Can You Paint Over DRYLOK? What You Should Know

DRYLOK is a brand of paint made by United Gilsonite Laboratories. Because it can effectively block moisture from penetrating concrete and similar surfaces, DRYLOK is ideal for painting areas usually prone to excessive moisture, such as foundations and basements. 

DRYLOK comes in several exciting colors and its quality shows it doesn’t require additional paint. Now here’s the question below. 

Can You Paint Over DRYLOK?

Yes, you can paint over DRYLOK. DRYLOK is an ideal primer for latex and acrylic paints. Primers are pre-painting preparatory coatings used to improve paint adhesion to surfaces. DRYLOK works only on masonry surfaces, such as concrete and brick. 

Concrete is one of the sturdiest building materials available, with unmatched strength and durability. Despite its toughness and endurance, concrete isn’t impervious to damage. 

It rapidly collects moisture because it is porous, causing leaks, mold, and mildew. Water seepage can significantly damage your walls and foundations. Therefore, you must waterproof your masonry walls, whether concrete or another substance. 

DRYLOK can prevent water seepage by blocking moisture from penetrating concrete and brick surfaces. DRYLOK helps keep masonry surfaces dry, whether they’re inside or outside.

Read on to know how DRYLOK works to protect walls surfaces from moisture.

How Does DRYLOK Work?

Concrete basement foundations are porous and allow moisture and water to seep through. This seepage usually results in mold or fungi growth and insect and rodent issues. DRYLOK penetrates and bonds with pores on the brick surface to form an impenetrable barrier. 

DRYLOK also prevents efflorescence, which are powdery salt deposits on brick surfaces. Moisture enters porous surfaces and turns into a gas. DRYLOK blocks the gas from entering the foundation by preventing the formation of calcium deposits.

Now that you know it’s possible to paint over DRYLOK, we’ll show you a simple DIY procedure that you can follow.

How To Paint Over DRYLOK

If you want a color that’s unavailable in any of the DRYLOK products, you can use it as a base coat or primer for other paints. Allow for at least 24 hours of drying before painting over fresh DRYLOK. 

DRYLOK works nicely with any acrylic or latex-based paint. Choose a color with a medium amount of glossiness for a long-lasting finish. If you’re painting over the original DRYLOK, note that it has a sand-like texture which you can feel even after several coats of paint. The surface will be less noticeable with the second layer of your chosen paint.

We’ve shown you how to paint a wall surface with DRYLOK serving as a base coat or primer. But DRYLOK is more than a primer; it’s also a complete paint. The following section shows you how to apply DRYLOK on your wall surfaces.

How To Apply DRYLOK

Prepare the surface for painting:

Preparation is the initial stage in any painting endeavor. This stage involves scrubbing the surface you want to paint using a wire brush to remove loose or damaged mortar, dust, grime, and efflorescence.

Efflorescence is difficult to brush away. So, you’ll need to scrape with undiluted vinegar to remove it altogether. Wear vinyl gloves to scrape off the efflorescence. If the surface already has old paint, you can remove it by sandblast. 

However, you can apply DRYLOK over any other good-quality cementitious waterproofing paint, but not over oil or latex-based paints. Although DRYLOK will adhere to the surface, it won’t protect it from water seepage. Before applying DRYLOK, ensure the wall is dry.

Remember to wear protective eyewear and a face mask before cleaning to safeguard your eyes and lungs. Also, ensure the location has sufficient ventilation and airflow. This subject is essential when operating in a basement.

Use DRYLOK Fast Plug to seal holes and joints:

Check the walls for gaps, cracks, holes, or seams that need sealing. Then, use DRYLOK Fast Plug to fill the cracks and holes. The Fast Plug sets rapidly, and so it can fill gaps even with passing water.

Before patching the holes, moisten the area and chisel out an inverted “V.” This will help the patch adhere to the surface and cure the DRYLOK Fast Plug. Because the Fast Plug dries up quickly, don’t mix it for more than 3 to 5 minutes before using it.

Apply the first coat of DRYLOK:

After adequately preparing the walls, heat the surface and the surrounding air to 50°F. Stir the product well before use. You’ll need only two coats for effective waterproofing, and you’ll apply the first coat at this stage. Use DRYLOK® Masonry Waterproofer only on clean, dry masonry. Start spreading the first coat with a stiff bristle brush. It’s essential to fill up all cracks and crevices on masonry surfaces.

