You know, the primer that blocks mildew etc. Is it dangerous? Someone I know has been basically using it for interior paint. “I like the color so why bother with paint!” :rolleyes: Any risk of exposure to nasty ingredients? I couldn’t find anything on the label. Thanks!
Careful with the faces. Kilz is commonly used to stabilize lots of types of surfaces and it is approved for interior and exterior use. Actually painting over it isn’t required and, in fact, they sell tinted Kilz so that it doesn’t have to be painted if you don’t want to. I am not sure what gives it its special properties but it certainly isn’t recognized as dangerous and can be used freely.
Some Kilz MSDS info:
http://www.conncoll.edu/offices/envhealth/MSDS/buildingtrades/kilz.htm
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=13012010
Pretty standard stuff, really. I’d be surprised if you didn’t find those warnings on various paints and solvents. The good news is none of the ingredients listed are carcinogenic. The California clause, however, is listed on the second link.
Want ingredients? You got 'em.
Just pick your product and you’ll get the Material Safety Data Sheet for it, giving you far more information than you could ever possibly need. Section 3 (Hazards Identification), and Section 11 (Toxicological Information) are probably the most relevant to your questions.
I can’t say that I know which ingredient is the one that makes it so resistant to mildew, but it looks like whatever it is isn’t a health concern. Note: I’ve only clicked on a few varieties for an overview. If I missed a variety that is terribly toxic, well, oops.
Most any paint, alkyd, latex or other, can be treated with mildewicide. Exterior paints will have it incorporated as part of their mix, and some specialty interior paints do also.
As far as exposure to toxics goes, once the product has dried, there is no further off-gassing, so you’d need to abrade the dried material and either ingest or inhale the particulate matter to hurt yourself. Neither of which is recommended by the manufacturer, or anyone else with a functioning brain.
Any primer can be used as paint, or tinted to help support the paint color.
It’s your call. Most primers don’t have the scrub resistance of high quality paints. Actually, most builders ‘paint’ your new walls with what am’ts to decent primer.
The finish needed for cleaning (eggshell or better, such as satin) is needed to resist scuffs and allow you to wipe the walls.
Sometimes, primer is all you need. Someone else might not like it, but that doesnt make it wrong.