Zinsser vs Kilz Primer: Hvilken er best? [2023] (2023)

FAQs

Which primer is better Kilz or Zinsser? ›

Conclusion. In our Zinsser vs Kilz primer comparison, Zinsser came on top in terms of odor, bleed-through prevention, and adhesion. Since Kilz Original is oil-based and won't paint on galvanized metal surfaces, Zinsser is more of the multi-purpose paint primer between the two.

KILZ 2 All-Purpose Interior/Exterior Multi-purpose Water-based Wall and Ceiling Primer is a great all-purpose primer at a good price. It can be used indoors or out, and it works especially well on previously painted surfaces; besides drywall, it's effective when applied to interior or exterior wood and masonry.

Any oil or latex paint can be applied over it. Professionals love B-I-N because it dries faster than any other primer. It cures as fast as it dries, making it ideal for kitchen cabinet repainting, doors, and trim work.

Overall, Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer was the clear winner thanks to its lightweight formula, easy application, and added skincare benefits.

Water-based latex primer and oil-based primer are both suitable for priming interior walls. Latex primer is considered an all-purpose primer and is easy to clean up with water. Oil-based primer is also versatile. It's the preferred choice for blocking stains, wood tannin and for covering porous wood surfaces.

For some of the best paint to cover dark walls, try an all-in-one Primer and Sealer tinted in a light grey. Colours like Seagull Grey or Ultra Pure White in the Behr Marquee are great choices. For a warmer white, look for Behr's Polar Bear Tint, for a cooler white, go with Behr's White.

In most cases only one coat is necessary to prime most surfaces. If excessive absorption occurs over very porous substrates a second coat may be necessary. Spot priming is recommended only under high-hiding topcoat finishes. For best results, prime entire surface before painting.

All three Zinsser primers are very high quality, you just need to know which one to use for which application. Zinsser 123 is great for surfaces that are easier to adhere to and has low odour. Zinsser Cover Stain provides durability and adhesion on glossy glossy surfaces.

Zinsser 1 gal. Drywall Primer (Case of 4) is designed for sealing new drywall surfaces. The fast-drying formula seals surfaces for painting in just 1-hour and won't raise the nap on new drywall.

Is Zinsser a good bonding primer? ›

Zinsser Extreme Adhesion Primer is a fast drying, water-based primer/bonder. It provides excellent adhesion on the toughest to paint surfaces such as glass, tile, porcelain, Kynar, Formica, fiberglass, aluminum, glossy furniture, cabinets, trim and more.

Best Primers for Painting Wood Without Sanding

So priming first will ensure a long lasting finish. I like both Kilz bonding primer and Zinsser Oil Based primer for use on furniture.

The three main primers are; oil-based, acrylic-based and shellac-based.

Bulls Eye 1-2-3® is great for new and previously painted drywall, plaster, wood, metal, vinyl, PVC, fibreglass, masonry - any interior surface.

If You Are Going To Paint Over Bare Drywall or Unfinished Wood. You will want to use 2 coats of primer as the first coat of primer may soak a bit into the material coating the walls.

Acrylic paint primers offer easier application, water clean-up, and fewer environmental considerations. This type of primer can be used for almost any surface, including wood, laminate, and metal, unless there is the presence of rust (more on that later).

Applying primer first is the best way to ensure a perfect finish later. Just as it does with makeup and on cars, primer creates a smooth base that promotes better adhesion and truer color from your topcoat paint. Pro-tip: Apply primer using a brush first to “cut in" around edges, then use a roller to fill in.

If the wall surface is smooth, you can skip the primer step. However, if there are textured areas or wrinkles on the wall, you'll need to prime it first. If your wall has been previously covered in wallpaper, you should definitely plan on using a primer before painting.

How many coats of primer do you need on a wall? ›

You may also want to consider two coats of primer for porous surfaces such as stone, drywall, or wood, continues Tony Adams, home improvement expert. 'These are more likely to absorb liquid, so two coats of primer to properly seal them and prevent the paint from absorbing unevenly.'

Painting the wall on the far side of the room in a dark contrasting colour while keeping the side walls a light shade will help the room look more spacious. Another solution is to paint a single element such as wall shelving to catch the eye and make the rest of the space appear lighter in comparison.

Use a high-quality paintbrush, roller, or foam brush: A good brush or roller will help to evenly distribute the paint and prevent streaking. When painting, use long, even strokes in one direction. Avoid going back and forth, as this can also cause streaking.

Some say the primer color does not matter, and it doesn't if you put enough coats over it. However, that can get costly, and many people don't want to spend more money on paint than they have to. Spray primers (in aerosol cans) and surface primers (which you can airbrush or brush-on) come in many different colors.

Dries to touch in 5 minutes and can be topcoated in 30 minutes with latex or oil-based paints. For best results, allow primer to cure overnight before applying strong solvent- based topcoats.

Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 has a very thick consistency. Admittedly, some people don't like this characteristic because they feel that the primer is more difficult to brush out.

Adding a Second Coat

A good rule of thumb is to wait at least three hours to recoat your paint or primer if it's water-based. Waiting 24 hours is best for oil-based paint and primer. If you're unsure, the instructions on the paint's label can give you the best final say.

B-I-N® is the ultimate primer, sealer and stain killer. It offers unparalleled adhesion on any surface without sanding and has the hiding power to conceal the toughest of stains.

Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 is great for blocking stains. It permanently and completely seals graffiti, grease spots, tar and asphalt - inside and out. For oil and water stains, fire and smoke damage try our next generation Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 Plus. Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 is rust inhibitive and ideal for new metal.

Application– Ready to use - no dilution necessary. In most cases only one coat is necessary. Porous surfaces may require two coats to properly seal. Prime entire surface for best results.

Should you do two coats of primer on drywall? ›

You're painting unfinished drywall or plaster.

Two primer coats are recommended in this scenario because much of the first primer coat will be soaked up by the wall; the second coat will replenish any primer absorbed by the surface and hide any flaws in the wall.

KILZ® PVA DRYWALL PRIMER is designed for use on new drywall. It is a fast drying, interior water-based primer formulated to prime and seal new, uncoated drywall and reduce the number of topcoats required to achieve a uniform, professional quality finish. Designed for use under flat and low sheen paints only.

KILZ® KITCHEN & BATH Primer is a water-based primer-sealer-stainblocker that is specially designed for residential surfaces in high humidity, moisture and temperature environments such as kitchens, bathrooms, powder rooms and laundry rooms.

Primer is not formulated to stand up to the elements and should be topcoated within several weeks to ensure proper bonding. If left uncovered for an extended period of time, primer will tend to deteriorate and chalk, which could prevent future coats of paint from adhering properly.

In many cases, only one coat is needed in order to help subsequent layers of paint adhere. Valspar Stainblocking Bonding Primer-Sealer is thick and will handle almost any kind of material.

We recommend using Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 for glossy surfaces like varnished wood. Zinsser Bulls Eye is a 'bond coat' primer that's great for hard-to-stick surfaces as it offers excellent adhesion without sanding.

Conclusion. In our Zinsser vs Kilz primer comparison, Zinsser came on top in terms of odor, bleed-through prevention, and adhesion. Since Kilz Original is oil-based and won't paint on galvanized metal surfaces, Zinsser is more of the multi-purpose paint primer between the two.

How many coats of Kilz will I need? Usually one coat of Kilz will be enough to cover any texture issues, stains, previous colors, and odors. For darker colors, it is recommended to use two coats of Kilz.

Shellac Primer

They work well on wood, metal, plaster, and even plastic, and are fast drying and highly adhesive. They also can be used with both oil-based and latex paints. The drawback to using shellac-based primers is that they are not as versatile as latex or oil and they give off more fumes.

Sanding a surface removes the top glossy layer, allowing the substance to receive the primer. Without sanding the surface in advance, the new coat of paint won't stick to the previous layer.

What happens if you don't sand primer? ›

New paint will not easily stick to a smooth surface. Thus, if you don't sand the paint job (at least a little bit), your paint will begin to flake and peel in no time at all. A little bit of surface roughness will provide the traction that is needed for the paint to stay in place.

If the original paint was really shiny, you'll want to use a primer like Kilz. If it's not too shiny, you can use a latex primer, then put a couple of latex coats over it. Allow the primer to dry.

For instance, Kilz offers a Concrete & Masonry Bonding Primer, while Zinsser offers a high-performance Metal Primer that works on either clean or rusty surfaces. In general, when comparing Kilz vs. Zinsser primers, customers seem to lean toward the Zinsser products.

Summing up: All three Zinsser primers are very high quality, you just need to know which one to use for which application. Zinsser 123 is great for surfaces that are easier to adhere to and has low odour. Zinsser Cover Stain provides durability and adhesion on glossy glossy surfaces.

Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) primer is the best primer for new drywall. This primer seals the pores of drywall surfaces quickly and easily, and it's also highly sandable, so it is simple to fine-tune the surface with a sanding block or stick after a primer coat.

We recommend using Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 for glossy surfaces like varnished wood. Zinsser Bulls Eye is a 'bond coat' primer that's great for hard-to-stick surfaces as it offers excellent adhesion without sanding.

Also consider fossa Block & Bond as a direct alternative to Zinsser BIN, it's a bit nicer to use, and quite a bit cheaper: Zinsser BIN Primer Sealer and Stain Blocker seals surface pores so you use less finish paint. Finish coat has rich uniform appearance, with no "high" and "low" spots.

Kilz works to trap and seal odors, block stains, or even fill in porous surfaces. By doing so, it leaves a smooth base for fresh paint to go on smoothly and look its best.

B-I-N® is the ultimate primer, sealer and stain killer. It offers unparalleled adhesion on any surface without sanding and has the hiding power to conceal the toughest of stains.

Primer can go bad just like regular paint, and it has a much shorter shelf life. Most primers have a storage life of two to three years, considerably less time than a paint can.

Is it better to spray or roll drywall primer? ›

Back-rolling is typically most impactful when applying the primer for the interior walls of a home or a new construction build. While the primer is the coat that bonds with the substrate initially, airless spraying itself does not penetrate or enhance adhesion.

For drywall, apply two coats of a drywall primer-sealer (like Behr Premium Plus Drywall Primer and Sealer) or high-build drywall primer-sealer (one we like is Zinsser's Peel Stop Triple Thick High Build Binding Primer).

Dries to touch in 5 minutes and can be topcoated in 30 minutes with latex or oil-based paints. For best results, allow primer to cure overnight before applying strong solvent- based topcoats. Wipe off tip before storing.

Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 is great for blocking stains. It permanently and completely seals graffiti, grease spots, tar and asphalt - inside and out. For oil and water stains, fire and smoke damage try our next generation Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 Plus. Bulls Eye® 1-2-3 is rust inhibitive and ideal for new metal.