Category: Primer Tips
Tips from the Team
January 17, 2023
Here on the Perfect Finish, we are starting the year 2023 with our favorite paint category: Primer! Thomas McEvoy, a KILZ product trainer and training content developer, teaches us the importance of preparing the surfaces of your home and using primer during any painting project. Thomas’s favorite part of working for Behr Paint Company and with the KILZ team is the people and their enthusiasm to make the best products and service experience for our customers. Thomas has been with Behr for 20 years and is here to share his experience with you to help get prepared for your painting project.
Why should an individual prep the surfaces of their home?
Preparation is critical because most paint failures, such as paint peeling, old color bleeding through, and wear and tear over time, occur because of skipped prep steps. The best way to prep the surface is to promote adhesion (how the paint sticks to the surface), sealing (adding a protective coat), and stain-blocking if needed. Using a suitable primer promotes adhesion by bonding the surface that adheres to the topcoat. Using the right primer can achieve the aspects of a properly prepared surface.
How do I properly prepare a surface before priming and painting?
Here are a few ways to prepare your surface.
1. Lightly sand hard or slick surfaces to promote adhesionSanding can also remove physical imperfections accumulated over time. Any surface that has been lightly sanded during prep will usually lead to a softer texture after painting.
2. Painting over unsealed surfaces can lead to color variation, unevenness in paint sheen, the need to apply more paint, and, eventually, the peeling of the paint. Using a good primer is an important step before painting.
3. When stain-blocking is needed, only the right primer can ensure no bleed through the topcoat. This prep step is critical to ensure we paint over a sound surface.
When is the best time to prepare your surface?
The best time to prep the surface is before you paint and after clearing the space as much as possible and protecting surfaces like carpet and furniture. Time spent on prep will save frustration and added expense later.
What tools do I need to prepare a surface?
There are many tools to have in a paint kit for current and future projects. A large plastic tote can hold several drop cloths and most smaller tools. I recommend the following tools to get the job done right:
• Dust mask
• Sanding pad, 80-200 grit
• Pole sander with sandpaper, 60-80 grit
• Step ladder
• Painter’s tape for protecting baseboards, doors, and window casing
• Drop cloths, canvas, or other reusable material
• Plastic, for protecting furniture
• Rags to wipe dirty and dusty surfaces
Having the right tools is a critical part of project success. Most of these tools can be used again for many other projects.
Where do I go to find the right primer?
Check out KILZ.com to research the right primer for your project. After, visit your local hardware store or retailer to engage with a thoughtful paint associate that can help with what works for you, and secure the rest of the tools needed for a successful project.
Can I do this myself? Or should I call an expert?
Both are options! You can do this job, or if you prefer, you can call a professional painter to complete your project. Check out your local hardware store and ask a paint associate to help coordinate what is needed for your specific project.
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply
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Pro Spotlight: Renovate a Custom Home Bathroom and Office with Jason Pie
October 11, 2022
If I told you that paint was the most important finish in a home, you would think I’m crazy. Hi there, my name is Jason Pie. I am a contractor and a real estate developer in Los Angeles, California. I have been building homes for over 12 years. I have built over 150 custom homes, and I count the remodels I have been a part of. Here’s the thing, most people see the paint. You can’t really avoid it! It is on every wall, and it’s in every room. When remodeling a home, it’s important that this finish is done to a level that makes it feel like the home is brand new. My experience using KILZ 2® ALL-PURPOSE Primer and KILZ® MOLD & MILDEW Primer does just that. Not only does it provide a solid base for my new colors to be applied to, but it can also do so much more!
First off, let’s keep it simple and discuss what primer does. Primers are like the glue that adheres to the old paint and allows the new coat of paint to look its best and stay on for the long haul.
Here are some of the extra benefits to using KILZ® primer. It has a fast-drying agent in it that allows you to apply the primer and get to applying the color in minimal time. It is water-based, which helps with the odor and makes it easy to clean. KILZ® primer is also great for multi-surface primer-sealers. It can help block stains, it is mildew resistant, and has sealing properties along with a very mild odor, which all adds up to a win.
