Kilz cannot be used to treat and kill mold and any paint or priming company that tries to claim that their paint can kill mold is lying.
Even if you try to paint over unkilled or live mold with ‘mold resistant’ Kilz paint, mold will still continue to grow through it. Kilz paint can prevent the growth of mold or mildew on fresh and clean surfaces but it cannot be used as a solution to kill mold that has already taken root.
In order to eradicate mold from your home, you’ll need to either contact remediation professionals to come to help you get rid of it or try to tackle the problem yourself.
If the mold issue is extensive and beyond your capabilities, then it’s best to hire out a professional who has mold remediation certifications and appropriate experience. It’s important to find someone who will be able to solve the problem safely and effectively. Be sure you ask a lot of questions and ensure that you’re not hiring someone who will just want to paint over the problem. Unfortunately, mold and its sources need to be physically removed and there are no quick fixes like painting the mold with Kilz.
If you decide to opt for the DIY mold remediation option here are some things to keep in mind. Before you try tackling any at-home solutions, make sure you have respiratory equipment and goggles. If the molded area is extensive then you’ll need to figure out how to set up containment as well. Anything that you dispose of that has mold on it should be double-bagged and disposed of properly.
Some at-home mold solutions you can try are very effective in reducing or eliminating the appearance and growth of mold in your home. Try mixing 1 part bleach with 10 parts water in a spray bottle and spray it all over the surfaces affected by mold and leave it for 4 hours. This only works on non-porous surfaces like tile or stone. It will not work on moldy drywall or wood. If you have not found and stopped the water source, the mold will still come back after using bleach.
If you decide to use this option, you could use this solution and apply it with a sponge or cloth with gloves on. You may want to leave all windows open or a fan in the room whilst you wait for everything to dry. The fumes of the bleach are strong, potentially dangerous and can irritate your lungs.
Can you paint Kilz over mold?
It is not recommended to paint over mold with Kilz! This is especially true if the mold and moldy materials have not been physically removed before painting.
If your mold is due to a leaking roof or dampness in a room, then you’ll need to address this issue by first fixing the leak or installing a dehumidifier. Then you’ll need to remove the wall or surface with the mold growing on it. Using a homemade solution to completely kill the mold will only work on non-porous materials.
Once the leak has been fixed, the moldy materials have been removed and replaced and the mold has gone, you can then paint over the surface with Kilz and it will work to prevent any mold or mildew from growing again.
What happens if you paint over mold?
If you do end up painting over the untreated mold, then it will only return and your paint or wallpaper on your wall will start bubbling, cracking, or chipping again. Unfortunately, the mold will continue to grow and cause health risks for some time even before the paint starts to crack again.
So, it is more cost-effective in the long run to just complete mold remediation for your home instead of just painting over it with mold or mildew-resistant paint primer. It can be expensive up front, but it’s the right way to do it for the best long term result for both your health and your bank account!
Which Kilz is best for mold?
The Kilz Mold & Mildew Resistant Interior and Exterior primer is one of the most popular amongst homeowners due to its versatility.
It should not be used as a treatment to kill mold but can be used to paint over mold that has been treated or on clean surfaces to prevent mold. It is a powerful stain-blocking formula that will help cover even the most unsightly aftermaths of mold growth in your home.
This primer will also help any additional paint that you want to apply to your wall adhere better, so you’ll achieve a smooth and even finish. It’s very fast drying, which is exactly what you want after the pain and time spent trying to treat the growing mold in your home.
It also has low VOC emissions so there won’t be any disgusting smells when you’re painting and it won’t negatively affect your health. The product is not recommended for use on floors and is primarily used for kitchen and bathrooms, but it can be used on drywall, sheetrock and masonry.
Kilz does do specialized paint primers that are formulated for particular surfaces like masonry or concrete, ideal if you’re looking to paint a basement to protect it against mold.
Which is better, Kilz or Zinsser?
Zinsser offers more consistent quality across its range of mold and mildew-resistant paint primers than KILZ. There are some excellent products from the KILZ ranges of paint primers, but when compared side by side with Zinsser products, they are not as effective.
The Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 paint primer offers excellent coverage and doesn’t allow colors of mold underneath the paint to bleed through. It can also be used on a wide variety of surfaces including wood, drywall, and even masonry and dries within 30 minutes of applying it.
