How to Paint Cement Board

A cement board is considered to be very durable and is known for its resistant to fire, mold, fungus and mildew. It is actually made up of cement and fibers. They are very useful in building exteriors and are also used as flooring and tiles. Any normal cement surface is very porous and hence does not accept the paint.

But unlike these normal surfaces, cement boards react ideally to paint and hence can be painted. So, let's find out some tips on painting cement board and a few important things which need to be kept in mind while painting it.

Can you paint cement board very easily? Well the answer to this is no, not really. You need to take many precautionary steps while painting over cement board. No doubt it is better than any other cement surface, but the problem of the porous surface will trouble you in cement boards too. But this porous surface has one advantage.

Once it is properly painted, the paint stays for a longer period of time and can survive in extreme conditions as well. So, have a look on the things required followed by the steps to paint cement board.

• Cement board
• Cleaning agent
• Cement paint
• Cement primer
• Paint rollers and brushes
• Paint thinner
• Plastic wrap
• Sealant
• Working gloves

• The most important thing to do is to clean the board properly. As the surface is porous, dirt and other impurities settle in the pores and are very difficult to clean. So, remove these by using a mild cleaning agent, it will remove the dirt and grease from the board. You can also use pressure washer to clean the board properly.

• After the cleaning up of the board leave it to dry. Painting on a wet surface may result in peeling and flaking of the paint. So dry the surface properly. 

If you have used a liquid solution for cleaning the surface, then you should wait for at least 2 days before going ahead with the further process. You can wrap it with plastic so as to protect the board from moisture and dirt.

• You can now treat your cement board with a good quality cement primer. This cement primer will penetrate the porous surface and will make its adhesiveness to the paint better. Better quality cement primer will result in better finish.

• Now start with the painting. Use a roller to apply paint on the surface of the cement board and then try to make it even with the help of a brush. Paint a thin layer and let it dry. Then apply 3 to 4 coats. The coat should be even or regular to avoid color differentiation.

• Once you get your desired color, stop painting and let it dry. Apply paint sealant after two days.

• Always clean the cement board properly before applying paint.
• Let the board dry completely. If the board is wet or even a small amount of moisture remains, it will result in the peeling of the paint.

• Make sure you smooth the paint with the brush after using roller as it will give a good finishing touch to the cement board. Finish off the brushing before the paint dries.

The procedure is almost the same, the only difference is you will use a paint sprayer instead of brushes and rollers. You may not get a perfect finish in the first attempt, but with practice you will get an even and glossy finish.