All Forum Posts by: Dan Ward

@Tyler Hubarth if you were to ask this question to 5 seasoned painters you would probably get 5 different answers. I can tell you that I would use BIN 1-2-3 solely because it is a pigmented white shellac based primer. It has been proven to out perform most latex and oil based primers at covering and sealing. You should definitely give it two coats.....it seems like a pain now but it's much better than having the regret that you didn't later on. Here are the keys to Zinsser Coverstain and BIN 1-2-3......

Coverstain is thick and covers very well. It's oil based so very similar to Kilz just way more expensive because it contains more titanium dioxide for coverage. 

BIN 1-2-3 is thin and could be considered runny....being shellac based it also can carry a strong odor.  Besides the downsides BIN does have.....it will get the job done every time. 

@Andy Luick I've forgotten to mention Zinsser Coverstain as a priming option.....it's a great product also. Generally more expensive but Zinsser has a lot to offer for different situations. 

@Tyler Hubarth since you are going to spray it will be easier to leave the popcorn ceiling as it is. Spraying it will ensure a good solid coat over the entire popcorn surface. Let me know how it turns out! 

@Scott W. cat urine is definitely a pain to deal with. The worlds best primers do a great job at blocking stains but little can defend the odor. So the oil based primer would mask the odor for a short time but it wouldn't eliminate it. Here is what I would do....saturate the area with vinegar then come back with baking soda on top of that. The baking soda will naturally pull the odor out as it dried. After all of that is cleaned I would use a shellac based primer.....like BIN 1-2-3. Shellac primers are generally used to seal framing after smoke or fire damage to eliminate the smoke smell. Doing these steps will definitely get the job done right the first time. Hope this helps! 

@Brenda E. If the hollow core doors look anything like I have pictured in my head they have a rough surface texture and probably a nice old golden brown color? Generally those doors were coated with a lacquer or oil based coating......no amount of latex primer would ever stop tannin stains and marks from seeping through. Generally one good coat with some Kiltz oil base primer will do the trick....after about 6 hours of drying time you can get a good quality 3/8" nap roller and top coat with two coats of a high quality latex (just because the doors will take a beating.) Hope this helps! 

@Tyler Hubarth Sorry for the late response! I've been on the road in the backwoods of Arkansas most of the day. Anytime I deal with popcorn ceilings I always think long and hard about just taking the popcorn down. It's super simple.....get you a pump sprayer with some water, wet the popcorn down, get a 12" putty knife and scrape it right off. But, if you really just want to leave the popcorn ceiling as it is I would put two coats of BIN 1-2-3 primer instead of Kiltz. The reason for using BIN over Kiltz is because the BIN primer is shellac based so it will dry quickly and has better stain blocking properties. You will want to avoid or be very careful dusting the ceiling with a broom just so you don't knock down any patches of popcorn. Will you be spraying the ceilings? Hope this helps! 

Thanks for the kind words @Kris Mcfarlane! I'm just glad there is a community like this that allows others to benefit from peer knowledge.

@Shelli Callan You can 100% heat up the room with a space heater and then apply paint. Most high quality latex paint is rated to handle 35 degrees.....I would make sure to use a neutral color. A simple light beige doesn't have much coloring pigments and will dry much quicker than a blue, yellow, or a color that has tons of colorant in it. Also, Make sure to apply a few thin coats. I hope this helps!! 

@Anthony Cole I have discussed the process with the lender and all I will need is at minimum 2 months savings for the mortgage payment on hand and will need to get "landlord" insurance. Luckily the rental market is booming in Jonesboro....the house next door to mine is renting for $1300 a month for a 1500sgft home! Ideally, I will rent the home and whenever possible refi and continue to buy single family homes.

I will soon be relocating to the Cabot area! I'm currently in Jonesboro AR.....looking at a few rehab properties to do some house hacking by living in it and taking advantage of any USDA loan options. Then holding for a few years as a rental as soon as I can refi. 

I have had my house on the market because I was originally told it was nearly impossible for me to turn it into a rental property. I just got word yesterday from my mortgage lender that I would in fact be able to not only turn my current residence into a investment property but I would also be able to purchase a home of equal size in the town I am relocating to. The best part is I will be moving to a town that qualifies for USDA loan with 0 down. Ideally, in a few years I will be able to refinance my first property along with my second, then purchase a third and primary residence and have gotten two rental properties with zero down!