Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

Painting Concrete Wall

Q. We have a new concrete retaining wall for a backstop at our baseball field. The wall is a light color and it is hard to see the ball come off the bat. Is there a way to paint or stain the wall a green color and still allow it to be porous to let moisture through from the back side?

A. All paints are porous to a certain extent. Acrylic latex paints do breathe and allow moisture through them. On the other hand, epoxy, polyurethane and other two-component paints are less porous. Therefore, if you wish to paint the wall green, I suggest you use a conventional exterior acrylic latex paint.

Regards,

Ron Joseph