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Good Questions: Best Paint for Cinder Blocks?

101706cinderblocks.jpg

Dear AT,

I’d like to adapt this idea for a cinder block and board bookcase – does anyone know what kind of paint would be best for concrete? I think I’ve seen a painted cinder block desk recently in one of the home tours, but the paint was pretty light – probably spraypainted? So if anyone has any advice on how to get the nice, deep colors shown here, I’d appreciate it. I wonder if it’s even possible, given that cinder block has such a porous surface – in which case recommendations on something other than cinder blocks would be helpful too.

Thanks!

Jen

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: chicago(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)
 
 

Can anyone help out Jen with some paint wisdom??

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Comments (5)

It's very possible if you use a primer first. After you have primed the blocks, you can use ordinary latex, and it won't suck it up like a sponge.

Do be prepared to have the primer sucked up like a sponge though... At least it is cheaper than paint.

posted by Devyn on 2006-10-17 12:16:29

My desk is the one in the house tour with painted cinder blocks. I agree with Devyn. The cinder blocks do suck up paint quickly & mine are light bc i only used the left over paint from the walls. Once the blocks have sucked up one layer of paint, subsequent layers will be darker.

posted by Emily on 2006-10-17 13:36:15

Did you spackle them first to mute the texture, or would that defeat the purpose?

posted by Amused on 2006-10-18 09:32:32

Paint the concrete blocks with special block filler first. Your paint store will know what it is.

posted by Daily Nuance on 2006-10-18 15:23:40

It might be hard to get ones of matching height , but old non-functional speakers, the kind that come in the wood case could work well for this, and they're often available at thrift stores for around $5.

posted by Angie on 2006-10-18 16:32:15

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