Improper Paint

• You must use a paint and primer designed to adhere to concrete and to survive the environmental extremes of the outdoors if the concrete is outside your house. Primers and paints that are labeled as "designed for bonding with concrete" often require more time to cure on the cement versus paints you use on wood, drywall or plaster inside your house. Follow the directions on the paint and primer containers to avoid peeling in the future.
  
  

Moisture

• Water may seep through concrete floors or walls, especially basement walls that have soil on the other side. As the moisture builds in the soil, it begins to push through the porous interior of the cement until it comes into contact with the paint. The water creates a barrier between the paint and the concrete, meaning the paint no longer adheres and so it begins to peel. You must scrape off your paint if moisture is causing the problem, and apply a waterproof paint that is made for use with concrete to avoid future problems with peeling.
  
  

Dirty Concrete

• Like other surfaces such as wood, concrete must be free of dirt and other contaminants before you apply primer and paint. The presence of debris between the concrete and the paint causes the paint to not adhere correctly, leading to the paint peeling off the concrete. Applying oils to the cement floor can leave a layer of oil that prevents the paint from bonding correctly. Using a sandblaster or a chemical cleaner designed for concrete helps remove contaminants before you paint.
  
  

Concrete Surface Preparation

• The concrete's surface needs to be rough enough to properly bond with the paint and primer. Smooth concrete causes the paint to peel off later, unless you rough up the cement's surface first. The concrete's surface must feel at least like 120-grit sandpaper for the paint to adhere correctly, according to paint company Sherwin Williams. If your concrete feels too smooth, apply an etching solution to the concrete.
  
  

Temperature

• On every container of concrete primer and paint, the manufacturer makes recommendations for ideal conditions when you apply the products to the concrete. If the temperature of the concrete exceeds the recommended minimum or maximum temperatures on the paint's container, the paint will not adhere properly to the cement.