How to Guide
TECHNICAL DATA CVS-03
COVER STAIN
®
OIL-BASED PRIMER
Form: GDH-137
Rev.: 110816
1
.DESCRIPTION AND USES .
Zinsser
®
Cover Stain
®
Oil-Based Primer is an all purpose
oil-based primer designed for interior or exterior
applications where an oil-base primer is desired. Cover-
Stain provides excellent penetration and flexibility and has
excellent adhesion and stain blocking properties. Cover-
Stain has excellent adhesion to dense, glossy surfaces
such as enamel paints and varnishes, paneling, laminates,
and ceramic tile without the need for sanding or de-
glossing.
Cover-Stain is recommended for application on interior
and exterior surfaces that have been damaged by fire,
smoke or water. Interior surfaces include new or
previously painted drywall, cured plaster and cement-
based coatings, wood (including pine fir, cedar, redwood,
and plywood), metal (including aluminum, iron, steel, and
cooper), vinyl, PVC, masonry (including stucco, concrete
block, poured concrete, and brick). Exterior surfaces
include new or previously painted wood (including pine, fir,
cedar, redwood, and pressure-treated wood), hardboard,
metal (including aluminum, iron, steel, and copper), vinyl
and PVC.
MPI #5, #45, #69, #136 Certified
.PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS .
Fast drying – Recoat in less than 1 hour
Sticks to all surfaces and sands easily
Designed for interior and exterior surfaces
High hiding formula blocks most stains from fire,
smoke and water damage
Excellent tannin blocker – use to seal bare cedar and
redwood
Easy paint thinner clean-up
.PRODUCTS .
SKU Description
3500 5-Gallon
3501 1- Gallon
3503 3-Gallon
3504 1-Quart
.PRODUCT APPLICATION .
COLOR/TINTING
Cover Stain is white but may be tinted towards off-white
and pastel shades by adding no more than 2 oz. (59 ml)
universal colorant per gallon. Tinting the primer towards
the topcoat improves the hiding power of the topcoat.
* Refer to the MPI website for the most current listing of MPI
certified products.
PRODUCT APPLICATION (cont.) .
SURFACE PREPARATION
Surfaces should be clean, dry, sound and free of dust, dirt,
excessive chalky material, grime, grease, oil, wax, mildew,
wallpaper, adhesive or any contamination that may
interfere with adhesion. If unsure of cleanliness, always
wash surface with an appropriate ammoniated cleaning
solution or solvent (do not use TSP as a cleaner). Remove
any peeling and/or unsound coatings. Sand any remaining
paint film edges smooth. Lightly sand exposed exterior
wood with 80 to 100 grit sandpaper to remove loose or
weathered wood fibers and mill glaze. When priming over
stained areas, first attempt to remove as much of the stain
as possible by washing, sanding, scraping, etc.
Remove exterior mold & mildew with Zinsser Jomax
®
Mildew Killer and House Cleaner. Remove interior mildew
with an interior mildew cleaner. Allow surface to dry
completely before priming. Countersink exposed nail
heads, spot prime and fill all nail holes and gouges with
Zinsser Ready Patch
®
spackling compound. Wire brush
rusty areas. Spot prime knots and sap streaks with B-I-N
®
Primer-Sealer before whole surface priming with Cover
Stain Oil-Based Primer.
WARNING! If you scrape, sand or remove old paint, you
may release lead dust. LEAD IS TOXIC. EXPOSURE TO
LEAD DUST CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ILLNESS, SUCH AS
BRAIN DAMAGE, ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN.
PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD ALSO AVOID
EXPOSURE. Wear a NIOSH-Approved respirator to
control lead exposure. Clean up carefully with a HEPA
vacuum and a wet mop. Before you start, find out how to
protect yourself and your family by contacting the National
Lead Information Hotline at 1-800-424-LEAD or log on to
www.epa.gov/lead.
LIMITATIONS
Cover Stain
®
Oil-Based Primer is not intended for
application to floors, decks, roof surfaces or any surface
subject to immersion or prolonged contact with water. Do
not box or intermix Cover Stain Oil-Based Primer with
other oil-base or water-base products.
MIXING
Mix thoroughly to ensure any settled pigment is re-
dispersed. DO NOT THIN.