How to Give a New Look to a Cinder Block House

Paint the Walls

• 1

  Mix trisodium phosphate, or TSP, with water according to the manufacturer's instructions.

• 2

  Scrub the blocks with the solution and a stiff nylon scrub brush.

• 3

  Rinse the blocks and loose debris with a power pressure washer set to 1500 to 2000 pounds per square inch, or psi.

• 4

  Coat the blocks with a thin layer of concrete-formulated latex primer. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully for best results. Apply another layer of primer if needed. Rough, split-face cinder blocks may require twice as much primer and paint since the open, pocked surface will readily absorb the material. Allow to dry completely.

• 5

  Apply several coats of concrete-formulated latex paint, allowing each coat to dry before you apply another. Spread the paint evenly over the surface of the block, using the ends of the paint brush bristles to fill in any pocks or rough areas with paint.

Stucco the Walls

• 6

  Wash the cinder block walls with a mixture of TSP and water, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Scrub the blocks with the solution and a stiff nylon scrub brush.

• 7

  Rinse the blocks and loose debris with a power pressure washer set to 1500 to 2000 psi.

• 8

  Pour the bag of stucco mix into a wheelbarrow or bucket and add water according to the manufacturer's instructions. Mix with a hoe or a large trowel.

• 9

  Mist a 2-foot-square section of the block wall with a spray water bottle to moisten it. This will allow the stucco to stick to the wall more easily. Start at the bottom of the wall.

• 10

  Load a masonry trowel with some stucco and apply it directly to the moistened cinder block wall. Press the stucco to the wall by holding the trowel at a 45-degree angle.

• 11

  Spread the stucco evenly over the blocks with wide, sweeping motions, coating the wall to a thickness of about 3/8 inch. Apply pressure as you spread the stucco to fill the pocks and holes in the blocks.

• 12

  Mist a new section of the wall, moving up from the previous section. Repeat the application. Be sure that you slightly overlap the new section with the previous section to avoid any gaps.

• 13

  Allow the stucco to dry for at least 48 hours.

• 14

  Mist a 2-foot-square section of the first coat of stucco with a spray water bottle to moisten the surface. Apply a second coat of stucco, called the finish coat, which is a much thinner layer of stucco, approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Apply the finish coat with a trowel or use a large, thick paint brush to dapple the finish coat onto the wall.

• 15

  Allow the stucco to dry completely. Prime and paint the surface, if desired.

Lattice Decoration

• 16

  Measure a portion of the cinder block wall that will hold the section of lattice and framing.

• 17

  Cut a section of lattice according to the measurement. Prime and paint both sides of the lattice if the material is wood. Allow to dry.

• 18

  Apply a thin bead of concrete adhesive to the lattice slats. Press the lattice to the cinder block wall and hold for several minutes.

• 19

  Cut four 2-inch furring strips according to your measurement to frame the area. For example, if your measured area of the wall is 4 feet by 6 feet square, cut the furring strips to create a 4-by-6-foot square.

• 20

  Prime and paint all sides of the furring strips if the material is wood. Allow to dry.

• 21

  Place the first furring strip on the bottom section of the wall. Drill a hole through the furring strip into the cinder block wall with a drill and a carbide drill bit. The first hole should be approximately 1 inch from the end of the furring strip, and every 12 to 18 inches to the end of the strip.

• 22

  Remove the board and insert a masonry anchor into each drilled hole in the cinder block.

• 23

  Replace the furring strip and insert screws through the hole in the furring strip into the cinder block holes.

• 24

  Install the remaining three furring strips to create a frame around the lattice.

• 25

  Caulk the seams where the furring strips butt. Apply touch-up paint to cover screws and seams.

• 26

  Plant climbing vines, such as clematis trumpet vine or other gently growing varieties, at the base of the lattice. Avoid vigorous plants such as wisteria and English ivy, as these are invasive and will quickly cover the walls and cause damage.

• 27

  Hang lightweight potted plants, mirrors or other decorative garden paraphernalia to the lattice wall. Hang large or heavy objects by hooks screwed into the wall.