LESLIE: Cindy in Texas has a painting question. How can we help?
CINDY: I have – my bathroom and my kitchen have this weird kind of wallboard in it and it’s almost like a plastic. I had gone to one of the hardware stores and the man told me if I bought some KILZ and painted it with the KILZ and then whatever kind of paint I wanted to use, it would take care of the problem. But someone else told me that if I did that, the paint would probably peel off. Do you have a suggestion?
LESLIE: And you’re sure the vinyl is not like a vinyl wallpaper on top of regular wall?
CINDY: I don’t think so. I think it’s some kind of weird wallboard stuff.
TOM: OK, well I think the advice that your hardware store guy gave you is the right advice. I would, however, clarify that you should use oil-based KILZ because it comes in oil-based and an acrylic base. And whenever you have a very difficult material like that, you really do want to use the oil base, even though it’s a little more difficult to clean up. You’ll get better adhesion.
And once you have that material on with good adhesion to whatever this vinyl-covered wallboard is below, then I think you’re going to find that you can put a good-quality wall paint over that and you’ll be much happier with the result.
CINDY: OK, OK. And so then I should use the oil-based with an oil-based paint over the top of that?
TOM: No, no. You don’t need oil-based …
LESLIE: No.
TOM: No, you do not need an oil-based topcoat.
CINDY: OK, so just that.
TOM: Just use an oil-based primer and you can use a latex topcoat.
CINDY: OK. Well, I’m going to try that, then.
TOM: It’s the only time that oil and water do really mix. (chuckles) OK?
CINDY: OK, thank you so much.
TOM: You’re welcome, Cindy. Thanks so much for calling us.
LESLIE: You are tuned to the Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show on air and online at MoneyPit.com. Now you can call in your home repair or your home improvement question 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
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