Now, let’s switch gears and talk about the primary bathroom for a moment. KILZ® MOLD & MILDEW primer is, in my most humble opinion, the best product I have seen on the market. Truthfully, I would use it on a whole house. Now, obviously, most moisture is hanging out in the bathrooms. But honestly, I am about to rave about this product, so if you don’t want to hear this, just jump down below.
KILZ® MOLD & MILDEW Primer has all the same great stuff as KILZ 2® ALL-PURPOSE Primer, such as a water-based primer-sealer-stain blocker that is specially designed for residential surfaces. But here is the kicker and why I truly love this product. It is formulated for high humidity, moisture and temperature environments such as kitchens, bathrooms, powder rooms and laundry rooms. I cannot be alone in this… we have all had to YouTube how to remove mold from a bathroom. And if I am being honest, it’s not fun to do. You got to get all masked up with gloves on and get to scrubbing. Now this product does not promise that you If I can increase my chances of avoiding mold from growing in my kitchens, bathrooms, powder rooms and laundry rooms and any other room with high humidity, I am all for it!
The problem with most primers is that you never know if you can confidently depend on it. When you find a brand that does the job that you can consistently depend on, you begin to become loyal to that brand. You almost won’t use anything else! I’ve used so many bad products that have caused me to do 3 to even 8 coats of paint just to cover what was behind it. Having such an easy experience with KILZ® products, made it easy. I’ve been looking for the right brand that’s going to provide me with a consistent outcome. With KILZ 2® ALL-PURPOSE Primer, I have confidence that with every job I do, I will have success. One coat could have done the job, but in the bathroom, we used two, just to make sure. We are so impressed with how well KILZ® MOLD & MILDEW primer did its job.
*This is a paid partnership with Jason Pie.
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.
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Paint Primer Tips with Klaudio Dulemata
October 5, 2022
Klaudio Dulemata began working as a painter alongside his uncle in Italy where he dedicated himself to a path of continual learning and improvement by studying a wide variety of techniques. In 2016, he emigrated to America and opened his own company, K-pro Painting, LLC in Detroit, MI. He developed all kinds of curiosity about the newest and most advanced materials in the painting industry to achieve the best results as a pro painter. He became a painter influencer by taking daily videos at his job site, then posting tips and processes to finish a job on TikTok and Instagram. Let’s dive into how KILZ® Primers help Klaudio on job sites.
What aspect of professional painting do you love most?
KLAUDIO: For me, I love the focus of the prep and the instant gratification of spraying. Prep is key. Make sure your floors and furniture are covered to eliminate overspray. Spraying covers large areas quickly with a smooth finish. Prep and spraying are what makes a pro and gives me a sense of accomplishment.
For people who aren’t sure, when would you spray vs. roll vs. brush?
KLAUDIO: I use spray when I want a smooth finish. I roll the interior walls. I use a brush to cut-in on walls, corners, and ceilings.
What piece of general advice would you have for someone who’s never done a DIY project but is thinking about it?
KLAUDIO: My advice for someone new to DIY is just to give it a try and make sure you have fun. Then just keep having fun until you’re satisfied with the outcome. There’s no better feeling.
What do you like about KILZ® 3 Premium Primer?
KLAUDIO: I choose KILZ 3 Premium Primer over other primers because of its stain blocking performance, it has minimal overspray, and is super durable.
Can’t you skip the primer step?
KLAUDIO: No professional would do that. Primer is important to seal the original surface and bring out the best- looking finish for paint. Even a previously painted surface requires the use of primer to cover and block old colors.
Was there a moment that you decided to take painting to the next level and marry that with becoming a painting influencer? One of your videos has over 50 million views.
KLAUDIO: I never really planned on becoming an influencer. I just started taking videos of my jobs as a daily way to save all my work. At some point I started sharing tips and processes on TikTok, then Instagram followers started showing interest, so I just kept doing it.
