Zinsser Gardz Water-Based Problem Surface Sealer, Clear, Quart

This is a superb product and a must have if preparing damaged drywall, previously wall papered walls or anywhere you might get bubbling if you just go straight to paint or standard primer. Goes on quickly and easily, dries hard and makes finish coats easier to apply uniformly and without bubbling. Can use it to prime good surfaces as well.

I had 20 year old wallpaper, lining paper and paste to remove and then paint the walls - easy, right?!? I removed it with a steamer, paste remover, hot water and softener...you name it. It was the worst wallpaper removal of my life and left me with a wall that was pitted, torn, and riddled with solid paste I couldn't remove even with thorough sanding. I couldn't sand any more because it was tearing the drywall paper too deep and couldn't wet anymore because it was ruining the drywall... Catch 22! I read about this product and had nothing to lose by trying. I patched the large tears then sanded the wall one last time, cut away any peeling or curling drywall paper, wiped with a lightly damp rag and clean water to remove dust - then i let it dry completely. I then said a quick prayer and got to work. It is a cloudy white/blue, very liquid product. I used a medium nap roller that I was happy to toss after using it (incase cleaning didn't work!). At first I made a drippy, sloppy mess which was easily wiped up. The consistency is very different to paint. I quickly caught on that if the roller is full, light pressure is all I needed combined with slow rolling motion to avoid a ridiculous amount of splatter. After I "got" it, the job went very quickly! I waited for it to dry and touched up any areas that didn't match the shiny-ish finish it has when dry. I didn't have much to touch up because it as pretty easy to see missed spots when I was applying. I chose not to do a second coat as the wall was now solid. I then applied a texture onto the wall (thinned mud applied with a roller). It adhered very well to the gardz. Once dry, I applied a second coat of gardz to the texture. My wall was off white /yellow, with some patches, but I knew the paint would apply evenly because the surface was sealed, so I chose to apply a paint/primer in one from sherwin Williams. I needed only one coat and the finish was completely even and perfect! This is a wonderful product. I did have paste left on the wall (not a ton) - it sealed it. I had a mud texture (dried) -it sealed it. I had damaged drywall that would have been a huge undertaking to patch and flatten -the gardz helped me do that and avoid drywall patches. Other major bonus - this is not oil based!!!!!!!! It also cleans up easy if done immediately after spill or use. After that - never going to happen.

So my use case was a lot different than what a lot of reviewers on here have described. I’m living in my first house which was built in 71 and was a rental for about the past 10 years so from what I can tell every shi**y contractor in a 150 mile radius has worked on this house with the living room being their main target. I scraped the ceiling which had been painted twice with latex wall paint twice so it was pretty waterproof and took about 14 hours and 4 gallons of water to get this rubber coat off. I had to repair extensive water damage from a previous roof leak and there wasn’t one piece of drywall in the ceiling that I had not soaked so I was worried about consistency and repairability of the almost 50 year old drywall. I used a can and a half of this stuff and all I can say is wow it was just amazing, it leaves a rock hard surface that is consistent across the board and it showed every tool mark I had left and had no problem accepting mud for quick fills and repairs. The learning curve is that this is pretty much the same consistency of water, be careful if you’re doing over head work it didn’t take more than 10 minutes for my roller to make it rain on me and this stuff dries fast in small quantities. The room will need to be ventilated but the smell goes away in a few hours. It took three coats of Berh premium paint and primer ceiling paint since the Gardz was so glossy but if I hadn’t used it I would of never blended and repaired the ceiling the way I did. This is the perfect product for anyone who has extensive drywall damage it just takes work but that was worth it to me instead of replacing the entire ceiling.

This will seal any problem drywall or wallpaper you have so that you can skim coat. When you paint the wallpaper doesn't bubble or your ragged drywall doesn't mess up the skim coat. I used it both before skimming and after - it works best after. It goes a LONG way - I bought 2 cans and only needed one. It is very messy and you will need to be careful. I tried rolling, spraying (garden sprayer) and sponging it on - the best process was using a sponge (large car sponge) it will still run on you, so make sure you have the baseboards taped off first. Any that gets on the windows or other woodwork - wipe immediately and you'll be okay. The upside of it being so runny is that any that gets along the taped base, tends to seal the tape and when I painted, I had almost no bleed through when I removed the tape. It's a good product but you have to be careful applyiing it or you will have a clean up mess on your hands. It does seal the old wallpaper glue, but any small pieces of wallpaper that were still stuck had to be skimmed over or they would show when painting.

