How to Retain Wall Block Colors

Many homes are built on a concrete foundation and have block walls. Often, the block walls are finished on the exterior with stucco and the interior is finished with plaster, drywall or paint. In some instances, the block is left exposed to give the interior a more rugged or unfinished look. Block walls that are not covered with a finish can become dull and the color fades. But the colors can be brought back to look new.

Drop cloth
Rubber gloves
Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)
Buckets
Scrub brush
Sponges
Brick and masonry cleaner
Polyurethane elastomeric sealer
Brush

Instructions

- 1
  Move everything away from your block wall and lay a drop cloth on the floor.
- 2
  Put on rubber gloves. Fill a bucket with 4 parts water and 1 part Trisodium Phosphate (TSP). Drop a scrub brush into the bucket, allowing the bristles to soak in the mixture for about five minutes.
- 3
  Fill another bucket with plain water and drop in clean sponges, allowing them to absorb the water.
- 4
  Scrub your block wall with the scrub brush using the TSP/water mixture, occasionally rinsing the cleaned blocks with the sponges. Scrub the block wall until thoroughly cleaned and rinsed.
- 5
  Empty the bucket of TSP and water and rinse it out. Rinse the scrub brush as well. Fill the bucket with water again, adding as much brick and masonry cleaner as directed by the manufacturer. This will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, depending on its potency.
- 6
  Scrub your block wall with the water/masonry cleaner using the scrub brush. Do not rinse immediately. Instead, allow the solution to seep into the block wall's pores for about 15 minutes, then rinse with plain water using a sponge. Allow the block to air dry.
- 7
  Brush a thin application of polyurethane-elastomeric sealer onto the block wall. Let it dry as directed by the manufacturer. Once dry, the block wall's colors should be restored.

How to Fix Reappearing Cracks in Dry Wall

How to Get Dried Thinset Off of Sheetrock

Wall Repairs