Foundation paint for concrete: varieties, application rules

Upon completion of construction, the facade, including its basement, needs finishing. No one would refuse to do it using natural stone or beautiful decorative tiles, but the high price of such materials forces homeowners to turn their attention to more economical finishing methods. In particular, developers are interested in how and what to paint the outside of the house foundation.

You can paint the entire facade, not just the foundation

Materials and tools for work

Before you start painting the foundation of a cement house, you should prepare everything you need.

To apply paint you will need:

• different brushes and rollers with bristles, as they are more resistant to wear from contact with concrete;
• wire brush, water hose;
• shovel;
• individual protection means.

To prepare the surface for painting, you will need cement to seal cracks and chipped areas. In addition, it is necessary to prepare a primer mixture to reduce the absorption of the concrete surface, thereby reducing paint consumption.

You will also have to decide what is the best way to paint the foundation of the house, calculate the need for a paint composition, taking into account the characteristics of the material and its approximate consumption.

Primers and impregnations for concrete, stone and brick

First, you need to prepare the base - scrape off the peelings, embroider and repair cracks if leveling is necessary. Next, surface priming is mandatory. This will ensure better adhesion of the paint to the base and uniformity of painting, in other words, it will significantly increase the convenience of work, and as a result, the quality of painting the foundation or its basement part. At the same time, it is important to choose the right primer for concrete and brick, because manufacturers offer a huge selection of multifunctional materials and special impregnations for porous bases. However, they all work in basically the same way: they reduce the ability to absorb moisture and increase water resistance.

After careful preparation, staining is carried out. For this, manufacturers offer compositions soluble in organic solvents - they are of significantly better quality, or with water - a relatively budget option. It is worth listening to the instructions - use primers, impregnations and paints of the same type, or even better - the same manufacturer.

Requirements for paints

Today, ready-made latex paint for foundation plinths is produced in the form of a concentrated composition that requires dilution with water or solvents in a certain proportion. It is important to read the recommendations on the packaging.

The principle of interaction between paint components and foundation materials is clear - to create maximum adhesion for the protective film. It should also:

Summarizing all these factors, it becomes clear that the ideal paint for a concrete foundation should be, at a minimum, frost-resistant, moisture-resistant and vapor-permeable. Additional properties are environmental friendliness, practicality and durability.

If there is a large supply of paint left, you can use it to treat other surfaces that require protection:

• Blind area;
• Facade decor;
• Fences and fences;
• External stairs;
• Verandas and gazebos;
• Garden path edges;
• Poles for lighting gardens and areas.

Painting concrete surfaces - what are the features?

Untreated concrete base is hardened cement, porous and coarse-grained. This texture quickly begins to crumble and become dusty even with minimal impact; when moisture gets in, the concrete breaks down even faster. Water washes out some components of the composition, and at low temperatures freezes in the pores, reducing the strength of the material.

To eliminate these problems, strengthening substances are introduced into the cement mixture, and then additionally stabilized using painting, which eliminates dust, smoothes out roughness, fills the loose structure and protects from moisture, and forms a resistant film that prevents the material from crumbling.

Concrete walls, ceilings, floors, foundations and sidewalks can be painted.

Note! It’s good if the enamel has good hiding power and one layer is enough to completely change the original color of the concrete.

Materials and tools for work

For craftsmen who have confident painting skills, painting the basement of a house will not be difficult. You will need standard tools:

• Bayonet shovel for cleaning dirt;
• A hard metal brush for cleaning off deposits;
• Paint brushes and roller with attachments;
• Construction spray gun;
• Set of spatulas (trowel).

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Do-it-yourself stamped concrete: technology and recipe The set of tools may vary slightly, depending on the conditions of the work and the degree of neglect of the old foundation. A hose for rinsing under running water, brooms and brushes may be useful.

Why do you need foundation protection?

Part of the foundation underground is exposed to undesirable destructive influences; in order to preserve it, waterproofing work is immediately carried out. And the above-ground part, the base, not only at the beginning of construction, but also in the future, often for quite a long time, is used without any external finishing or any cladding. At the same time, it manages to become dilapidated, even begin to partially collapse. It becomes obvious that the foundation base needs to be painted. Let's take a closer look, name a few fundamental reasons, and then the advantages of painting the foundation and basement of the house:

• The main building materials for the construction of the foundation and basement of houses are concrete and brick. Although they have sufficient strength, condensation and temperature changes from negative to positive values ​​can spoil and destroy them in a short time. Protective painting of a concrete plinth will cover small flaws, pores of the outer surface, and protect against the formation of condensation and moisture concentration.
• In addition, protective painting of the foundation will change the appearance of the entire building for the better - imperfections will disappear, it will immediately become neater, even more respectable.
• And it is better to choose a paint that will not only prevent moisture from penetrating into the material, but will ensure its rapid removal - such protection will allow it to “breathe” and prevent the appearance of condensation.

