Our walls become damaged over time, and we have to fix them when it does. Surface sealer and primer is an effective products that you can use to fix damaged surfaces.
Gardz is one such product. But it is wise to know the Gardz problem surface sealer alternative.
Sometimes- it is possible that you do not find Gardz nearby, or it might stock out. You can look for alternatives without waiting for them and delaying your project in cases like that.
Gardz is a top-notch sealer, but other pretty good alternatives are also available. Here we’ll look into them.
Gardz Alternatives To Fix Problematic Surface
Gardz is a unique water-based sealer that can solve any potential problem on various surfaces like drywall, plaster, etc. It creates a hard and moisture-resistant film to seal porous, chalky, and crumbling surfaces.
I’m sure many of you are already familiar with this product and have used it on your projects. But if you are looking forward to your first ever surface sealing project, Grardz is an excellent product to start with. But you should also know the alternatives available.
This article will explore some good alternatives to Gardz surface sealer, which are readily available everywhere. Let’s begin:
- Kilz Klear
Kilz Klear is a high-performing water-based and fast dry multi-surface sealer from Kilz.
This transparent sealer seals highly porous surfaces on both the interior and exterior and creates a robust, flexible, and breathable film on damaged surfaces.
You can use this sealer on various surfaces, including drywall, wood, aluminum, plaster, etc.
But the only drawback is you cannot use it on floors. However, Kilz Klear can cover up to 400 square feet.
It becomes touch dry within just 30 minutes, and you can recoat it in 1 hour.
- Peel Stop
Peel Stop is a clear and flexible bridging sealer by Zinsser for damaged surfaces where flaking, chalking, peeling, and dusting are problems.
You can apply this sealer on both interior and exterior of a building.
When applied over faulted substrates, it forms a breathable membrane.
You can use this surface sealer for binding cracks, peeling paints, and chalking surfaces.
It can cover 7.4 to 9.8 square meters per litre and takes 1 hour to become touch dry.
Besides, you can recoat in 2 hours, and it will take 7 to 10 days for a complete cure. Here is how Gardz is different than Peel Stop.
- B-I-N
B-I-N is another problem surface sealer by Zinsser.
It is a shellac-based primer-sealer and stain killer designed to provide unparalleled adhesion to damaged surfaces.
It can block odors permanently and takes only 15 minutes to become touch dry.
You must admit, it is pretty fast for a sealer.
Moreover, you can recoat it in just 45 minutes, and it will take only 1 to 3 days to cure fully.
You will get up to 12.5 square meters per litre from this sealer.
We can see that B-I-N is fast to dry and covers more area than others.
- Bulls Eye 1-2-3
Zinsser uses Bulls Eye 1-2-3 as a classic universal interior and exterior surface sealer.
This water-based primer-sealer provides excellent adhesion to glossy surfaces without sanding.
Unlike other water-based sealers, it resists flash rusting and becomes smooth when it dries.
This bond coat primer and sealer is great for surfaces that are hard to stick and contains biocides to protect coatings from fungal damage when dries.
It covers up to10 square meters per litre.
Besides, it will become touch dry in 30 minutes, and you can recoat in 1 hour.
This sealer will take 7 days to a complete cure. However, it comes in 3 variants: Standard Bulls Eye 1-2-3, Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Deep Tint, and Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus.
- Beeline Primer Sealer
Beeline Primer Sealer is specially designed for surface adhesion to wallcoverings and emulsion paints. It raises edges and reduces seam splits and bubbling.
This primer-sealer can seal absorbent materials and fix damages from non-absorbent surfaces.
You can easily wash it with water and detergent. Each liter of Beeline Primer Sealer will cover 12 to 16 square meters, which is pretty good, to be honest. It also dries fast, and you can recoat in no time.
- Cover Stain
Cover Stain is another problem surface sealer by Zinsser. It is an all-purpose and solvent-based primer-sealer and a stain killer.
Zinsser has designed it to stick to all types of surfaces without sanding when applying it on a damaged surface.
Moreover, it will seal water, smoke, and nicotine stains. Cover Stain takes only 35 minutes to become touch dry and 4 to 7 days to cure completely. Besides, it covers up to 9.8 square meters per litre, and you can recoat in 2 hours.
Cover Stain comes in 2 variants: Standard Cover stain and Cover Stain Deep Tint.
- Drywall Pro 2-In-1
Last but not least, Drywall Pro 2-in-1 provides a unique sealing and priming system for problem surfaces. This Zinsser primer and sealer works best on drywall, plaster, and porous surfaces.
It is a water-based sealer and resists alkali from damaging walls.
This 2-in-1 primer and sealer can cover between 9 to 11 square meters per litre. You will have to wait only 30 minutes to touch dry and 3 days to become fully cured.
Besides, it becomes ready in 3 hours for another coating.
Is Gardz Worth Buying?
Now that you know all the great substitutes for Gardz, let’s focus on Gardz itself and learn a little more about it. As we already know, Gardz is a unique water-based sealer from Zinsser.
It seals against porous and other problematic surfaces.
It can penetrate deeper into a surface and becomes a dry and moisture-resistant film to seal various damaged surfaces. You can apply it to high pH surfaces as well.
It can bind down chalky surfaces and becomes transparent when it dries.
Gardz can cover 5 to 10 square meters per litre and becomes touch dry in only 30 minutes. But you will have to wait for 3 hours for recoating.
It takes very little time, which is 3 days, to cure fully.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Kilz produces surface sealers like Gardz. But their products are thinner, have more workability. Besides, they are less stinky and, most importantly, cheaper than Gardz.
You have to use a surface sealer to seal damaged drywall. There are hundreds of sealers available in the market, and you have to choose one based on your surface and damage.
When it dries completely, you can use any water-based or solvent-based primer on Gardz. Thus you can paint over Gardz with any texture and finishes.
Yes, you can use Kilz to seal torn drywall. Kilz Klear is designed to seal highly porous surfaces, torn drywall, and other damaged surfaces.
Final Thoughts
Damaged walls and other surfaces can become a nightmare for anybody. The whole structure can become compromised because of it.
You can use Gardz itself or Gardz problem surface sealer alternative that I’ve mentioned in this article to fix your problem.
All of these products offer excellent quality, durability, and workability. You will have to choose one based on your surface and the damage it has on it.
Hi Ralph , I’ve lining papered a dining room about 5 years ago but after about 2-3 months it started lifting on the seams ; I re glued it down along all the seams with boarder adhesive but this also stared lifting again ! The walls were painted before with no signs of moisture, the customer has now asked to have the room done again ; so I’m wandering what to treat the walls with prior to lining papering? Thanks Mark