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Can You Use KILZ on Wallpaper? (Quick Answers)

Changing wallpaper requires lots of hard work and can be very messy. So, if you want to change the outlook of your interior, you may find some other options which are cheaper and require a lot less effort.

If one of your options is to apply KILZ on wallpaper and now you might want to know whether you can apply a primer over the wallpaper. Let’s explore that below.

Can you use KILZ on wallpaper?

Kilz can be applied over wallpaper. When choosing primer to apply over wallpaper, oil-based primers should be the first choice. Water-based primer will make wallpaper bleed, and it will form bubbles and wrinkles. After applying Kilz, painting can be done as it is usually done on surfaces.

KLIZ is one of the most trusted products when it comes to priming any surface. 

It comes both in oil-based and water-based formulas and is the perfect material to create a smooth base. It works as a sealer, and stain blocker too. If you use KILZ on surfaces like wood, drywall, or bricks, it will protect the surface for a long time as a primer.

KILZ is not meant to be applied only over the mentioned surfaces, it also can be applied on wallpaper. It can be used both under and over wallpaper as a primer.

Using KILZ primer over wallpaper: 

KILZ primer is not only applied over walls or other hard surfaces. It can be used over old wallpaper too. Since changing wallpaper becomes a time-consuming and messy job, many people prefer painting over their old wallpaper.

To paint over an old wallpaper the surface needs to be prepared in such a way that the old color doesn’t peep through the newer paint. Also if you apply paint on a bare wallpaper surface, it might not sit well and last long. 

KILZ is a perfect primer to use over wallpaper. You can simply apply it if you want your paint to look bright and new. KILZ can hide the previous color, and block the stains so the paint looks flawless and bright. 

KILZ also transforms the wallpaper into a fine base for the paint to hold onto.  

Using KILZ primer under wallpaper: 

Just like you can use KILZ primer before painting a surface, you can use it before attaching a wallpaper too. KILZ primer when applied over a wall smoothens it, conceals the impurities, and makes the surface strong enough to hold another layer.

If you use KILZ before sticking to wallpaper it will make a strong base for the wallpaper adhesive. At the same time, KILZ primer will make the wallpaper removal procedure easier as the primer will help the wallpaper slide. 

KILZ primer can smoothen any holes, and uneven texture so if you use it under wallpaper, there will be no bubbles and appearance of textures on the wallpaper surface. 

Can you put KILZ over wallpaper glue? Will KILZ cover wallpaper glue?

Kilz is a primer that can be applied on any surface so that you can paint over it. If you want to paint over wallpaper, applying kilz is a mandatory step. Otherwise, the paint will not stick to the wallpaper in the long run.

You should not put Kilz over wallpaper glue directly. For interior works, water-based glue is used, and if you apply water-based primer over that, the glue will reactivate. As a result, the surface may get a clumsy and wavy texture. 

Applying kilz over glue can have a reactive result, and you may compromise a lot due to that. If you can apply oil-based primer, it will somehow stick to the surface. But painting over it will not be very durable. You better be careful with Kilz for the perfect wall finish.

Can you use KILZ to paint over wallpaper? Will KILZ paint cover up wallpaper?

Removing wallpaper is a messy job, and it is understandable if you want to skip that part by putting Kilz over the wallpaper. And you will be happy to know that you can use Kilz to paint over the wallpaper.

Kilz will be working as a great adhesive between wallpaper and paint. However, you better not use a water-based primer that can potentially ruin both your wallpaper and paint at the same time.

But if you use an oil-based primer, it will keep the wallpaper unshrunk, and you can have a better job than too easily done. There is oil-based Kilz primer, which is great to use on wallpaper.

Oil-based kilz can cover up the whole wallpaper without any failure. Such primer is a great adhesive, and you can use regular paint over it without any worry.

Which KILZ to use on wallpaper?

Kilz can protect surfaces from stains and can be an anchor for paints. It can be used on wood, drywall, plaster, paneling, wallpaper, masonry, brick, and many other adequately prepared surfaces. Also, this primer comes both in oil-based and water-based formulas.

Depending on the surface and the paint type of primer can be chosen. However, most of the wallpaper glue is water-based. So using a water-based primer over such glue can reactivate the glue and ruin the paint with wrinkles and clumsy textures.

Oil-based Kilz primer can be a safe option to apply over wallpaper. Especially if you put oil-based paint over it, you will get results unparalleled to anything.

Kilz offers a number of variations among their primers. Different Kilz primers have different properties. But to use on wallpaper, no primer can be as efficient as Kilz Original primer.

Kilz original is an oil-based primer that blocks most heavy interior stains, including water, smoke, tannin, ink, pencil, felt marker, and grease. Apart from wallpaper, you can use it on wood, drywall, plaster, paneling, etc.

How to use KILZ as wallpaper primer?

Wallpapers create a bright colorful mood in a place. But if the wall is not well-prepped, changing the wallpaper in the future might give you more trouble. Moreover, often when people paint over old wallpaper, priming the old one is a must to prevent color bleeding.

Here are a few tricks to use KILZ as wallpaper primer:

Use Kilz Under wallpaper: 

KILZ can be used beneath wallpaper just like wall primer. You have to keep the wall clean and dry. And then apply a thin coat of KILZ primer over the wall. This will make the adhesive stick well as well as make the wallpaper removal process easier. 

Use KILZ as a stain blocker: 

KILZ is the perfect pick if you have stains or spots on them. Light or dark any stain can be blurred using KILZ stain sealing primers. You can apply it over the old wallpaper so its color doesn’t bleed through the new paint. 

Use KILZ over wallpaper: 

If you want to paint over your old wallpaper, you can use KILZ. It will blur the color and make the finishing smooth. Also, KILZ oil-based primers make positioning the wallpaper easy. 

How to use KILZ as wallpaper primer?

If you have wallpapers on your wall and are thinking about bringing a change in the wall color, one of the few options is to paint over the wallpaper. Because taking off an old wallpaper is a messy job and time-consuming too.

But painting over old wallpaper can be more troublesome if you don’t prepare the old surface well. So here is a step by step guide on how to use KILZ as wallpaper primer:

Clean the wallpaper: 

The wallpaper you’re going to paint over on should be free of any dust, grease, or dirt. So before you use KILZ on it, clean the surface gently using a damp cloth.

Fix the old wallpaper: 

If you’re applying KILZ on an old wallpaper it might have folds and torn parts in a few places. Since the surface must be flat and smooth for priming, fix the flawed parts with glue to make the wallpaper flat and evenly spread.

Apply KILZ: 

Apply KILZ all-purpose primer and sealer as it will prevent the wallpaper color to bleed through. Apply a thin coat first, let it dry and reapply. Then paint over the wallpaper as the final step.

Final thoughts

In short, you can use KILZ on wallpaper. Kilz is a great option to put over wallpaper. It can last and does not ruin the quality of wallpaper or paint. Using oil-based Kilz will give the best result. Applying Kilz will protect the wallpaper from getting stains and the paint to set for a long time.