Zinsser Cover Stain 1 Litre

Two weeks ago failed grouting in shower caused water staining in room below. I left it for a week to dry, including one day with dehumidifier running. This paint is very thick. I used a synthetic brush and it really dragged. I don't think it would be easy to apply with a roller. Having said that, using a 3" brush, (size of tin restricted use of larger brush) putting smallish amounts on it often, it did cover well without much spraying off the brush. Area was ceiling and top of wall, mostly light staining, about 3 square metres in all. I applied two generous coats and the manufacturer's info of coverage (9.8m per litre) is about right. Overpainted with Leyland Trade Super Leytex Matt emulsion, two coats, and that gave a perfect finish apart from one very small area where the staining was very dark. I gave that one extra coat each of the Zinseer and the emulsion and the result is perfect. Heads up. This is solvent based and the fumes are VERY strong. I had to open the doors to ventilate the room. Also, equipment must be cleaned with white spirit. It was recoatable after two hours, although I left the second coat overnight before applying emulsion. The 1 litre tin doesn't have a handle, so I stood it in a paint kettle to make it easier to handle. The Zinsser is expensive, but over decades I've had to deal with similar problems and this was the easiest and most effective method I've come across, so the trade off with price was worth it.

Good product used just over 3/4 of a litre with 2 coats to cover about a metre square area of coving/ceiling due a leaking valve upstairs. Tinted off white but whiter once dry but not a brilliant white so can still see outline edge until covered by emulsion. Yes it’s thick but has to be as it’s enamel oil based solvent paint and shells like nail varnish so your need plenty of ventilation otherwise it will give you a heavy head. Dries in about 2hrs or more depending on circumstances for a second coat or covering coat of emulsion etc…but although I recoated with stain block after 2hrs I left it 36-48hrs before covering with ceiling emulsion incase it drew the stain through again plus rule of thumb is if it still smells strong it isn’t fully cured ready to cover similar to using a oil based solvent gloss which usually smell for a week and then if you need to do another coat you can. I applied first coat with a brush as my ceilings are rough Artex and second with a gloss roller but if you have a flat ceiling or smooth wall finish then both coats with a roller which would be easier to apply and not use as much of the paint again depending on area and circumstances. All in all it does its job hopefully which time will not dealt tell.

Works well to block stains, but the smell is very strong and lingers.

Best stain cover I know!

Brought to cover a massive stain and it worked very well! I couldn’t believe it…

Excellent used mine on an old stained garage door, perfect and doesn’t scratch off

Having used a Zinsser stain block before for a water leak stain on the ceiling, I can honestly say that this one is the ONLY one to work on water stains. I did lots of research in tradesmen/DIY frequented store websites who all swear by this one. Having used their BIN123 product before, thinking all was well until a year or so later, the stain reappeared I didn’t want to repeat it. I gather the difference here is whether it’s water/oil based. This is oil based, which seems to make it harder to use but much more effective. Trust me on this; if you’re unsure whether to choose this or the BIN123 version, then I can tell you without doubt to go for this. I used a good quality brush for a patch & all along the joist lines that obviously soaked up the water then generously shared the wood stain to the ceiling below, so it was a fair size area. It took 2 coats with a 3rd small touch up on a really bad spot. It initially leaves a gloss type finish that seems hard to cover afterwards, despite using 2 coats of a good trade matte ceiling paint over it. I confess, I started to worry the shine would always show through in certain lights, but it eventually somehow settles with time (after the painting is done) & it’s now blended perfectly, so not understanding how/why is no longer more than a mild frustration/curiosity. As someone else said: do ventilate the room well, as this stuff is seriously strong. Also make sure you clean the brush meticulously afterwards as it’s not a quick/easy clean. Get as much excess paint off the brush as possible before soaking it in white spirit etc if you want to salvage your brush. This isn't totally painless to work with either, as it feels like it drags on the brush (akin to R.M’s red enamel paint) but I can honestly say it’s worth the money & does what it claims on the tin.

Covers well but be ready for the strong smell! Packaging was awful, the tins arrived bashed and dented, luckily they didn't leak.

Despues de muchisimas busquedas me decidí por esta imprimación y queda genial!

Ich kann mich meinem Vorredner nur anschließen, auch bei mir kam die Dose sehr schlecht verpackt und stark verbeult an. Fraglich ist, ob man sie so problemlos öffnen und wieder verschließen kann. Sie kam zudem 4 Tage später als angekündigt.