working out which Zinsser Primer to use for your DIY project: a pro’s guide

If you talk to any of the splat crew for long enough about painting and decorating, it won’t be long until the topic of primers comes up, and with that topic, a lot of gushing about our favourite brands. Among these is Zinsser – a UK-based brand that has been producing stellar quality primers out of their County Durham facility for the best part of 150 years. With a handful of products on the market, getting a handle on which Zinsser primer to use for your upcoming project is crucial to achieving the best finish possible.

Whether decision fatigue has set in or you’re simply on the lookout for additional information to sway you, this buyer’s guide is here to help. We’ll go through the various products in their range, spotlight their special qualities and where best to use them.

But first, it’s worth giving an overview of what makes this company so special.

reasons to love Zinsser

Founded back in 1849, Zinsser has a shining reputation that precedes itself thanks to a long history of manufacturing premium paints and primers for DIYers and trade professionals alike. Its products are cutting-edge and eco-conscious, meaning that Zinsser puts great thought and care into each formula.

Problem-solving, innovation, and dedication to quality are the principles of Zinsser, and that’s what makes us proud to be Zinsser paint stockists. From its water-based range of problem surface primers to its self-priming paints for interiors and exteriors, there’s a Zinsser product for practically every eventuality!

splat’s pick of the bunch: 6 high-quality Zinsser primers

1)      Best for interior stains – B.I.N

Meet Zinsser’s B.I.N, the ultimate shellac-based primer, sealer, and stain killer that’s ideal for all your interior surfaces and spot priming exterior projects. This powerhouse primer offers unparalleled adhesion to glossy surfaces like glass without the need for scuff sanding. Its high-adhesion shellac formula seals porous surfaces effortlessly, providing excellent enamel holdout and even sealing bleeding knots and sap streaks.

It tackles the toughest stains, from water damage and fungal degradation to nicotine and oil stains, leaving your surfaces flawless. It also permanently blocks odours, making it ideal for interior ceilings, walls, doors, trim, cabinets, furniture, and more.

2)      Best for bathrooms and glass – Bullseye 1-2-3

Zinsser’s Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is the universal primer-sealer you’ve been looking for, perfect for both interior and exterior use. This water-based primer, available in 500ml, 1L, 2.5L, and 5L tins, offers low odour application and quick drying convenience. It’s the ultimate ‘bond coat’ for hard-to-stick surfaces, providing excellent adhesion without sanding.

Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is also rich in biocides, protecting against fungal degradation, making it ideal for high-humidity areas like bathrooms and utility rooms. This primer also prevents rust formation on clean ferrous metals and can permanently seal tough stains like graffiti, grease, tar, and asphalt.

Taking it up a notch, Zinsser’s Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus is the next generation of this product. Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus offers unrivalled adhesion and stain-blocking power, handling even the toughest stains like water and smoke effortlessly. This ultra-low VOC formula resists re-wetting and can seal both water-soluble and oil-soluble stains, ensuring a flawless finish with just one coat. It adheres to a wide variety of surfaces, including wood, plaster, concrete, gloss enamels, glass, and tile, making it incredibly versatile.

3)      Best for plasterboard and limestone – Gardz

Struggling to work out which Zinsser primer to use on awkward surfaces? Zinsser Gardz Problem Surface Sealer is the go-to solution for new or damaged plasterboard and filler. High-performing and fast-drying, this sealer works wonders on chalky and high pH surfaces, forming a rock-solid, moisture-resistant film.

Its powerful formula transforms haggard surfaces into fortresses, allowing you to focus on your DIY projects without fretting about wall damage. Gardz excels on high pH surfaces, making it perfect for eliminating bubbles on new plasterboard, filler, and joint compound skim coats, fixing torn or uncoated wallpaper, and sealing old wallpaper adhesive. Available in various amounts, Gardz is ready to tackle any project size, ensuring your surfaces are prepped and protected.

4)      Best for covering up old paint – Peel Stop

Designed to tackle surfaces with peeling, flaking, dusting, or chalking issues, Peel Stop forms a breathable membrane that locks down cracks and gaps under old paint. Whether for interior or exterior use, this water-based, bridging sealer ensures your surfaces are prepped and protected, making it perfect for any project. Available in various sizes from 1 to 5 litres, Peel Stop offers flexible, breathable protection that cleans up easily with soap and water.

Zinsser’s Peel Stop tightly bonds to old paint and problem areas, forming a sound surface ready for new paint. Its tough acrylic film stays flexible, allowing moisture to escape and preventing future peeling.

5)      Best for convenient spot priming –  B.I.N Aerosol

Zinsser’s B.I.N Primer Aerosol offers the same exceptional performance as the regular B.I.N Primer but in a convenient aerosol format. It’s a no-nonsense solution for priming interior surfaces and spot priming exterior surfaces, sealing, priming, and blocking out stains quickly and efficiently.

This highly effective stain sealer seals knots and sap streaks, permanently blocks odours, and adheres to surfaces without the need for sanding. With its quick-drying formula, Zinsser B.I.N Primer Aerosol provides the same reliable performance as the regular primer but in a convenient spray application.

6)      Best for the environment – B.I.N Aqua

B.I.N Aqua is the ground-breaking water-based formula that takes priming to the next level. Developed for both professional and commercial applications, this primer-sealer offers ultra-low odour and contains only trace VOCs (<0.1%), making it ideal for interior and exterior use. It effectively primes, seals, and blocks stains, locking in problem odours and providing superior adhesion without the need for sanding.