How important is reputation in your business?
KLAUDIO: In this business, reputation is key. People put trust in you, so you must trust the products you use. I use KILZ® Primer to help maintain my reputation as a pro. I prime every time. First, I prep, then I use KILZ Primer right after.
This is a paid partnership with Klaudio Dulemata.
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our KILZ Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.
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Best KILZ® Primer Products to Use After a Natural Disaster
August 31, 2022When disaster strikes, it’s natural for you to feel defeated. Especially when you finally can assess the damages. Smoke residue from a fire or mold and mildew that creeps in after flood waters recede is a considerable challenge in the renovation process. In many cases, disaster recovery calls for the help of a professional. But if you want to DIY your restoration, KILZ® Primers can help with your painting project. Let’s look at the best KILZ® primers for situations you may encounter in the aftermath of a disaster.
Best KILZ® Primers for Inside the Home
For Smoke Damage
Covering smoke and soot is a tough challenge when painting the interior of your home. Whether the damage came from a wood-burning fireplace or a kitchen fire, you don’t want it to bleed through your fresh paint. That’s why cleaning it properly and using the correct primer before painting is essential. If you have smoke damage in your home, follow these steps to cover it.
1. Clean the surface using a dry cleaning sponge. These natural rubber sponges have tiny, porous cells that work to lift the soot from the surface without smearing or streaking.
2. Wash the surface with a grease-cutting dish detergent and water.
3. Rinse with a solution of one part water and three parts vinegar.
Once the walls and ceiling are squeaky clean, it’s time to prime. Properly applied, primers provide a foundation coat that ensures the topcoat looks its best and lasts longer. The following KILZ® Primer products work tirelessly at blocking smoke stains and odors.
• KILZ® ORIGINAL Oil-Based Primer blocks most heavy interior stains, including smoke, and is suitable for wood, drywall, plaster, paneling, wallpaper, masonry, and brick.
• KILZ® ORIGINAL Interior/Exterior Primer is a fast-drying oil-based sealer that blocks the most severe stains, including those from smoke and fire. And it seals against any lingering smoke odors. Use it on interior and exterior surfaces, including wood, drywall, plaster, brick, stucco and masonry.
• KILZ RESTORATION® Primer (Formerly KILZ MAX) is a water-based primer, sealer, and stain blocker you can cover with either a water-based or oil-based topcoat. Performing like traditional oil and shellac-based primers, it blocks tough stains like smoke and seals against its odor. Use it on drywall, wood, plaster, masonry, and brick.
For Water Damage
Anyone who’s lived through a flood understands the shock after the water recedes. There’s a definitive line marking the water level. The drywall is ruined, ugly stains are everywhere, and the smell is nauseating. Unfortunately, the odor comes from another set of problems for homeowners who want to repair the damage left behind–bacteria, mold, and mildew. And all are challenging to cover with paint. If this sounds like what you’re facing after a hurricane, tornado, or flood, KILZ® Primers can help.
Once clean-up is complete and all soil, mold, and mildew removed, you’re ready to prime the surfaces for painting. The following KILZ® Primer products are the best choice for blocking water stains, sealing against odors, or preventing mold and mildew from recurring.
• KILZ® ORIGINAL Oil-Based Primer blocks most heavy interior stains, including water, and is suitable for wood, drywall, plaster, paneling, wallpaper, masonry, and brick.
• KILZ® ORIGINAL Interior/Exterior Primer blocks the most severe water stains and seals against any persistent odors. Use it on interior and exterior surfaces, including wood, drywall, plaster, brick, stucco and masonry.
• KILZ RESTORATION® Primer is a water-based primer, sealer, and stain blocker that blocks tough stains from heavy water stain damage and seals against unwanted odor. Use it on drywall, wood, plaster, masonry, and brick. And topcoat with either water-based or oil-based paint.
