How to Make a Basement's Stone Walls Smooth and Water Proof

When you have an unpainted basement in your home, you may be frustrated by the unsightly rough appearance of the stone walls. Although you could have the stone walls professionally smoothed and painted, this can be costly. One solution is to try your hand finishing and waterproofing the walls using a few inexpensive materials that can be purchased from a home improvement store. This enables you to create a beautiful space in your basement without spending a fortune in the process.

Sanding buffer
Rough-grain sanding ring
Medium-grain sanding ring
Shop vacuum with brush attachment
Paint tray
Waterproof latex paint, clear
Paintbrush, 3-inch round

Instructions

- 1
  Sand the surface of the stone wall using a sanding buffer with a rough-grain sanding ring. This will remove any larger areas of roughness and sharp edges.
- 2
  Sand the surface of the stone wall using a sanding buffer with a medium-grain sanding ring. This will smooth the surface of each stone without altering the rock-like appearance of the wall.
- 3
  Vacuum the walls and the surrounding areas using a shop vacuum with a brush attachment. This will eliminate any dust and debris from the area caused by the sanding.
- 4
  Fill a paint tray with clear, waterproof latex paint. Coat a 3-inch round paintbrush with the waterproof latex paint.
- 5
  Cover the entire stone wall with an even layer of paint and allow the paint to air dry for eight hours.
- 6
  Apply a second layer of clear, waterproof latex paint in the same manner as the first layer. Allow the paint to dry for an additional eight hours.

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