By Paul Bianchina
Q: I have a cement basement floor to which I applied a sealer after one year. I later applied a paint for cement floors, but it came off in fine particles. I tried painting a second time with the same results, even where there is not traffic. Any suggestions? - Gilbert M.
A: Gilbert, you said that you sealed the floor first and then painted over it. My suspicion is that the paint and the sealer are not compatible with one another. Most types of concrete sealers are designed in some part to repel water, and the additives used to do this can make it difficult for paint to adhere. I would suggest that you take your paint can and your sealer can over to a good paint store in your area and discuss this with them. You may need to abrade the sealer in order to get a good surface for painting, or you may be able to clean off the paint, apply a compatible primer over the sealer, and then repaint.
If the sealer and the paint are indeed compatible, then the other possible problem could be moisture. If you have a damp basement and painted over the floor while moisture was present, the paint will not adhere. If you suspect this is the case, then you will need to locate and deal with the moisture source prior to having any success with painting.
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