How to Apply Paint to Fire and Smoke Damage

Many amateur do-it-yourselfers struggle to cover smoke damage no matter how many coats of paint they apply. No type of paint is capable of blocking smoke damage. Even most heavy-duty primers fail to permanently seal smoke stains. If you want to apply paint to fire and smoke damage, seal the surface with a special type of stain-blocking primer before application. This oil-based primer is capable of permanently sealing smoke damage and is formulated for compatibility with water-based latex topcoats.

Professional painter's tape
Heavy-duty fabric dropcloths
Kilz oil-based stain-blocking primer
Roller frame
2 nap roller covers
Roller extension pole
2- to 4-inch oil-based paintbrush
Latex paint
2- to 4-inch latex paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Cover all areas you do not want painted with painter's tape. Protect flooring with fabric dropcloths.
- 2
  Apply Kilz oil-based primer to the smoke damage, using a roller frame and nap cover. Apply Kilz to areas inaccessible to the roller with a paintbrush manufactured for use with oil-based coatings. Wait four hours for the primed areas to dry.
- 3
  Wash Kilz from the painting tools with mineral spirits.
- 4
  Apply latex paint to the primed areas, using the clean roller, equipped with a new nap cover. Apply paint to areas inaccessible to the roller, using a paintbrush manufactured for use with water-based coatings. Wait two hours for the primed areas to dry. Add another coat if you have poor coverage.
- 5
  Wash paint from the painting tools with plain tap water.

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