Apply the second coat of DRYLOK:

Before applying the second and final layer, ensure you’ve covered all cracks and holes on the surface. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for drying time. You can apply the second layer with a brush or roller.

Now that you know how to apply DRYLOK to masonry surfaces, you may want to know how long your DRYLOK application will last. Read on to find out.

What Is The Expected Lifespan Of DRYLOK?

DRYLOK Original Masonry Waterproofer can last up to 10 years if used correctly and according to instructions. The Floor & Masonry Waterproofer has a seven-year warranty, while the Extreme Masonry Waterproofer has a 15-year warranty. Although the product lasts long ordinarily, it can last much longer with the correct application.

To achieve the most outstanding result, you must take your time and apply the product as recommended. If you don’t use it correctly, it may not last beyond five years, not to mention that it won’t even perform its waterproofing function in the first place.

Advantages of DRYLOK Waterproofer

DRYLOK offers the following advantages: 

• Many paints products for masonry surfaces usually require a primer to enhance paint adhesion to the surface. However, DRYLOK is both paint and a primer in one package. 
• DRYLOK seeps into the product’s surface and keeps moisture out after it’s dry. 
• You can be DRYLOK on the inside and the outside of a structure.
• DRYLOK also protects the painted surface from dampness.

Disadvantages of DRYLOK Waterproofer

• The major disadvantage of DRYLOK is that it’s only applicable for concrete surfaces such as masonry walls, stucco, brick terra cotta, and cinder blocks. You cannot use DRYLOK on metal or wood, as it can’t block moisture adequately on such materials.
• DRYLOK can allow mold formation
• DRYLOK can crack from high heat

DRYLOK Waterproofing Products

The DRYLOK brand features three unique waterproofing products – the Masonry Waterproofer, the Extreme Masonry Waterproofer, and the Floor and Wall Waterproofer. Let’s look at their features.

DRYLOK Masonry Waterproofer:

This product offers internal and external protection for masonry walls, including basements, living spaces, laundry rooms, dry storage, hobby nooks, fish ponds, retaining walls, and birdbaths.

Unique qualities include:

• It can endure ten pounds of hydrostatic pressure (PSI), the equivalent of a 22-foot-high wall of water
• It comes with a transferrable ten-year product warranty
• It can resist wind-driven rain of up to 98 MPH acceleration
• It prevents radon gas penetration by decreasing vapor transfer
• It doesn’t require pre-wetting or pre-mixing before use
• It is a low-odor product that meets all current VOC regulations
• It is easy to clean with warm water and soap
• It has an average drying time of two to three hours.

DRYLOK Extreme Masonry Waterproofer:

This product offers internal and external protection for above and below grade walls, including basements, concrete swimming pools, foundations, and retaining walls.

Unique qualities include:

• It can endure fifteen pounds of hydrostatic pressure (PSI), the equivalent of a 33-foot-high wall of water
• It comes with a transferrable fifteen-year product warranty
• It can resist the equivalent of four hurricane winds
• It can also prevent radon gas penetration by decreasing vapor transfer
• It also doesn’t require pre-wetting or pre-mixing before use
• It is a low-odor product that meets all current VOC regulations
• It is easy to clean with warm water and soap
• It has an average drying time of two hours.

DRYLOK Floor and Wall Masonry Waterproofer:

This product offers internal and external protection for above and below grade walls, including floors, basements, decorative bricks, retaining walls, and stone facades.

Unique qualities include:

• It can endure four pounds of hydrostatic pressure (PSI), the equivalent of a 9-foot-high wall of water
• It comes with a transferrable seven-year product warranty
• It is resistant to foot traffic wear
• It produces a moisture barrier against vapor
• It can resist wind-driven rain of up to 98 MPH acceleration on vertical surfaces
• It can also prevent radon gas penetration by decreasing vapor transfer
• It also doesn’t require pre-wetting or pre-mixing before use
• It complies with current VOC regulatory requirements
• It is easy to clean with warm water and soap
• It has an average drying time of two hours.

Conclusion

DRYLOK is a brand of paint products manufactured by United Gilsonite Laboratories. It can prevent moisture from permeating masonry surfaces such as concrete and brick walls, making it suitable for painting places like foundations and basements prone to excessive dampness.

You can paint over DRYLOK. DRYLOK can function as a primer and paint, and it works well with latex and acrylic paints. DRYLOK, however, works only on masonry surfaces, such as concrete and brick.