Of course, if desired, the problem can be solved with other materials, but painting the base of a house is a good, high-quality, relatively budget-friendly alternative, a high-quality replacement for more expensive methods of finishing facades. It will no less effectively slow down the aging process and protect against aggressive environmental influences. At the same time, it will create an attractive, aesthetic appearance for the foundation and plinth of the building.

Important

: the quality of protection can be ensured only by waterproof façade materials.

Let's look at the properties of paints for concrete

Acrylic paints

Silicone paints

Due to the high degree of elasticity, no additional surface tension is created, which significantly extends the life of the paint. In addition, it perfectly withstands the influence of ultraviolet radiation, without fading and maintaining its attractiveness.

Epoxy paint

The cost of this type is quite high, but with the help of this material it is possible to protect the base not only from atmospheric influences, but also from mechanical damage.

Polyurethane paint

To achieve maximum durability, it is necessary to apply the paint in two layers. The second one needs to cover the surface after the first one has dried. Within a week the base will gain mechanical strength, and after two weeks it will become resistant to aggressive influences.

Silicate

However, there are also disadvantages to silicate paints. Among the main ones are a long drying period and a low coefficient of vapor permeability.

Alkyd

Despite the high resistance to ultraviolet radiation, it is necessary to periodically renew the surface. This should be done approximately once every three years.

Oily

This paint has a very attractive appearance and is consumed very economically, while the cost of such a paint coating is quite reasonable, which makes it not only reliable, but also profitable.

Cement

Any of the listed paint and varnish materials can make the base attractive, while providing it with additional protection from the influence of external factors. But this is only possible if the application technology is followed.

How to paint the foundation of a cement house?

The foundation is the basis of the entire house. It is this that guarantees the stability of the walls and the longevity of the house. Therefore, the foundation must be reliably protected to prevent subsequent destruction and cracks. It would seem that the cement itself is strong. However, over time it can crack and crumble. To prevent this from happening, the foundation of a cement house must be covered with special protective paints and varnishes. The construction market offers a wide range of paints, and today we will look at what paints are available and which ones are best to give preference to for the protection and long-term functioning of the foundation.

Acrylic paint. Quite popular paints and are widely used for painting the foundation of a house. The advantages of the paint include: ease of application, quick drying, good adhesion, withstands temperature changes and mechanical stress.

Latex paints. The material contains a special pigment, water, and polymers. It is not often used for painting foundations, but, nevertheless, it has a lot of advantages: fills microcracks, frost resistance, moisture resistance.

Epoxy paints. A good material that protects the foundation of a house for up to 25 years. Advantages: vapor permeability, moisture resistance, resistance to temperature changes and ultraviolet radiation, resistant to alkaline solutions.

Polyurethane paints. The paint improves the properties of concrete, is chemically resistant, frost-resistant, fills microcracks and pores of cement, and forms a protective film.

Alkyd paints. They are also very popular when painting the foundation of a cement house. The advantages include: rapid drying, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, resistance to low temperatures, economical consumption, deep penetration into cement, resistance to alkali.

Despite all this diversity, experts recommend using organosilicon paint “KO-174” when painting the foundation of a cement house. The paint can withstand high temperatures up to +150°C, while being frost-resistant, resistant to mechanical and chemical influences. Penetrates well into the pores of cement and fills all microcracks. In addition, the coating has water-repellent properties, is easy to apply and is available in a wide range of colors, which means you can paint the foundation of your house in any desired color and not only protect the concrete from the external environment, but also give it an attractive appearance.

Painting the foundation with “KO-174” paint can be carried out in winter, when the temperature can reach -35°C, and in summer, at a temperature of +40°C.

If you are looking for a reliable paint and varnish material at affordable prices, feel free to choose KO-174 paint. You can order paint from EGO LLC.

Technology for painting the base

When paint for facades and plinths has been selected, you should study the features of its application. Manufacturers usually indicate the characteristics of coloring using the composition. But there is also a general technology for applying paint to the surface.

