I recently had my chimney swept, a new cap installed and the cracks repaired... also treated with something the provider called Chimsaver. The chimney is masonry (cinder block) and the chimney guy said it should not be painted except with "water" based paint (he emphasized not latex or acrylic). I'm now having my home painted and the painter said water based paint is the same thing as latex paint. He said he's been painting houses in the NW for 23 yrs and has painted many masonry chimneys. Said he's never heard that it would cause the mortar and the blocks to crack. As he's starting the painting in 2 days, I don't know what to do about the chimney. I'd like to have it painted because it looks crappy the way it is now. Can anyone offer advice? PLEASE??? Thanks! martilin in Vancouver, WA

 

Welcome to the forums!

While there are minor technical differences basically acrylic, latex and waterbased paints are the same. I have also painted many stucco and some brick or block chimneys. With the possible exception of a few 35+ yrs ago, all were painted with latex paint. As a painter the only problems I know of with painting a chimney is cleaning the top portion to ready it for paint.