• KILZ 2® ALL-PURPOSE Primer (Previously KILZ 2 Latex) is a water-based primer with a mild odor. It’s suitable for multiple surfaces with excellent adhesion and primes, seals, and blocks medium stains from mild water damage. It also has a mildew resistant finish.
• KILZ 3® PREMIUM Primer dries fast, has low odor, and is very low in VOCs. In addition, this water-based primer has excellent adhesion, provides a mildew-resistant coating, and blocks most medium to heavy stains caused by water. Use it on interior and exterior woodwork, drywall, plaster, paneling, masonry, and brick.
Best Primer for Damage Outside Your Home
Fire, hurricanes, and other storm damage happen outside your home just as readily as inside. For restoration jobs on exterior surfaces, the following KILZ® primers provide excellent adhesion and durability on most surfaces.
• KILZ® ORIGINAL Interior/Exterior Primer
• KILZ® MOLD and MILDEW Primer
Before Disaster Happens
Primers provide a foundation coat that solves various surface problems, ensuring the topcoat looks best and lasts longer. While it cannot prevent any physical damage from natural disasters, a primer does help the paint stick to the wall better and more evenly, thereby helping to avoid damage to some degree. So, before a tragedy, remember to prime your surfaces with KILZ® primers correctly.
Trusted by pros for over 40 years, most homeowners choose KILZ® products for tackling stains and odors caused by fires, floods, and smoke. They’re available where most paints are sold.
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.
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Pro Spotlight: Kenny and Kate Transform Historic Tin Bedroom Ceiling
August 31, 2022Hi there! We are Kenny and Kate-Home Renovation/DIY husband and wife duo based in northern Alabama. Although most of the time you will find us renovating a space or DIYing a project, on the weekends we can often be found on a hike at our nearby state park with our daughter Remi. Whether playing fetch with one of our three dogs, Kessa, Scout, and Lola or snuggling our guinea pigs, Kipper and Gus, we are also huge animal lovers. Our DIY journey began when we purchased our little 1972 fixer-upper home in 2019. We began renovating the home room by room and ultimately fell in love with the process of transforming each space. When most of the world was shut down in 2020, we found comfort in making our home a place of peace and restoration. We loved it so much that in January of 2021 we started our own local home remodeling business, Kaleidoscope Home Co. LLC, to help others embrace and improve the spaces that make up their homes. As the business grew, so did we. By the end of 2021, we had decided to sell our 1972 fixer-upper home and purchase an 1800s downtown brick mercantile building to live in/operate our business out of. That building is currently where we reside. Our business is located on the ground level and our living space is located on the second floor.
Because the decision to purchase and move into the building was made rather quickly, we did not have the time or resources to renovate any of the spaces before moving in. Our daughter, Remi, has been sleeping in a makeshift closet area for the last seven months. It is finally time to give her the room she deserves!
As mentioned above, this is a commercial property (now zoned for mixed-use). This means it does not have designated bedrooms. We have quite literally built Remi’s “big girl bedroom” from the ground up in a portion of the upstairs loft. Now that the walls are up, the closet and bed are built, and the hardwood floors are sanded, it is time to paint the ceiling. The beautiful, crimson red ceiling color works wonderfully in the rest of the building, however, it is just not the vibe in this room. We are painting the walls green and we’re afraid it would look like the holiday season threw up in here. So, as you might have guessed, we’ve decided to paint the ceiling a creamy white color. The historical tin ceilings in this building are worth preserving, and we believe a creamy white color will help accentuate all of the intricate details.
Although the ceilings were previously painted, there are spots where the paint has been chipped or scuffed. Because of this, we need to prime the ceiling with an oil-based primer to prevent the tin from rusting when painted. Priming is fundamental for completing any paint project. It is the difference between a job done and a job done right. Quite simply, primers create an ideal surface coat for the topcoat paint to perform and look its best: paint delivers color and makes that color and beautiful finish last as long as possible, while primers do the “dirty work” underneath. Of course, we would use no other primer on this project than our favorite KILZ Original Interior Primer.