Surface cleaning

Sealing cracks and leveling the surface

Sealing cracks

If you need to create a more durable solution, you can add a plasticizer to it. 2 days after embedding, they begin leveling the base. Further procedures are carried out after the solution has completely dried.

Surface primer

The primer is applied to a dry surface. It is important to coat the plinth thoroughly so that the compound penetrates into every crevice. This guarantees perfect paint adhesion. You can cover the wall with two layers of primer.

Primer work

This is due to the fact that after the first application the primer is almost completely absorbed by the base. You can coat the base with a primer using a brush or roller.

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Painting the base

Final coloring

Each subsequent layer is applied after the previous one has dried. Typically, the time when the base can be coated with the next layer is indicated by the manufacturer.

A painted base is not only beautiful, but also reliable. Correctly selected composition and adherence to the technology of its application will help prevent damage to the surface from the influence of external factors.

In addition, a large abundance of paints and varnishes makes it possible to embody original design ideas, where the base will become an integral element of the overall picture of the facade.

Painting the underground part of the foundation

Foundation treated with mastic on both sides

This procedure should not be neglected. The underground part of the foundation of a house is subject to numerous cyclic loads during operation. Especially in the case when groundwater in the fall can rise high to the surface of the earth due to rain. Water in the soil will first saturate the surface of the foundation, and then freeze in winter, which will first cause cracks to appear on the surface, and then they can grow deeper and destroy the concrete.

The part that is most susceptible to this is the one located close to the ground surface, so it is advisable to treat the foundation before backfilling at least a meter from the ground surface.

To protect the foundation, special waterproofing coatings are used to prevent water from entering the pores of the concrete. The simplest material for painting the underground part is a primer - a solution of bitumen in gasoline. For more reliable protection, special waterproofing compounds can be used.

You can buy a primer in a store, or prepare it yourself.

To prepare, you will need two buckets, the second one is twice the volume of the first, as well as a special ladle with a long handle. A sheet of metal is also useful, which, in the event of a fire, can be used to close the bucket and extinguish the fire.

Applying primer with a roller

Gasoline is poured into a large bucket; measure the amount using a small bucket. Then place a small bucket on the fire and throw pieces of bitumen into it. Repeat until the mixture is hot enough to stir with a stick, but not too hot that the gasoline will ignite. Then pour the melted bitumen into the gasoline using a ladle so that you are at a distance from the gasoline and mix. After this, let it sit and cool. The primer is ready.

The primer can be used not only for the underground part - it is practical for painting the base. When painted it gives a black semi-matte tint. For the walls of the basement of a house, the primer is less suitable, since the black color of the walls in a dark room is not perceived very comfortably by a person.

The best paint for the base

When deciding how to paint a concrete foundation, you should take into account the surface material of the building structure, local climatic conditions, cost, durability, surface application technology and the desired color shade.

How to paint the foundation of a house for a beautiful appearance? Depending on your financial capabilities, use alkyd or polyurethane paints. Among the colors and textures offered on the market, you are sure to find the best option.

To coat surfaces made of porous materials, silicone paints must be used. No other paint can provide them with a higher level of protection.

Do not forget about preliminary priming of the surface. This operation improves surface adhesion and ensures the durability of the paintwork. Therefore, when purchasing paint, do not forget to purchase the appropriate primer.

Which one is better to choose?

The foundation is divided into an underground part and a basement. Each of them has its own coverage. For buried foundations, use a primer based on bitumen or analogues. The main thing is to ensure reliable waterproofing and completely eliminate contact of concrete with the ground.

The outer protruding part has a decorative function, so it is carefully leveled and painted. The stone and brickwork finish looks interesting. This coating is painted with simple acrylic or latex paints.

Otherwise, it is preferable to use two-component formulations. The basement side of the foundation can simply be whitened by adding copper sulfate or another antifungal agent to the solution.

Types and characteristics of paints for protecting the base

For the lower part of the building, it is recommended to use the following types of paint for the plaster plinth:

• acrylic, diluted with water;
• alkyd, based on natural and synthetic solvents;
• silicone based;
• epoxy;
• polyurethane.

Acrylic paints

Alkyd paint and varnish compositions

Silicone based paints

Epoxy paints

They are the strongest and most durable. Ensures complete sealing of the coating. They consist of an epoxy base, a coloring pigment and a hardener, which is added to the composition just before application to the surface.

