I recently had a fire in my house, but luckily, it was saved from severe damage. Now I'm wondering if I can simply paint over the smoke-stained and slightly damaged studs and sheeting using regular primer and paint instead of going with something like Kilz, which seems more expensive. I'm trying to save some cash with cheaper, readily available paint. Any advice?
3 Answers
It really depends on how 'lightly damaged' the studs actually are and if they’re load-bearing. Just know that it’s going to be tough to completely mask the burnt smell no matter what you do.
You should really think twice about that. There’s a good reason special paints exist for fire damage. Regular paint might bleed through and you could still smell the smoke later on. It’s better to use products that are designed for this kind of situation.
I wouldn’t recommend it. First, check if the studs are still structurally sound. You'll want to clean them properly, maybe even power wash them, before using Kilz primer and then paint. Sealing with Kilz is key to trapping any odors that might linger.
That makes sense! I guess some products might look similar but still function differently.