When painting over an existing color, thick, high-hide primer formulas like KILZ Original Interior Primer are important for preparing surfaces, blocking color bleed-through, and covering surface imperfections. And believe us, these 100+-year-old tin ceilings have some imperfections!
First things first, we need to cover the recessed lighting with plastic bags and lay drop cloths over the hardwood flooring. We will be spraying the primer over some areas that also need to be primed (like the walls and bed), so there is no worry of overspray on these areas.
We always, always make sure to stir KILZ Original Interior Primer before painting because it is very common for the ingredients to separate while sitting in the can.
Now that our primer is stirred and the bedroom is fully prepped and ready, it is time to start painting. Always be sure to use proper PPE when painting with oil-based paint. We like to gear up with a face respirator mask, a hooded paint suit, and protective eyewear.
We have found that slow and steady is the best method for even coverage with KILZ Original Interior Primer. It dries quickly, but not so quickly that the process needs to be rushed. Back and forth motions are the easiest way to get in all the grooves of this super detailed tin ceiling.
And without further ado…drumroll, please… it is time for the final reveal of the painted tin ceiling!
We finished this project by coating the primer with Behr Premium Plus Interior Ceiling Flat paint in the shade Warm Marshmallow. The ceiling now has a soft, warm glow to it, and all of the scuffs, scratches, and imperfections are covered. We could not be happier with this finish. If you have ever wanted to paint a tin ceiling of your own, KILZ Original Interior Primer. is the way to go. It can be used on wood, drywall, plaster, paneling, wallpaper, masonry, brick, painted metal, and properly prepared glossy surfaces. It is, however, not recommended for mold or mildew-prone surfaces or flooring. You can learn more about preparation, application, and product specifications HERE.
Thank you for following along on this project!
Kenny & Kate
*This is a paid partnership with Kenny and Kate
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.
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Kids Room Refresh with Oak Hill Millworks
August 10, 2022
What’s up, guys? Christy here with Oak Hill Millworks and today I am recapping a home renovation project that I just wrapped up for my kids! Before we dive into the details, let me introduce myself. I am a small business owner in New Brighton, PA and my family is relocating to Kokomo, Indiana.
So, I recently found myself wanting to brighten my kids’ room up and expand it a bit. Are any fans of demolition reading this? Our house had a 2′ x 3′ foot bump out in the corner of the kids’ room, and we knew there was a chimney behind it. We assumed it was leveling off in the attic, considering there wasn’t a chimney coming out of the roof. I went against my better judgment and started what should have been a simple refresh with primer and paint with demolition instead.ͭ
ͭ Behr Paint Company strongly recommends the use of highly skilled professionals when undertaking a project that requires demolition.
Was it worth it to go through all that manual labor to gain an extra 6 square feet of floor space in their room? I vote yes! I love to challenge myself and taking a chimney out on your own, reframing a wall, hanging new drywall, and finally doing the FUN DIY work of painting was a great challenge for me to say the least. Once I finally got the room cleaned up and the walls wiped down, it was time to prep for primer!
The dark red walls needed a high-hide primer formula to prevent color bleed-through and, because of its thicker formula, help fill in any small dimples or imperfections in the wall. For the majority of the room, I chose KILZ 3® Premium Primer to get the job done well, rather than just getting the job done well enough.
Priming is foundational for any painting project for good adhesion and just in case you missed things like pencil marks or greasy fingerprints when you were cleaning your walls at the beginning, KILZ 3 Premium Primer will act as a stain-blocker to prevent those marks from showing up.
My room prep this time around was minimal, I taped around windows since I tend to go rogue with my rollers! I did not use drop cloths because I knew I was also going to rip out the carpet and install new flooring, otherwise I would 100% recommend drop cloths. I almost ALWAYS spill paint one way or another!
