Painting Concrete Block Walls

[phmade]

I'd like to paint an interior concrete block wall in my shop.  It's above grade - not in a basement.  I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations on what paint to use.  It doesn't have to be perfect, I just don't want it to peel off. 

I have 5 gallons of Sheetrock brand FirstCoat - it seems like a heavy primer with some gypsum content.  Has anyone used this?  Would it work well for concrete block walls? 

 

[tony_sheehan]

Something I've had to do a number of times over the years, never worried much about the paint. About 20 years ago or thereabouts, I painted a lot of block walls in a self storage warehouse: I just used basic vinyl matt emulsion (that's what the owner supplied me with). I still have occasion to visit that building from time to time and despite the fact that it's an unheated building meaning it gets very cold in winter and fairly hot and humid in summer there have been no problems with the walls

 

[phmade]

I'm not familiar with a vinyl matt emulsion - perhaps it goes by a different name in the US? 

 

[JSlovic]

I used SW loxon concrete primer in a similar application worked well and looks great
PS is the Columbus Bar &Grill still around ? I had many a tenderloin sandwich there

 

[tony_sheehan]

I'm not familiar with a vinyl matt emulsion - perhaps it goes by a different name in the US?

Sorry, I thought it might've been called something else in the US; it's like, the most basic wall paint you can buy. Just roll it on, 2 or 3 coats- so long as there's no dampness in the wall it'll be just fine (as I say, that's what I've always done with no probs afterwards)

 

[Slartibartfass]

I would not paint instead use a thin coat of plaster. Available even in color. No danger of peeling and it breathes and is mold resistant.

Did this in my basement and looks really good (old foundation walls).

See: http://www.paintandplasters.com/categories/Marmorino-Venetian-Plaster/

Or: http://www.paintandplasters.com/products/Ruralis-Lime-Intonachino-4-Gallon.html (thats the one I used)

 

[peter halle]

I'll bet that [member=13337]Scott B.[/member]  will chime in.  On commercial jobs like the big box stores we used to specify a block filler to be applied first to help fill the pores of the block.  That helped with the final painting and making sure that there was a more uniform surface.

Peter

 

[phmade]

Thanks for the replies.  I think I'll try the primer that I have(Sheetrock First Coat); the wall isn't damp and the surface finish isn't too important.  If it peels off, then I'll know not to use that in the future!

JSlovic - I've not heard of the Columbus Bar and Grill - maybe it changed names?  I've only lived here about 3 years - but there are several places with amazing tenderloins!  Did you live in Columbus?

 

[Gargoo]

Missing some information.  Is it new block? If older does it have an existing coating on it now? Or is it natural?  If it's existing natural block, I like 100 percent acrylic primer and 100 percent acrylic finish coat. Both of these will have great adhesion and will allow moisture to pass through  to help in preventing  film failure.