Author: Kelly Crane
The Ultimate Painting Checklist for Any Project
April 26, 2023Preparation is key before starting any paint project in your home. You should know the products you’ll need and what steps to follow. Whether you’re looking to spruce up some old cabinets, repaint an entire room, or refresh an outdoor patio, knowing what to expect will help ensure things run smoothly from start to finish.
Plan Your Approach
There’s a lot to consider when painting different spaces. For indoor and outdoor paint jobs alike, you’ll need to think about the surface—wood, brick, drywall, etc.— its condition, and the function of the space. Are you painting a backyard deck or refreshing kitchen cabinets? Are you changing the color of your bedroom or restoring a water-stained ceiling?
The chosen primer directly influences the success of your project. This crucial step will save you time and money in the long run and make your final color the best it can be.
Choose Your Color
With so many available options, it’s a good idea to test a few different color samples in various lighting conditions before making a final decision. If you’re keeping existing furniture or art in a room, consider how they work with your chosen shade beforehand.
Choose the Right Primer
For most projects, you can trust a multi-surface primer to prepare the surface for painting. More complex situations require a primer specially engineered for those cases—such as mold, stain, and odors.
Oil-based primers are often better at blocking or sealing stains, especially water-soluble stains. They’re also usually superior at blocking tannin bleed and unwanted odors.
• Choose to prime over a previous oil-based paint.
• Choose to prime on fresh, unsealed, or knotty wood.
• Choose if you need to cover severe stains or odors.
Water-based primers—or “latex” primers—are easier to clean (using soap and water), dry fast, and have low VOCs, making them healthier for you and the environment.
• Choose if priming indoors where ventilation is poor and in spaces sensitive to strong odors.
• Choose when projects require a lower VOC level product, if there is a flammability concern, and/or when there is a preference for clean-up without harsh chemicals.
Our Pro Primer Recommendations:
• KILZ® Mold & Mildew Interior and Exterior Primer: Water-based primer. Ideal for use in high humidity, high moisture, and high-temperature environments.
• KILZ Restoration® Interior Primer: Water-based primer. Ideal for interior, multi-surface paint jobs that may require tough stain blocking and heavy odor coverage.
• KILZ 2® All-Purpose Interior and Exterior Primer: Water-based primer. Great overall interior/exterior primer. Ideal for changing wall colors.
• KILZ 3® Premium Interior and Exterior Primer: Water-based primer. Fast drying, great for adhesion and hiding surface imperfections. It provides a mildew-resistant coating, making it ideal for moisture-prone areas.
What Else Do I Need to Paint a Room? (Supply Checklist)
Depending on the nature of the job, these items can make your life easier.
• Paint roller + Tray – Rollers hold more paint than brushes and can distribute even layers of paint much faster.
• Paint sprayer – For a smooth, professional finish.
• Paint scraper – Removes unwanted layers of paint.
• Trim paint brush – For trimming around windows, molding, and door frames.
• Painter’s tape – A must for creating precise lines and neat edges.
• Sandpaper – For smoothing and prepping surfaces.
• Putty knife – Creates a smooth wall or ceiling surface.
• Drop cloth – Use to protect your furniture and floors.
• Stepladder – For reaching ceilings and the tops of walls.
• Extension pole – To extend your roller’s reach without a ladder.
• Paint guide (edge guard) – Neatly paint molding, trim, and windowpanes without painter’s tape.
Any painting project takes focus, but having the right plan, primer, and tools ahead of time will save you time and money and make you feel like a pro in no time. We hope this inspires your next project, no matter how big or small. Be sure to come back to the blog for more DIY tips, tricks, and ideas.
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: 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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A Dining Room That’s Cozy and Bright
October 10, 2022
The holidays are right around the corner, and that means your dining room is about to see a lot of traffic. Whether you’re hosting friends, family, or both, your dining room should be a place where everyone feels welcome, cozy, and right at home, and with so many opportunities to use this room at this time of year, why not give it a chance to shine?
Home renovations during the holidays can be stressful, which is why we recommend starting any project a few months ahead of time. Adding an accent wall can really liven up a room and create a focal point within your home that draws people in, and it’s easy to achieve with the right primer. We hope our renovation inspires you to give your dining room a bit more personality and charm.
