Pros and cons of painting cinder block in basement?

The only real cons are taking it off if you ever want to & putting it on in the first place. The pit holes or pock marks will need to be dabbed with a brush after your primer or sealer gets rolled-on & then again after your first & 2nd finish coats.

But, you're right & those are the pros of painting it. Keeping it maintained is nothing really, if you get some peeling or flaking in the future, you just scrape it off with a putty knife or scraper & paint over it with the rest of the wall.

An Exterior Masonry Sealer or Primer goes on first & then an Interior 100% Acrylic paint. You'll want at least 3 finish coats in order to flatten it out reasonably. Wait a day or even 2 between coats, including after the primer or sealer goes on. The wall will take a full month to cure.

pros - looks better, smoother surface that makes less dust

cons - seals the surface up well which prevents moisture from evaporating from the block. if its 100% sealed on the outside, it wont be an issue, but if you have any moisture, it will trap it in the block.

painting block is an extremely common commercial/industrial finish process. the trick is to use the right approach and material.

step 1 - fill and seal with concrete prep coat. this material is usually sprayed or put on with a texture gun, but if you want you could probably do it by roller (i wouldnt bother, just spray it)

https://www.dulux.ca/pro/products/masonry-coatings/perma-crete-ltc-concrete-block-and-masonry-surface

step 2 - paint over with whatever you want

omit the sealer and you can count on 10 coats minimum to seal it up properly.

You need to paint the block first with block-filler paint then your finish coat.

However, if you regularly have moisture coming through the the basement wall the only way for it to dry is to the inside. By painting the wall you will trap the moisture behind the wall which will eventually cause the paint to fail.

One coat of a latex primer/paint may improve your appearance and still allow the wall to breathe.

Good luck!

I have been waterproofing basement for over 10 years and this is 100% from my experience... not a sales pitch...

Basements should never be painted and I'm strongly against it for the following Reasons:

1. Painting a wall will cause a damming effect in the wall which will stop the natural exhaust of water into the home... You will see this by the white substance known as efflorescence. Lyme and calcium, crystallization which occurs when water evaporates on concrete... anyone who has a block basement has seen this...
2. the "Damming Effect" will allow the water that naturally plows into the porous block from the exterior side of the house enter in and fill up the voids in the block causing the water to hold and move further upward... everyone knows water flows down hill and trust me... Water will find a way into your home... So Painting will cause the following:
   • Mold
   • Pealing Paint
   • Water building in the wall
   • Breaking don of the mortar joints
   • and Water on your Floor...

It looks better and if you have any moisture and use a sealing paint, the room will be dryer.

But, you'll have to do it again in 10 to 20 years.