After rolling on 2 coats of KILZ 3 Premium Primer, it was time to see the room take shape by painting with BEHR® Premium Plus Interior paint in Silver Drop. I have always felt that painting a room is truly the best and most cost-effective way to really allow a space to become something new. A great tip, if you are rolling paint on, is to wrap your roller in inters’ tape and then unwind it and watch some fuzzies come loose — this prevents those fuzzies from getting in your topcoat! Beyond that, though, don’t skimp on the roller. Spend a couple of extra bucks and get a nicer one; you won’t regret it. It truly does make a difference in the finish.
Drumroll please… here it is!
Priming was a necessary step to block that deep red color from breaking through since we went so light on the topcoat color. Not priming could cost you time and money in the long run, so don’t skip that step. I am so happy with how this room remodel turned out. Although I did some major renovations to add to the overall transformation, priming & painting were ESSENTIAL in making it look like a brand new, light & bright space.
Doesn’t it look so much bigger too? Hard to deny that primer is key for Instagram-worthy photo finishes. Time to chalk this one up as a win and get started planning my next DIY project! Cheers!
*This is a paid partnership with Oak Hill Millworks
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.
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Restore a Timeless Home with KILZ® and Leanne Ford
August 1, 2022Here on the Perfect Finish, we sat down with top designer Leanne Ford to chat about her restoration to the exterior of her 120-year-old home in Pittsburgh. Using KILZ 3® Premium Primer and exterior paint from the BEHR® MARQUEE® Designer Collection palette, Leanne’s goal is to restore all the exterior spaces of her home to their natural original beauty.
“My husband and I bought an old historical home from 1900 and I loved it had been set empty for almost five years before we moved in, and it was totally magical. It was waiting for us. And it’s this beautiful old historical home that I really felt drawn to save and fix up and take it back to its glory.” – Leanne Ford
Built in 1900 by celebrated architectural icon, Charles Barton Keen, this home is punctuated with gorgeous exterior elements, wooden windows, pergolas, archways, and columns, all waiting to be brought back to life.
“I’m trying to hone in on what the architect’s plan was for this home, what the people that built it, what their plan was for the home. So, we’re really just doing primer and paint on the window and all the woodwork on all the doors, which is exciting. This home is 120 years old and we’re only the third owner. So, I do feel a duty to keep it beautiful.”
To save as much as possible of the exterior, there are structural elements that need some love. To start, Leanne chose KILZ 3® Premium Primer, a versatile and heavy-duty interior and exterior primer, that will create a clean canvas for new color. She emphasizes the importance of tackling a restoration like this right from the start, which includes choosing the right products for long-lasting results.
“The outside of your house is a big job, and I’m trying to do this and not do it again for a long time. So, I’m getting the best primer. I’m getting the best paint. I want to do it right. And I want it to last. First, we’re going to do KILZ 3 Premium Primer and we’re going to put it on all the surfaces and really, it’s going to make it a beautiful clean canvas for the paint.” – Leanne Ford
The Pergola
“This house is all about the outside. It’s all about the garden, and it’s all about the pergola, and it’s all about the sunroom. This house is made for sitting outside and looking at this beautiful building.”
The current state of the exterior proves the home has withstood many decades of weathering. To refresh this historic structure, KILZ 3 Premium Primer ensures that porous surfaces are evenly sealed; scuffs and blemishes are hidden, stains that could otherwise show through or bleed through the paint are blocked and sealed-in and odors are neutralized. Reminder, it’s always important to clean and prep any surface appropriately, including exteriors, prior to applying a fresh coating.
The Windows
“My big thing is the windows and the doors and the wood. I don’t want these windows to look brand new. I wanted them to look clean and give them a fresh life.”
KILZ 3 Premium Primer creates a clean slate for the new color to show as intended. These windows pay homage to the age of the home and restoring them with KILZ 3 Premium Primer allows for the new topcoat to have a long life.
The Stucco
Much of the home is engulfed in stucco and it’s just as important to refresh and restore. After a thorough power wash, the adhesion from KILZ 3 Premium Primer will act as an anchor for the topcoat of paint to ensure it stays on the surface and prevents peeling while remaining flexible enough to handle the weather.
