(NAPSA)—Every year, wet winter weather, followed by the melting snow and ice during the warmer spring months, causes a common problem in homes across America—water stains on ceilings andwalls. Thinking about covering water stains with a fresh coat of paint? Unfortunately, most stains will bleed right through your new paint job, no matter how many coats you apply. But it’s easy to block stains and prevent them from coming back. Just follow these steps from the home-improvement experts for Zinsser products: Eliminate the source of the moisture or you'll soon have another unsightly water stain. Clean the surface with a solution of one cup of bleach per gallon of water and rinse thoroughly with water to remove mildew, dirt and other unsightly deposits. Dry the surface completely. Use a hair dryer to dry small areas. Larger areas may require the use of a dehumidifier, heater or fan to ensure the surface is completely dry before painting. Prime the surface with an oil-base stain-killing primer such as CoverStain. If you try to block Stop water stains from bleeding through your paint job by priming first. a water stain with a water-base primer, the stain is likely to “rewet” or bleed through. Cover Stain is specially formulated to block water, and water-soluble stains like those from markers, ink, food and nicotine, in just one coat. Tip from the “pros”: For quick ceiling touch-up, consider using a vertical aerosol like COVERS UP™ Stain Sealing Ceiling Paint. It matches most acoustic ceiling tiles, so it’s great when you want to cover a spot or two. e After the primer has dried, finish up with your desired topcoat. For more information on Zinsser’s complete line of primers—or for more helpful home-improvement “tips”—visit Wwww.zinsser.com.
