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Remember - Measure Twice, Cut Once

Professional Renovations - 30 Years Experience

Do Not Use Pens, Felt Pens or Chalk Lines!



When you are doing your next drywall project, moulding installation, or any other project that will be visible in your home and painted… do not use any ink based marker (felt pens or ink pens) or chalk lines on any surface that will be visible on completion. These types of markers will bleed through latex primer and paint. Considering that 90% of paint used in homes today is latex, it is a safe bet you will be using latex paint as well.

Play it safe and only use pencils for marking out cut lines, holes and so on. Pencil marks will not bleed through latex paints

Use Kilz or Zinsser to seal pen, felt pen or chalk lines on drywall and wood surfacesHowever, sometimes this may be beyond your control, a sub-trade may come in and use one of these markers on your walls or elsewhere and the damage is done (of course, one has to question the professionalism of a trade that uses chalk, pen, or felt pen on any surface to be painted). If this happens, there is an easy solution, you can use special primer/sealers that will seal these marks. The two most common sealers are KILZ and ZINSSER and are available at almost every paint store and lumber yard in North America. These product are formulated to cover all types of stains including pen, chalk and felt pen, plus numerous other types of stains.

Image of Kilz Spray Can A word of warning, most of these products have a very strong odor, if the product you select has a strong odor make sure you open windows and have good ventilation when you are painting and the odor is gone afterward. If you are sensitive to strong paints, ask the paint expert where you will buy the sealer for a product with the mildest odor. Most of these special sealers dry very quickly so buy a cheap brush and roller sleeves (if required) for application – you probably won’t want to save the brush or sleeve when you are done as they seldom can be cleaned well enough to be used again. If you are only sealing a few spots, buy a spray bomb instead, it is cheaper and you won’t have to spend money on brushes or roller sleeves.

Rule of thumb: It is okay to use pen, felt pen or chalk on any surface that will not be finish with a paint or stain such as on framing, HVAC components (like duct work), plumbing, electrical and so on. Use pencil for anything else that will be finished with paint or stain (including places that will have latex caulking applied or similar latex based products).

Reconditioned 234x60
   

September 28, 2010 | Filed Under Do's & Don'ts, Drywalling, Painting 

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