How to Use KILZ® paint or primer 

KILZ® makes popular paints and primers for a variety of purposes.  KILZ® products are particularly well known for their stain blocking abilities and are popular for use in a variety of applications from priming interior drywall to cover up nicotine stains to prepping cabinets with primer before applying a topcoat.  The range of uses includes for use on wood, drywall, plaster, brick, masonry, and painted metal.  Each surface will require specific preparation to ensure that KILZ® can properly bond to it and provide the lasting protection it is designed to provide. General preparation steps are below. 

Surface Preparation  

All surfaces must be clean of grease and oil before applying KILZ®.  To remove grease proper degreaser products can be used.  The directions below will apply to specific surfaces.  

 

Previously Paint Surfaces - For areas with peeling paint or previous paint applied all loose paint must be scraped off and the surface sanded smooth so that KILZ® paint can properly bind to the surface.   

 

Masonry, Brick, Stucco, and Plaster - KILZ® should be used on clean, dry, dust free aged surfaces.  If your masonry surface is less than 90 days old you will want to consider e\ KILZ PREMIUM, KILZ 2® or KILZ ORIGINAL LOW ODOR Primers.  

 
Glossy Surfaces - For Glossy surfaces, the surface needs to be roughened up by sanding.  

 

Fire Restoration - For Fire Damage you will need to ensure the fire damaged area is properly clean prior to using  KILZ®.   

 

For Stain blocking - If you will be using KILZ® for stain blocking it is ideal to apply an initial coat and apply your topcoat to a small area to check if bleed through of the stain occurs. If you get bleed through a second coat of primer should be applied.  

 

Additional information  

Kilz should be applied at about 4.6 mils thick wet, you can learn how to check wet mil thickness in our guide here.  Coverage for brush or rolling is 300 to 400 Sq feet per gallon. The wet film thickness is important as it ensures the coat of KILZ® is sufficiently thick enough to provide the lasting protection that is design to provide. 

 

Spraying KILZ® 

KILZ® can be easily sprayed .  To Spray KILZ® you should use an airless paint sprayer that will allow you to use a 15 to 21 thousands tip, though some products will require a 27 thousands tip.  Spray pressure will be around 1800 to 3000 PSI.  The filter in the airless should be a 60 mesh, which is the normal filter that comes in an airless sprayer. You can start with the airless sprayer pressure low and gradually increase it until you have a good even spray pattern. 

 

If you are using an oil based KILZ® product the area should have good cross ventilation to ensure that there is not excessive fumes build up during application.  Even water based is ideal to have good ventilation but is not quite as critical.  You also want to ensure you are wearing a proper respirator that will filter out organic volatile compounds. 

 

After KILZ® is Applied 

After the product is applied if you experience bleed through a second coat may be required.  While this guide covers the majority of KILZ® paint products each specific product has slightly different requirements and it is ideal to check out the technical data sheets from KILZ® on the product that you are specifically going to be using. 

 

Popular Outfits to Spray KILZ®

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