Need good paint for the concrete walls in your basement?
We know how annoying it is when water and moisture seep through the cracks and deteriorates the foundation of your home or business.
Basement waterproofing is key for keeping a solid foundation.
Stick with us for the best masonry waterproofers for concrete walls in the basement.
In this ProPaintCorner.com guide, you will learn:
- The best paint for concrete walls in the basement
- Do's and don't's for painting downstairs
- Other painting tips from the pros
- And much more!
Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to learn more about how to choose and use the best paint for concrete walls in your basement.
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Top Pick
| Our Top Pick | Aqua-X Concrete Sealer
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| View on Amazon |
| Best Budget
| Best Budget | Kilz Interior/Exterior Basement And Masonry Waterproofing Paint
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| View on Amazon |
| Best High End
| Best High End | Rust Bullet Duragrade
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| View on Amazon |
|
| Drylok
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| View on Amazon | |
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| KILZ Interior/Exterior Self-Priming Masonry, Stucco, and Brick Flat Paint
|
| View on Amazon | |
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| Eco Advance EACON16CON Waterproofer
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| View on Amazon | |
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| Rust-Oleum 261845 EpoxyShield Garage Floor Coating
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| View on Amazon | |
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| Foundation Armor AR500 High Gloss Solvent Based Acrylic Concrete Sealer and Paver Sealer
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| View on Amazon |
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated On February 17, 2023
We chose Aqua-X Concrete Sealer because it is a reasonably priced and industrial-grade concrete sealer that will give your concrete finish a long-lasting surface that blocks out water, mold, and mildew.
This allows you to apply a water-based coat of paint to your concrete without a super-toxic formula.
Purchase Aqua-X in quantities of either 1-gallon or 5-gallons off of Amazon for a better price than what you would pay at Home Depot.
Top 8 Best Paint For Concrete Basement Walls
In a hurry? Check out our top 8 paints for concrete walls! Keep reading to discover more about our top picks.
- Aqua-X Concrete Sealer
- Kilz Interior/Exterior Basement And Masonry Waterproofing Paint
- Rust Bullet Duragrade
- Drylok
- KILZ Interior/Exterior Self-Priming Masonry, Stucco, and Brick Flat Paint
- Eco Advance EACON16CON Waterproofer
- Rust-Oleum 261845 EpoxyShield Garage Floor Coating
- Foundation Armor AR500 High Gloss Solvent Based Acrylic Concrete Sealer and Paver Sealer
What Is Paint For Concrete Walls In Basement?
Concrete sealant is different from your average interior or exterior paint because it is specially formulated for concrete.
Although these paints have different chemical compositions, they are all designed to prevent instances of mold, efflorescence, mildew, and corrosion that happens when concrete is exposed to the elements.
As a quick side note, if you're having basement and foundation issues, we found this great guide outlining all of the various methods to repair your basements foundation.
What Are The Different Types of Paint For Concrete Walls In Basement?
Concrete sealer
Concrete sealant is more like cement that is mixed with water to
Concrete primer
Some paints might require that you apply a primer before using their product. This will aid the sealant because you won't have to use as much.
Epoxy
There are some two-part epoxy garage floor type paints that will work great and also look fantastic for sealing up the concrete or block walls in your basement.
Read More >> What Are The Best Paint Rollers For Uneven Wall Texture?
How Do You Apply Paint For Concrete Walls?
Thoroughly clean surface before applying paint
Since using a pressure washer in your basement isn't realistic and might damage things, you can use muriatic acid to clean the concrete before applying your paint of choice.
This will also help remove any old paint flaking off that might be impeding a good mating surface for the concrete paint.
You can use a wire brush on surfaces like cinderblocks to get any unwanted dirt and grime off.
Seal up any open joints
You might find that there are open joints in your concrete that are letting water through, and that can be catastrophic for the cement foundation in your basement.
If the damage isn't so bad, you can try using something to seal up the cracks, like this Drylok Fast Plug that can withstand up to 3,050 pounds of hydrostatic pressure.
Generously apply paint
Use a nap roller or even a paint sprayer to help you apply the concrete paint to the surface of the concrete walls in your basement.
After applying the first coat, check the drying time on the specific paint you purchased to get a good idea of when to apply the next coat.
After you feel you have applied enough concrete paint to seal in the surface, you then have the option of applying a topcoat.
Just be sure the colored paint you want to use is compatible with the concrete paint you chose.
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What To Look For In The Best Paint For Concrete Walls In Basement?
Quality
Make sure the product you buy has thousands of great reviews before purchasing on Amazon for the best results.
Some things in life are good to buy cheap, but taking care of your home's foundation isn't one of them.
Our Reviews Of The Best Paint For Concrete Walls In Basement
Pick #1: Aqua-X Concrete Sealer
Need a more commercial solution for sealing in your concrete?