Epoxy paint can protect the base not only from precipitation, but also from strong mechanical influences. The main disadvantage of the material is its high cost.

Polyurethane coloring compounds

Preparing concrete walls for painting

The process of preparing concrete walls for painting consists of several stages.

1. Surface cleaning, which may include: removal of old oil paint, removal of mold and dirt. If the concrete is fresh, cement laitance forms on its surface, which must be sanded after the material has dried.
2. Removing dust from the surface (you can use a vacuum cleaner).
3. If there are cracks and potholes, they are filled with plaster, putty or polyurethane foam.
4. After the mixture has dried, the surface is sanded manually or with a special grinding machine and then primed.

Now you can proceed to painting, having previously carried out tinting. To do this, use a white base paint and add pigment.

Instructions for painting the base

After selecting and purchasing paint with the appropriate primer, you can begin painting the surface of the basement of the building. They include the following steps:

1. cleaning from dirt and mold;
2. primary priming;
3. sealing cracks and leveling the surface;
4. second soil treatment;
5. coloring.

Tools for painting work you will need:

• paint brushes, roller or spray gun;
• paint roller tray or other wide container;
• spatula, wire brush, hammer and chisel;
• trowel, grater and short plastering rule.

In addition, you should prepare a tool for possible mechanical removal of mortar residues and other contaminants.

Surface cleaning

Sealing cracks and leveling the surface

Before painting the base, it is necessary to repair the cracks and level it. Before performing this work, the base should be treated with deeply penetrating primer. This will bind any remaining dust particles and strengthen the concrete or brick surface.

Work on sealing cracks must be done with a cement-sand plaster mortar prepared in a ratio of 1:4. To improve the quality, it is recommended to add a plasticizer or liquid detergent to the solution.

Painting the base

Before painting, the surface must be treated with primer again twice and allowed to dry for 24 hours. This will strengthen the places where the leveling layer is applied.

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Painting scheme with a spray gun.

Painting the foundation

Finishing materials

The photo shows a special acrylic composition.

Manufacturers offer paint and varnish compositions diluted with water or solvents/thinners. Moreover, the instructions strongly recommend purchasing the appropriate primer at the same time. Only the combination of two compatible components will give an ideal result.

Which paint to choose

The material can be smooth or textured, this expands the possibilities.

1. The most commonly used are acrylic paints diluted with water. Ideal for application to concrete, brick and stone surfaces. The materials are water resistant and at the same time vapor permeable. They have good adhesion, are frost-resistant, and do not fade.
2. Polyurethane and alkyd paints. These are compositions based on organic or synthetic solvents. They do not react to alkaline environments, as well as temperature changes. They are not afraid of water, ultraviolet radiation and mechanical attacks. This type of concrete paint for a plinth will last a long time if applied in combination with a suitable primer.

1. Silicone paints. They have proven themselves well on highly porous surfaces. Suitable for both application to new bases and restoration of old ones. The lowest price does not justify the quality of the product. They do not interfere with steam emanating from the structure and allow air to pass through, but not moisture.
2. Polyvinyl acetate paints have an adhesive (PVA) base and are diluted with water. They are cheap, but wear out pretty quickly. Several cleaning cycles can significantly reduce the quality of the layer.

Painting the base with enamel.

1. Enamel compositions. These materials are based on varnish and resin or polymers and are diluted with special solvents. A number of advantages include absolute water resistance, durability, gloss, bright colors. However, they are not safe for health due to the strong chemicals in their composition. Another drawback is that the enamel layer does not allow air to pass through.
2. If it is necessary to protect the bottom of the facade from elevated temperatures, it is possible to use fire-retardant metal paints Polistil applied to an iron base. Such a base will withstand even strong heat.

Note! It is worth purchasing only waterproof materials. For example, a water-based product will not suit you for external work, since the coating will quickly dissolve from precipitation

Primers for external work

To improve the quality of the coating, the base must be primed.

For better adhesion to the base and enhancing the positive properties of the decorative coating, it is recommended to pre-prime the surface.

1. Before painting the base of the house, it doesn’t hurt to fill the entire surface with primer. For urban buildings that are often exposed to acids, alkalis, salts and other contaminants, it is worth choosing one of the breathable acrylic solvent-based primers.
2. Owners of country houses, where the environment is cleaner, may well purchase a water-dispersed analogue.

