Prepare the basement for priming and Painting

• 1). Scrape away old, peeling paint. Wear appropriate masks, protective eye wear and clothing.
  
  
• 2). Vacuum and clean the joists and underside of the floor thoroughly. If possible, wash down or at least rinse surfaces to be painted to remove loose dirt not picked up with the vacuum. Allow to dry.
  
  
• 3). Use painters tape and paper or plastic to mask off areas you are not planning to paint and especially if you plan to spray on the primer and paint. Lay down tarps to protect the floors and any appliances or furniture in the basement.
  
  
• 4). Open any available windows or place fans to exhaust fumes from the basement and to provide fresh air flow.
  
  
• 5). Treat any obvious mold and mildew areas with bleach or chemicals as recommended by professionals. Insect issues should also be addressed before painting, by an exterminator if necessary.
  
  

• 1). Spot-prime any obvious sap veins, knot holes and so forth with two coats of shellac. Disposable foam brushes work well for this.
  
  
• 2). Apply one or two coats of quality stain-blocking primer, tinted to 50 percent of the final paint color formula, to the surfaces to be painted. Use a 3 1/2- or 4-inch brush and mini- or full-sized rollers with covers with at least a 3/4-inch nap. Thicker ones can speed work on extremely rough joists and subfloors that don't have too many nails sticking through them. A professional sprayer an alternative for this application.
  
  
• 3). Allow the primer to dry thoroughly and according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Humid conditions often present in basements may lengthen drying time. Any basement dehumidifiers should be set on maximum setting.
  
  
• 4). Using similar techniques as used for the primer, apply two coats of 100 percent acrylic latex interior paint to the surfaces to be painted. Allow to dry between coats according to the manufacturer's recommendations and allowing for possible humid conditions.
  
  
• 5). Remove painters tape and masking material and dispose of properly. Fold up the tarps for future use and carefully clean all of your tools for next use.