Once primed, and ready to go, the topcoat color can be applied. Leanne chose BEHR MARQUEE in Natural White from the new Designer Collection palette. This is a soft and timeless shade, a perfect fit for this home restoration. The BEHR Designer Collection is a palette full of tried-and-true designer-approved white, neutral, and accent colors.
“This home will be perfect for many dinner parties and family celebrations outside in the garden, admiring this historic home’s natural beauty. Walking to the backyard with a refreshed stucco archway and the new ivy growing on the pergola make the garden feel like a secret oasis for family and guests to enjoy. I envision having a very long life here. This is my last house.” – Leanne Ford
This is a paid partnership with Leanne Ford.
Always refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is suitable for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.
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PRO SPOTLIGHT: Make A Front Door Pop with Jared Foster
June 30, 2022With two little ones and running a carpentry business, free time is something that is not easy to come by, so I am always looking for ways to get quality work done more quickly around the house. Being a carpenter, you’d think that my home would always be in tip top shape, but sadly, my personal home is usually the last home I get any work done on. Turns out having two little boys running around means dirt, grime, and messiness can be a pretty normal part of everyday life. But my wife has been wanting to spruce up the front porch area a bit, since this is typically the first part of your home people will see.
We have this amazing porch swing that I built and we wanted to continue the theme of calm and relaxation as people approached our steps, so we decided to paint the door using Tidal, a navy color from Behr Paint, and Pasha Brown, a brown shade also made by Behr, for the trim. Before any painting got done, we needed to clean and prime the area to ensure the longevity of the paint and look. That’s why we chose KILZ 3® PREMIUM Interior and Exterior Primer. KILZ 3® PREMIUM Interior and Exterior Primer is a superior quality primer that offers excellent adhesion to both the surface and the topcoat. It dries fast, has a low odor and low VOC which makes it a great choice for a primer. The primer includes stain-blocking properties that block most medium-to-heavy stains caused by water, tannin, ink, pencil, felt marker and grease which is essential when you have little ones.
The first step that I needed to take care of was pressure washing the front door and the areas around it to help loosen up and remove the gunk that built up over time. If you’re working with a time crunch, it’s best to utilize some shop rags or towels to soak up the excess water, as this can help speed up the drying process. Otherwise, you can simply let it air dry while you get other things done on your weekend to-do list. After the area dried, I laid down some painter’s paper to get the sanding done with less cleaning up on the backend. Sanding will even out all the old paint and remove any chipped pieces of paint on the door and the trim.
One thing I noticed is that whoever last painted the door to our home, didn’t utilize any primer, as it was really easy for some of the old paint to just peel off in chunks. Priming is a step worth taking, because it can help save time and money in the long run. Living in Atlanta means humid weather and using something like KILZ 3® Premium Interior and Exterior Primer would have helped keep this from happening over time, regardless of the weather conditions. Priming is fundamental for completing any paint project. It is the difference between a job done and a job done right.
After sanding, I just utilized a leaf blower to get the excess dust off the porch, any extra can just be wiped off. When my son came out onto the porch after his nap, he asked me “daddy, can I help you paint?” One of the aspects of doing projects from home that I enjoy most is being able to have my children join in. It reminds me of the times that I spent learning how to be handy around the house with my pops as a kid. I was able to get my son to help me put down more painter’s tape. This isn’t really a time saving hack, but it’s worth the few extra minutes to let him assist me, as much as a 2-year-old can. We put down more painter’s paper and tape on the trim, door, floor, and walls of the front of the house where we’d be spraying the paint to help save on clean up time.
I chose not to tape off the windows, because if I sprayed anything on the windows I could have quickly used a razor blade to scrape it off once it dried, which would give you a crisp clean finish and save time. Another way to save time would be by removing the door entirely. This would allow you to spray the door separately from the trim and not have to worry about taping anything off again.