I've been going through our 1980's home removing popcorn ceilings, but it's essentially impossible to remove the popcorn and not damage the underlying ceiling, which often involves tearing up the paper. If you then don't seal the paper before proceeding, it can bubble up when it contacts the water in paint or drywall compound. That's where GARDZ comes into play. In the first room I used another product that the local big boxes sell call BIN. It's an excellent primer but has 2 problems - it's a shellac, meaning the solvent is ethanol. You have to apply it with a chemical respirator. Imagine smashing a bottle of vodka on the floor then trying to paint the ceiling before you pass out. Second, it's expensive. About DOUBLE what GARDZ costs. The largest con to both is that the products themselves are very low viscosity. It's a lot like trying to paint using half and half. GARDZ itself appears a lot like watered down PVA glue - opaque-ish white liquid. No real smell. Dries relatively quickly. You should use a low pile roller and be careful, mask the floor, etc. Coverage is about accurate, but if you have a lot of exposed drywall paper, it will soak up and limit coverage. In my process, after scraping the ceiling, I sanded it to get rid of all the small paper tags, then applied GARDZ. Then sanded again before skimming the ceiling with drywall mud. Lastly, Amazon ships these appropriately. There are several metal clips that keep the top on so it doesn't explode en route.

Worked great for us. We bought a house with mud over wallpaper and towards the baseboards it was beginning to peel. We trimmed the excess off with a box knife, did a light sand, and two coats of this stuff. It completely stuck everything to the wall and we were able to repair raised spots with some more mud. It looks brand new. This is also great for covering exposed gypsum. It was super easy to use, and relatively cheap for the amount you get, especially because it’s thin.

This is my career, I install wallcovering professionally. I use Gardz on 90% of my residential installations, 100% for commercial vinyl jobs. Look at it as like a layer of 'teflon' on your walls or 'kevlar,' it seals, protects and provides a surface for wallpaper to stick to AND future removal will more than likely result in zero damage to the walls. Do NOT skimp on priming for wallpaper and NO, paint primer is not the same, it is not appropriate to use for wallpaper, regardless what your painter may tell you. Wall prep is the most important step to a successful wallpaper installation and not a time to take shortcuts or try and save $. Gardz goes on and dries clear and is quite thin. A little will go a long ways. If you are sealing a fresh skimcoat, apply at least 2 coats. This bonds to even faux wood, ie, you are wallpapering inside a bookcase, Gardz is the way.

In the world of home improvement, finding a reliable solution for problem surfaces can be a daunting task. However, my search came to a swift and satisfying end with the discovery of Gardz Water-Based Problem Surface Sealer. Allow me to share my firsthand experience with this remarkable product. First and foremost, let's talk about effectiveness. Gardz is not your ordinary surface sealer – it's a powerhouse when it comes to addressing surface imperfections such as peeling paint, flaking plaster, or damaged drywall. This water-based formula penetrates deep into the substrate, creating a rock-solid foundation for paint or wallpaper to adhere to, ensuring a smooth and durable finish that lasts. What truly sets Gardz apart is its versatility. Whether you're dealing with a small patch repair or tackling an entire room renovation, this problem surface sealer is up to the task. Its clear, non-yellowing formula dries quickly and can be applied with ease using a brush, roller, or sprayer, making it suitable for a wide range of projects. But the benefits don't stop there. Gardz also acts as a barrier to prevent future damage, sealing in residual adhesive, and preventing moisture from penetrating the surface. This not only prolongs the life of your paint or wallpaper but also helps to maintain the structural integrity of the underlying substrate, saving you time and money on costly repairs down the line. Cleanup is a breeze, thanks to Gardz's water-based formula that can be easily removed with soap and water. Plus, the low odor and VOC-free formulation make it safe and easy to use indoors, without the need for harsh chemicals or special ventilation. In terms of value, Gardz Problem Surface Sealer is worth its weight in gold. Its effectiveness, versatility, and durability make it a must-have for any homeowner or professional contractor looking to achieve professional-quality results. Whether you're tackling a DIY project or a large-scale renovation, Gardz has got you covered. Trust me, once you experience the transformative power of Gardz Problem Surface Sealer, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it.

Excelente sellador de humedad. Me ayudo mucho con humedad que tenía en el baño. Lo súper recomiendo.

used this after removing wallpaper to seal the drywall before painting, and it worked really well. It went on smoothly, dried evenly, and helped create a consistent surface for primer and paint. It also seemed to seal the exposed drywall well, which gave me more confidence that the final paint finish would look even. The coverage was good, and a little went a long way. If you’re tackling a room after wallpaper removal, I’d definitely recommend this as part of the prep process. It made the painting stage much easier and the end result looked great.

Delivered on time right for the purpose could not buy it anywhere else

Excellent product for sealing up damaged drywall. I used it to help repair the wall after removing the tile backsplash in the kitchen. It sealed up the exposed paper and gypsum without causing it to soak in and lift away. Highly recommend for this type of repair.

My drywall paper peeled when prepping a room for painting. This sealer worked for coating the area prior to priming. I would recommend it. Seller was fast at sending the item!