As with any room makeover involving fresh paint, we started by preparing our accent wall. We chose KILZ 2® All-Purpose Primer for this project thanks to its ability to seal surfaces, block stains, and hide previous color. We like that this primer is mildew resistant, as kitchen humidity can sometimes penetrate nearby rooms, such as dining spaces. This multi-surface primer is a favorite for time-sensitive projects you’re hoping to complete before the holidays, because it dries fast, adheres beautifully, and has a very mild odor. While not recommended for flooring,
Once primed, we chose a rich, marine blue for our accent wall—Tribute Oceans Deep TB-60—and started painting, taking care to cover the base board below with painter’s tape. Taking a wall from light to dark is a great way to change the tone and feel within a room, which is what we did here. You can highlight desired areas and draw focus away from others. It can be a good idea to place a darker-shade accent wall next to a window to create contrast and play with the effects of the natural light. Again, using a primer before you begin painting is a great way to ensure any color you choose looks its best and brightest, especially if you’re painting over an existing color.
After our paint finished drying, we put the final touches on our dining room. Because this room is a gathering place, we didn’t want to overwhelm the space with too much décor that could get in the way of company or serving food. We opted for gold fixtures and accents, as well as white chairs and drapery to brighten and complement the dark wood of the larger furniture and our lovely accent wall. Overall, we’ve achieved a room that is elegant enough for holiday parties, while still being casual and comfortable enough for nightly dinners with just the family.
If you are choosing to take on a dining room renovation this holiday season, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to complete it—at least a month or so prior. Be sure to research the right primer for the job if painting, and keep it simple when it comes to décor. You can always bring more decorations into the mix for parties, but you want to make sure the space stays cozy and casual enough for year-round meals. Whatever type of domestic sprucing you tackle this year, we hope this project inspires you to create more spaces inside your home for togetherness.
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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Patio Transformation to Kick Off the Summer
July 11, 2022A tired deck is hardly an inviting place to kick off the warm-weather season with friends and family. So don’t let another summer go by without transforming your outdoor living space into something fresh and vibrant. Cracks and splinters, stains, and mildew are sure signs your deck is ready for a new finish.
Follow along for step-by-step instructions to transform your deck into a beautiful space for you to enjoy all summer long.
Cleaning & Preparation: Before applying a new finish on your deck, be sure clean it to remove any trace of the old finish, stains, and mildew. After all, you don’t want tough stains like that old BBQ sauce Uncle Jim spilled last Labor Day to be there forever.
• Step 1: Use a wood stain and finish stripper to remove remnants of an old coating and follow it with a wood cleaner and brightener to neutralize the wood.
• Step 2: Rinse the surface thoroughly with a garden hose or a pressure washer. Pro tip, use the broadest spray pattern while keeping the nozzle at least 24-inches away from the surface.
• Step 3: Allow the area to dry for 24 hours, and sand the surface to remove any remaining stray fibers.
Application: Use KILZ® Over Armor® Textured or KILZ Over Armor Smooth Coating to take your deck to the next level. The solid color coating was designed to cover cracks, hide other imperfections, and provide a textured, non-slip or smooth surface. It’s the perfect choice for breathing new life into old, weathered wood and transforming your deck into a stunning outdoor space that brings the family together making it the envy of the neighborhood.
• Step 4: Stir KILZ Over Armor Coating and intermix cans of the same color to ensure color uniformity
• Step 5: Using the newly mixed coating, fill in any cracks or holes. Next, apply the first coat using a ½” nap roller
• Step 6: Let dry 4-6 hours, then apply second coat. Allow 24 hours before subjecting to light traffic and allow 72 hours before subjecting to full cure
Available in several nature-inspired colors, this deck features Slate Gray. This deep hue blends well with the home’s light gray vinyl siding, black shutters, and white vinyl deck railing. In addition, the neutral gray tone of this area is the perfect canvas for new colorful accessories.
New furnishings can always add a pop of color and give you a chance to add your own personal style. Navy seat cushions, summery striped throw pillows, and a potted rose bush add vibrancy. But, of course, you can always change out décor pending your mood or season.
Don’t just paint the deck. Transform the space into a relaxing, fun environment to share with your world.
Features of KILZ® Over Armor Textured Coating
• Use on wood, composite, or concrete
• Suitable for horizontal or vertical surfaces
• Bridges gaps up to ¼”
• Conceals splinters
• Provides a slip-resistant finish
• It fully cures in 72 hours
• Cleans up with water
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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