 |
|
Triple master contractor Ed Del Grande
|
By Ed Del Grande
Q: Ed, I'm a professional painter, and I have a job coming up in a basement. The homeowner wants to paint the concrete with foundation-sealing paint. I'm a good painter and know how to prep wood and/or sheetrock walls, but what's the best way to prep a concrete wall before painting? Stacy (Alabama)
A: Stacy, I can tell that you are a very good painter because only a good contractor would know that proper preparation of the surface is the key to any quality paint job. And you asked around before you started the job to get all the correct information. The good news with today's concrete paints and coatings, the specialized instructions for the type of paint you are using should be right on the can itself, so check the manufacturer's recommendations first.
But basically, you need to locate any chalky white areas, called efflorescence, on the foundation walls. These spots are caused by dampness escaping through the concrete. Scrape and wash the efflorescence away with a wire brush and a recommended interior concrete cleaner. Also, fill any cracks or holes with special cement called "hydraulic cement."
Once the walls are cleaned and repaired, apply the paint with a short, wide, stiff plastic bristle brush so you can really work the paint into the foundation walls. Paint it in small sections at a time, because this is a very physical job. Unlike concrete, this job is a lot harder than you might expect!
Ed Del Grande was born and raised in a family-owned plumbing business. With more than 25 years of experience in every aspect of construction, he holds current Master licenses in pipefitting, fire protection and plumbing. If you have a question for Ed, send him an e-mail at eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.
| 
)
