How to Paint Garage Walls

Garage walls look better when painted. It’s a way to finish the garage and improve the appearance of the house in general. It’s not difficult to do, although you should be prepared to take some time. Much also depends on the covering on the garage walls, as different materials demand a different amount of work.

Step 1 - Cleaning

Begin by removing everything from the garage and stacking in the driveway. Use a broom to remove all the dust and debris from the garage floor. After this, use a wet/dry vac on the garage, taking the hose into the corners and up the walls to remove any cobwebs and other dust. At this point, you’re ready to proceed. Put down drop cloths so the entire floor is covered.

Step 2 - Repair

With cinder block or cement walls, there might be cracks that need to be repaired before painting. Fill any cracks and allow them to dry before sanding smooth with the rest of the wall. Apply masking tape around any windows and also to the edge of the ceiling unless you’re painting that, too.

Step 3 - Primer

At this stage, you’re ready to apply primer to the garage walls. The kind of primer you choose will depend on the material in the garage walls. Start by cutting in from the edges to a distance of about 6 inches using a paintbrush. Do the same around windows. For the rest of the wall, you can use a roller to put the primer on the walls. Go in even strokes. You don’t need to apply a thick coat. You only need to cover the garage walls and give a surface to which the paint can adhere. Give the primer time to dry before moving on.

Step 4 - Paint

Use a good quality paint on the garage walls. It will give better coverage and will last longer so you won’t need to repaint for several years. Again, edge carefully, cutting into about 6 inches all around the edges and windows. Put the paint in the roller tray and apply it in long horizontal strokes, moving down from the top. This will eliminate problems with drips, especially if you just apply a thin coat of paint.

Allow the paint to dry and then begin to put on the second coat. In most instances, two coats should be ample, but in some instances, you might need more, especially with cinder block, in order to achieve the best finish. Give the paint time to dry fully between each coat. After the paint is dry you can remove the masking tape carefully, being careful not to take off the paint from the wall. Fold up and remove the drop cloths and return the items to the garage, throwing out anything you really don’t need to keep. Your garage walls will look a great deal better.