I need a concrete guru!?

Question

Stone basement walls have been cemented and then skim coated with concrete (circa 1938). There are bubbles in places from what I assume is moisture damage or possibly flood damage from years ago (1972 as indicated). I am knocking this stuff off and recoating to make it all appear smooth and uniform.

I want to paint it... should I use a primer first or is paint made for concrete good enough on it's own?

Answer 1

You will want/need to apply a sealer over the concrete before you paint it. Before you coat anything, you have to let the concrete cure out. You can check this by taping a square of plastic to the wall. If you get any water stain on the wall under it, or moisture on the plastic, it's not ready.

Answer 2

Basically, the basement will always be damp, the wall border the earth and moisture penetrates the walls annually and hamper whats ever is against it.
If you chip and then paint, it will brown out or even mildew if not treated 1st.
Clean the walls to stone an summer months when moisture is at its least; paint the wall lavishly with hydraulic patch, let dry thoroughly and then seal with concrete sealer then paint with primer then final application.
in basements moisture has to go somewhere each year, so when you follow up the second yr, do the same to those area that leak.
for floors, fine the lowest spot, dig a 12 x 12" hole, place a sml sump pump inside and leave it...it'll remove the water to an outside point you've placed a hose from the pump to the hole or doorway...maybe a washer drainage pipe.

Answer 3

You will want to put a sealer on it first. After that you should prime it and paint in accordance with the paint manufacturer's instructions. There are a lot of different types of suitable paints so make sure you follow the directions on whatever type you get.

Answer 4

Breath that sealer and end up dead make sure theres PLENTY of ventilation