B-I-N® AQUA is a newer, stronger version of the original B-I-N® Primer, offering enhanced performance and versatility. It can be tinted with up to 25ml of universal tinter per litre, allowing you to match it to your ideal shade for seamless integration with your topcoat. Whether used as a full-surface primer or for spot-priming knots, resin, stains, and more, B-I-N® AQUA delivers outstanding results.

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self-priming paints

In the self-priming camp? No problem! Zinsser also stocks a number of high-grade paints that can be applied directly to your chosen surface without prior sanding, or a separate primer required. One product, double the performance.

7)      Best no-fuss, all-rounder – Allcoat

Zinsser AllCoat offers 15 years of all-weather protection. Suitable for a range of outdoor surfaces including masonry, wood, metal, concrete, plastic, and cladding, this paint is tough as nails. It’s designed to resist mould, cracking, and flaking while maintaining supreme colour retention in both matt and satin finishes. With its self-priming formula, you can achieve a stunning, long-lasting look with minimal effort, saving both your time and money.

As a water-based product with minimal VOCs, Zinsser AllCoat is a greener alternative to other exterior paints. The matt finish provides a low-gloss sheen with biocide protection against fungal degradation, drying to the touch in just one hour and fully curing in seven days. The satin finish is ideal for airless spray application, offering a long-lasting lustre that’s touch dry in 30 minutes. Both finishes are easy to apply, requiring no sanding or priming.

8)      Best for cleaning – Permawhite

Zinsser Perma-White is another brilliant choice of durable, mould-resistant interior paint. With its class 1 wet scrub rating (ISO 11998), this paint is scrubbable, washable, and resistant to stains and moisture, ensuring a long-lasting, pristine finish. Its fade-resistant formula, tintable to any colour, maintains its vibrancy over time, while the built-in biocide protects against fungal degradation, offering peace of mind for up to 7 years before first maintenance.

Ideal for high-humidity areas, Perma-White bonds to existing solvent-based or glossy paints, as well as flat paint, new plasterboard, cement block, and concrete. It’s perfect for bathrooms, basements, kitchens, laundry rooms, and more, where mould and mildew are concerns. This self-priming paint sticks to surfaces without sanding, making application a breeze.

which Zinsser primer to use by application

For those still daunted about choosing the best Zinsser primer for their project, here’s a breakdown of each product by its key characteristics, from drying time to application.

Zinsser primer FAQs

what is a primer?

A primer is a special type of paint that prepares surfaces for a topcoat. It creates a smooth, adhesive base, ensuring the topcoat sticks well and lasts longer. Primers are great for sealing porous materials like wood, plasterboard, and masonry, and they help cover up stains and dark colours. They also prevent common issues like cracking, peeling, and blistering.

how can Zinsser primers be used?

Primers are truly the superheroes of surface preparation, swooping in to seal up porous surfaces like raw wood, weathered aluminium, stucco, concrete, and masonry. They even tackle bare plasterboard and spackled areas.

But that’s not all – they also have the power to block out pesky stains from water, mildew, fire damage, pet mishaps, tannin bleed, and even graffiti. Whether it’s ink, crayon, food, or beverage stains, when applied properly Zinsser primers make sure they disappear without a trace.

Their ability to increase adhesiveness without sanding means that they’ll glide onto finished woodwork, over old oil-based paints, varnished trims, glass, ceramic tiles, PVC piping, and even finished metals. And if you’re worried about longevity, Zinsser sealers have got you covered. They’ll extend the life of your topcoats, preventing cracking, peeling, chalking, blistering, and bleed-through, ensuring your surfaces look flawless for years to come.

which Zinsser primer is best to use on varnished wood?

When it comes to priming varnished wood surfaces, Zinsser’s Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is a top contender. This versatile water-based primer-sealer is perfect for interior and exterior use and offers exceptional adhesion without the need for sanding. Another option is B.I.N, especially if you are tackling the task of repainting kitchen cupboards.

how long does Zinsser primer take to dry?

The drying time of Zinsser primers varies depending on the specific product and application method. For example, Zinsser’s B.I.N primer dries in minutes and can be recoated in as little as 45 minutes, making it a convenient choice for quick projects. On the other hand, Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus dries in just 30 minutes and is recoatable in 1 hour, offering fast turnaround times for interior and exterior projects. Whichever you choose, it’s essential to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure optimal results.

do you need to sand before using Zinsser primer?

This would depend on the surface you are painting along with the specific product. On the whole, we’d recommend sanding uneven surfaces or those with existing paint for a nice smooth finish; however, Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 will adhere nicely without sanding. When applied properly, this product will form a smooth, tight, and water-resistant film, providing an ideal foundation for painting over with your preferred topcoat.

are Zinsser products eco-friendly?

The vast majority of Zinsser primers and paints are water-based, meaning that compared to their oil-based counterparts they’re healthier for people and planet, being low VOC and water-soluble. This makes Zinsser one of the more eco-friendly brands out there.

what about oil-based primers?

Zinsser does produce an oil-based primer under the name Cover-stain. However, in our mission towards making decorating more fun whilst prioritising sustainability, we’ve chosen not to stock this particular one. Zinsser’s Bullseye works just as well at sealing nasty stains and markings.

primetime

Now you have an idea of which Zinsser primer to use for the surface you’re painting, all that’s left is to work out how much paint you’ll need. Luckily, we have a handy guide covering exactly this.

Whether you’re ready to add your Zinsser primer to the basket or simply want to browse our selection, head over to our catalogue to get the ball rolling. We’ll

Hey, paint lover! We hope you enjoyed this guide – for more helpful hints and decorating tricks, explore the rest of our blog.