1. Manufacturers offer a wide selection of facade multifunctional acrylic primers. They improve adhesion and serve as excellent intermediaries between paint and base.
2. Materials are also available for walls with increased porosity. For example, hydrophobic impregnations. Thanks to them, the water absorption of the base surface is greatly reduced, and water resistance is increased.

Types of paints for concrete

• high and low temperatures (and their differences);
• humidity changes;
• exposure to precipitation;
• UV radiation and air pollution.

You can choose a color to suit your taste

The paint for the base must withstand both the action of all these factors at the same time, and the intense impact of one of them, for example, constant sun rays on a sunny southern façade.

Coatings designed specifically for concrete include acrylic, silicone, epoxy, polyurethane, silicate and alkyd paints. Budget option - oil, cement.

Acrylic paints

They can be recommended for protecting concrete products, fiber-cement slabs and plinths from moisture. Given their low vapor permeability, acrylic paints are not suitable for silicate substrates and lime plaster.

Concrete that is to be painted with acrylic paint must be primed with a primer from the same manufacturer. In addition to creating a high-quality coating, this protects the surface from the penetration of moisture and salt.

Silicone paints

Epoxy paint

These materials require careful cleaning and surface treatment. Suitable solvents are esters, ketones, aromatic hydrocarbons and alcohols are used as solvents.

The influence of the atmosphere is manifested in the loss of gloss of the coating, but this feature does not weaken the anti-corrosion properties of the coating, which is very important for concrete paint for foundations.

Polyurethane paint

Due to its properties, it is ideally suited for exterior work and painting the foundation/basement.

Silicate

Schwyz – town hall painted with silicate paint

Silicate paint is considered very durable and weather resistant. Its service life significantly exceeds one hundred years. An example is the town hall in the city of Schwyz in Switzerland, covered with such a coating in the 19th century.

Painting with silicate paints requires skill and experience, since liquid glass destroys metal and ceramic tiles. So it is better to entrust painting work with this material to a specialist.

Alkyd

Oily

It should be applied to a completely dry, pre-primed base - concrete or plaster.

Basement repair - procedure

You don’t have to do it manually—technical tools will help you with your work.

So, the paint for the base has been purchased, it’s time to move on to action. Fortunately, the plane is new, so there is no need to prepare it separately. The only point: you have to wait until it dries completely. After this, painting and priming can be done.

If we are talking about restoration, then everything is not so clear. This process is largely labor-intensive; the master must act very carefully and carefully.

What to do?

• The walls are carefully inspected, all peelings are cleaned off, as are crumbling fragments. If metal elements are found, it is recommended to dismantle them. The bottom line is that if the metal is painted with a zinc base, it will not be possible to obtain the desired adhesion - the facade paint will not adhere;
• When the walls are cleaned, a primer is applied. Then everything is dried - as stated in the instructions. There is nothing unusual here;
• A wide brush or roller is perfect for painting the facade. And if you want to get this or that relief, you can always use a roller that has a long pile. Texture can be created with thick paint, which has not been thinned.

Laying the base of the FBS foundation

Sand is poured onto the bottom of the prepared trench to a height of 15-20 cm, moistened, leveled and thoroughly compacted.

• Sand is poured onto the bottom of the prepared trench to a height of 15-20 cm, moistened, leveled and thoroughly compacted.
• Then a layer of crushed stone of fraction 20-40 is poured to a height of 15-20 cm and thoroughly compacted.
• It is necessary to ensure that the bedding under the blocks is level horizontally.
• Next, using a crane, the foundation pads are lowered onto the prepared bedding.

Advice! If during construction a concrete pad is not made, and the blocks are laid directly on the sand, then it is necessary to use a masonry mesh.

How to decipher the alphanumeric markings of FBS blocks

The first three letters indicate the type of block (F - foundation, B - block, C - solid)

For example, FBS 24.3.6-P means:

• The first three letters indicate the type of block (F - foundation, B - block, C - solid);
• Three numbers separated by a dot (sometimes there is a hyphen): the first number indicates the length, the second number the width, the third the height of the product;
• The last letter indicates the type of concrete (C – silicate, T – heavy, P – porous).

Advice! Make a preliminary layout of structural elements in a computer program, taking into account displacements during installation. Once you know the required sizes and quantities, you can order FBS from the seller. Brief step-by-step installation instructions are described in our video at the end of the article.

Attention! In places where communications will be connected to the house, special elements with holes are installed.