Zinsser Gardz ????

vixdname

Hi all,

Im looking for advise regarding an interior wall in a 1 year old new build extension.

I allowed the plaster to dry for a few months before I put on a watered-downed mist coast on it to help seal it up.

This paint came up all patchy and it looks like the plasterer used PVA in the plaster OR they over polished the plaster, I could be wrong on both counts but all research I've done online usually points either of those 2 options.

I now want to finish off painting this wall with a decent top coat finish but am afraid it may let patches flash through.

Would I be able to put a coat on Zinsser GARDZ on this mist coated wall, and then put my chosen top coat over it ?

I know GARDZ is ok to use on "Troublesome surfaces" like chalky flat builders paint as it'll bind it down, and can be used to go over new dried plaster \ plaster boards and even old wall paper glue aswell to allow top coating.

Lastly, it says that when GARDZ is dry, its compatible with all paints but I've read 2 comments on different forums that said they had problems applying emulsion over Gardz due to its hard shiny nature, yet the tin says its compatible with all paints.

What are you guys and gals experiences with this stuff if you've used it and do you think it would go on to my walls without issue ?

Thank a million all and genuinely appreciate any info.\ recommendations given !

dokeeffe30

Hi,

I am having similar issues with a new build. Did you resolve your paint issues, and if so how? Did you use Gardz?

Thanks

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058319245/zinsser-gardz

What you have there is called "mapping" and is usually caused by over troweling the skim coat which can create a polishing effect on certain areas, and it is quite common seen on new plaster. You done to correct thing by applying a mist coat first. In most cases this will not be an issue after you apply 2 further finish coats. The is a chance that if you're finishing in a soft sheen the it may be visible in certain light. Personally I wouldn't be using Guardz on it. I would apply 2 coats of washable matt/matt emulsion in your finish colour.

vixdname

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122130989#Comment_122130989

Hi,

I put a coating of Gardz over the wall then a coat of Zinsser "Cover Stain" which on its own, almost killed the mapping effect.

2 Coats of Color Trend emulsion and it was perfect and blemish free.

The rationale for the Gardz was to seal the wall completely as I tried the "tape test" on the mist coat and where ever I tried it, the tape took off some of the dried mist coat along with it, this lead me to believe, rightly or wrongly that even with a good emulsion, I may not get proper adhesion of the new paint on to the wall.

The Gardz sealed up the wall completely but I got a bit of a fright when I saw some of the Gardz gather slightly on some of the edges of the mapping, just ensure you put the Gardz on evenly and not too thick or it will run and if not fixed will leave a rock solid run mark, thankfully I didnt get any of these.

The rationale behind putting the Zinsser Cover Stain on over the Gardz was that, yes, the wall was now sealed, but the original mapping effect was still visible as the Gardz dries clear.

The Cover stain adheres really well to the Gardz so that mitigated the possibility of the top coat emulsion itself not adhering well as had been reported by a few reviews Id read.

The cover strain pretty much killed the mapping effect PLUS it assured perfect adhesion of the top coat.

The end finish was a perfectly covered, non blemished interior wall.

Zinsser products are pricey but they work really well.

Hope the info helps you out !

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122180583#Comment_122180583

It's hard to argue when you got the desired results.

However it has to be said that you certainly went for the most expensive and time consuming way to achieve it.

A cheaper alternative would have been, to apply a diluted coat of PVA, this would have also achieved the same result. Traditional that would have been the process carried out by professional painters prior to "Gardz". What was that benefit of putting a stain block on after that, was there a stain coming through??

As my previous post, applying 2 coats af matt/washable matt you have resolved the issue.

vixdname

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122183143#Comment_122183143

Hey Ceepo, the idea of putting the stain block was because Gardz dries clear, all you see is a shine on the wall, but the original mapping effect was still 100% seeable (if thats a word !)

I only used the Gardz to seal the mist coat onto the wall because as I mentioned, the mist coat, when tape tested lifted off the plaster easily. The Gardz stopped that happening.

The stain cover is what actually killed the mapping effect altogether, but the stain cover isn't any near as good a wall sealant as the Gardz, so the possible issue of paying big money for Zinsser Cover stain only to have it not adhere to the wall due to the weakness of the mist coats adherence was always there.

Gardz - Sealed otherwise not well adhered mist coat

Cover Stain - Covered the mapping effect and adhered perfectly to the wall due to the Gardz coat

Color Trend Emulsion - provided excellent top coat finish with zero sign of the otherwise horrendous mapping effect.