Try this 1-gallon container of Aqua-X because it covers twice the surface area of other concrete sealant products(up to 600 square feet).
Aqua-X Concrete Sealer protects your concrete against mold, mildew, freeze/thaw, concrete spalling, and salt damage after you apply a generous coat to your concrete surface.
Pick up a gallon, 5 gallons, or even a small spray bottle of Aqua-X Concrete Sealer off of Amazon for the best price.
Pros
Cons
This 1-gallon bucket of Kilz Interior/Exterior Basement And Masonry Waterproofing Paint is a great solution for sealing in the concrete or masonry in your basement because it is priced low and highly effective when applied with a nap roller, airless paint sprayer or paintbrush.
First, you'll need to prep the surface by cleaning it and applying a primer like Kilz Premium Primer, then you can go ahead and use this masonry waterproofing paint that resists up to 12 PSI of pressure to keep water out of your basement.
One container of Kilz will cover up 75-125 feet of your project with a minimum of two coats (depending on how porous the surface).
Pros
Cons
Pick #3: Rust Bullet Duragrade
Are you looking for the premium option for covering up your concrete with a quality layer of paint?
Try this Rust Bullet Duragrade, a product that requires minimal prep and gives you excellent results.
You will be spending substantially more than other concrete products when deciding to use Rust Bullet, but the plus side to the deal is that the results outmatch the competition for painting concrete.
Purchase in quart, gallon, or 5-gallon quantities of Rust Bullet off Amazon for a concrete sealing solution that outperforms the competition.
Pros
Cons
Pick #4: Drylok
Drylok is a popular and effective latex waterproofer that is inexpensive and super-effective at sealing water out of your basement.
This low-odor formula conforms to VOC requirements to keep your basement dry with its sandy texture that can be applied easily with a roller or paintbrush.
Purchase this 1-quart size container off Amazon for small projects and easy touchup.
Pros
Cons
Measure out your project for square footage, and purchase the appropriate amount of KILZ Interior/Exterior Self-Priming Masonry Stucco and Brick Flat Paint as well as some KILZ premium primer that should be applied beforehand.
Pros
Cons
Pick #6: Eco Advance EACON16CON Waterproofer
Were you looking for the most eco-friendly option for sealing in your concrete?
This Eco Advanced Waterproofer has low VOC and low odor for sealing anything from concrete to stucco, stone, pavers, and more at a price you are not going to believe.
Eco Advance is a breathable sealant for your concrete that is safe to use around people, plants, and pets so you can apply it with less stress.
Purchase Eco Advance in quantities of 1-gallon off of Amazon for an inexpensive solution to your concrete sealing needs.
Pros
Cons
You could always try something like this Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield floor paint in your basement.
Although it's technically not the recommended product for the job, this garage floor epoxy will seal out water and last for years.
Application is easy, all you have to do is mix the 2-part epoxy together, and apply at the recommended temperature.
This kit is great because it will cover up to 500 square feet, and it is safe to walk on after just 24 hours.
Pros
Cons
Homeowners will appreciate this Foundation Armer AR500 concrete and paver sealer because it is sold in large quantities and is an acrylic masonry paint that can be reapplied every 2-5 years for the best results.
Foundation Armor will bring out the color in dull and porous surfaces, so pick up this 5-gallon jug off of Amazon if you are looking for a breathable solvent that has unmatched bonding characteristics.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: Aqua-X Concrete Sealer
Our top pick is Aqua-X Concrete Sealer because it is priced middle of the line and the quality is industrial.
Plus, you can choose between a 1-gallon or 5-gallon jug that won't break the bank when working on large products like office buildings, etc.
One of the best parts about Aqua-X is that it is water-based, so you won't have to worry about poisoning yourself and others when applying it, plus it has a low-odor scent.
Plus, it's such a great value for the money. Check out the lowest price on Amazon now!
Read More >> What Are The Best Paint Strippers For Concrete?
Final Thoughts On The Best Paint For Concrete Walls In Basement
Which to pick?
The concrete sealer you choose for your specific DIY home improvement project depends on the area in which you live.
For example, if you live in the south of Lousiana where there is tons of moisture and has lots of water problems(if you even have a basement), then you'll want to spend more money on one of the high-quality heavier-duty items on this list.
But then again, if you live in the midwest in a place like Arizona that doesn't get a lot of rainfall, it might be okay to go with a cheaper option that fulfills the purpose of coating your interior walls/masonry walls because it will be very seldom that you have a wet basement.
Any Of These Products Will Work Great
We put our top three here on this list of eight, but we highly recommend checking out all of eight of our recommended products, because there might be one that works well for your specific job.
Questions?
Don't forget to leave all of your concrete painting questions on our page.
