( a real one like Sherwin Williams, Duron etc, not Home Depot ) and ask them what they have for paint for your application. In our last shop we used Benjamin Moore but it was bare cinder block. We used a block filler, then semi gloss enamel.

As far as the ceiling goes, I would definitely paint it white.... you will be amazed at how much brighter it will be in the garage. Use a primer first, then the white. I would use simi gloss there too.

With two people working, the way to do it would be to have one person spraying, and the second person back rolling it.

 

[HacksawsGarage]

i agree that you need to consider whats already on the wall when deciding what to go paint over it with.

looks like a great garage, and considering its a new to you house, i applaud your priorities! good luck!

 

[brownbagg]

just use some cheap white paint, its a garage for god sake, it be dirty in two weeks, you going to repaint it every five years anyway.

if its not dirty, you dont know how to work a garage

 

[durbancic]

Well, I just want to get some paint up there really quick, because once I get it loaded up with stuff, I will be busy working on the house. The house is a foreclosure that we are only paying $36,000 for. Needless to say, we have some work ahead of us...the house has been vacant for at least 2.5 years.

-dan

 

[boiler7904]

You probably want to clean the walls with TSP or a similar product and let it dry for a couple of days before painting with a decent exterior grade semi-gloss paint.

Definitely paint the ceiling white - it reflects a lot of light.

Like others have said, use a real paint store like Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, etc. It will cost slightly more but you get a better product and knowledgeable service that can answer questions.

If you have a Sherwin Williams store nearby, you can sign up for their preferred customer program at the website. You'll get a coupon for signing up and then they let you know about each preferred customer only sale (usually monthly). The savings will rack up pretty quickly. For instance there was one this past weekend where all Duration paint was 20% off, all other paint and stain was 30% off, and tools / supplies were either 20% or 25% off.

 

[durbancic]

You probably want to clean the walls with TSP or a similar product and let it dry for a couple of days before painting with a decent exterior grade semi-gloss paint.

Definitely paint the ceiling white - it reflects a lot of light.

Like others have said, use a real paint store like Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, etc. It will cost slightly more but you get a better product and knowledgeable service that can answer questions.

If you have a Sherwin Williams store nearby, you can sign up for their preferred customer program at the website. You'll get a coupon for signing up and then they let you know about each preferred customer only sale (usually monthly). The savings will rack up pretty quickly. For instance there was one this past weekend where all Duration paint was 20% off, all other paint and stain was 30% off, and tools / supplies were either 20% or 25% off.

Yeah, we are actually going to be using sherwin williams. I have a buddy that works there, so we can use his discount...sometimes up to 50% off!!!

 

[bochnak]

My garage is block inside and out. I used a block filler from home depot that was about $10/gal....it soaked up 13 gallons inside and out!!!! I used the largest nap @ 1.5 or 1.75" , I forget. You basically mop the walls at this point!!! I really recommend that you roll it. Expect to break the freakin' rollers due to the weight of all that paint and large nap.

After the block filler, I used SW pro mar or a-100 exterior GLOSS WHITE. Huge difference in light reflection. Gloss will make easy clean up as well. I only went with 1 coat of gloss, and looks really good.

This is all above grade, right?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11430

 

[safetyfast]

I sprayed on white oil based barn paint on my block walls. Still looks good a year later.

 

[durbancic]

bochnak:

Well, half of the wall is below grade, half of it is above grade.

 

[HacksawsGarage]

sw makes all kinds of industrial grade paint. its unbeleiveable really. think of everything that can have paint, from hospitals to battleships.

 

[bochnak]

bochnak:

Well, half of the wall is below grade, half of it is above grade.

The block filler I used, and I'm sure most are alike, is not recommenced below grade. I believe there is a product called Dry-Lock for this application?

 

[durbancic]

The block filler I used, and I'm sure most are alike, is not recommenced below grade. I believe there is a product called Dry-Lock for this application?

Well, the walls already have a previous layer of paint from the previous owner, as you can see in the pictures. I am not planning on taking that off...I am going to wash it down though.

 

[duggie]

just use some cheap white paint, its a garage for god sake, it be dirty in two weeks, you going to repaint it every five years anyway.

if its not dirty, you dont know how to work a garage

I agree ...

I used the cheapest Walmart special paint ($10-$15 a gallon) for my garage and used semi-gloss because I don't like the "mirror reflection" with a gloss paint. No point in spending o'ton of money on paint ... when you can spend it on tools or toys to fill the garage !!!

 

[adams77]

Cinder block walls and OSB ceiling............

Reminds me of my shop.

Find 3-4 teenagers and give them an assortment of spray colors.