Then it was time to prime the trim and the door. A huge benefit of using KILZ 3® Premium Interior and Exterior Primer is its thicker consistency and high hiding capability which is essential when painting over an existing color and converting from a dark or bold color to a lighter one. KILZ 3® Premium Interior and Exterior Primer is a powerful stain blocker and will block color bleed-through and other stains.
Once I laid on the primer and allowed it to dry, I was able to spray the door and trim using BEHR® paint, remove all the paper and tape and enjoy the new look. All and all, this project was completed in 48 hours and honestly, I was really looking forward to getting it done. Having used KILZ 3® PREMIUM Interior and Exterior Primer I knew this door color would pop, giving me Instagram-worthy photo finishes and people will feel even more welcomed when they visit!
*This is a paid partnership with Jared Foster.
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Pro Spotlight: KILZ Restoration Tips with Daniel Ruiz
May 26, 2022Let’s take a deep dive into the life of a professional painter, Daniel Ruiz. Daniel brings over 22 years of painting experience with the mission to enhance and beautify people’s ideas and help bring those ideas to fruition. His father was the jack of all trades that carried his skills from their hometown in Mexico to the states. As his family grew, so did their home and he enjoyed working side by side with his father, grabbing hammers, screwdrivers, nails, etc., to eventually completing a painting project. As a teenager, he was always intrigued by art on the freeways and later combined his love of street art with his painting skills for additional income. Here on the Perfect Finish, we are going to dive into a few questions with Daniel on how he gets the job done right.
What projects do you (Daniel) enjoy the most?
Most of my projects are residential projects on the interior and exterior of the home. I like changing personal spaces. Kitchens, bedrooms, I really feel like color helps change the atmosphere and the feel of a space. Could make them feel more at home or open the space and that makes them feel good which makes me feel good.
Why is a primer important and do you need to use a primer for every paint job?
Primer is the layer of protection that gives your paint a better base and grips to your paint as well as helps to bring out the true color of your paint. It is the best thing to do to make sure your job starts off with a clean canvas. Prime every time before you paint. Wash your walls, prime with a coat of primer and two coats of paint. This provides your wall with multiple coats of protection.
Why choose KILZ Primers?
KILZ Primer is available, front and center, at most hardware stores. It is my go-to brand because it’s available, trustworthy, and I can rely on it for all my projects. It impacts my reputation that I can paint once and create long lasting coverage that speaks volumes to my customers.
For people who aren’t sure, when would you spray, roll, or brush when applying primer and paint products?
It is all about the different textures. Sprayers will have the finest finish, rollers will leave the best texture for high traffic areas, and brush for smaller areas, touch-ups, and cutting in. Brushes and rollers leave the best texture for high-traffic areas. I like sprayer applications because you can get into every nook and cranny. Sometimes spraying in homes can be difficult due to over-spray and lingering odors. It is also the quickest method.
Why did you specifically choose KILZ Restoration® Primer for this job?
The previous tenant was a smoker and KILZ Restoration Primer helps block out the smoke smell and lingering odors in the ceiling and walls.
What general advice would you have for someone who has never done a DIY project?
1. Research – Most hardware stores have samples. Always pick up a few options and paint a section of the room. Get a feel for how the color works with the lighting in the space or the furniture in your home. The color may look nice in store but might not compliment the things you already own.
2. Be Prepared – Protect the space with drop cloths or plastic wrapping. Paint is like water and can get everywhere. Make sure you get everything out of the way and cover all the items you don’t want painted. A little bit of extra prep-work goes a long way.
3. Buying Product – In the past, I would always say go to the store and inspect everything in person, especially for first time DIYers. Since I am a professional painter, I know what types of tools I like to work with so I will order products online and while I wait for them to arrive, I use the time to do all my prep work. Masking the floor, covering the furniture, and putting all our drop cloths down in just the right place.
This is a paid partnership with Daniel Ruiz.
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our KILZ Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.
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