Mold can be a problem for a significant number of people, which has meant that the majority of us have looked for a variety of ways to remove it. One of the more common ways of doing so has been to use mold-resistant paint, which can effectively remove the mold while preventing it from returning.
Much of this can depend on the paint itself, however, which has often led to a significant amount of confusion surrounding it. There are a few mold-resistant paints that should stand out from the crowd when making your decision.
Zinsser Perma-White Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint
Zinsser Perma-White Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint is one of the best options to choose from, as it provides a considerable number of benefits. The first of these is that it lasts a significant amount of time, with Zinsser providing a 5-year warranty with every purchase.
It should last longer than this, however. Furthermore, it features a self-priming quality, that means you shouldn’t need to go back over your walls once the paint is dry. This is something that all of us can benefit from, as it means that you shouldn’t have to buy a primer and then spend more time painting.
It also offers a significant amount of stain and dirt resistance, which means that walls stay cleaner for much longer. This has often been a problem with many white walls. When it does start getting dirty, it’s much easier to clean than the majority of other paints on the market, especially mold-resistant ones.
This is because it’s both washable and scrubbable, so you’ll be able to put some elbow grease into it should any tough stains appear. These will take years to develop, however, as the stain-resistance is quite long-lasting.
Alongside all of this is the fact that the formula was designed to be as odorless as possible. While the smell isn’t completely gone, it is a lot less noticeable than many of its competitors, which is an added advantage.
For getting rid of the mold, the formula is quite effective, and you shouldn’t have any issues will it developing on your walls anytime soon.
There is one notable drawback, however, in that the self-primer isn’t the best on offer. While it can be adequate, many buyers may want something that might be somewhat stronger. For the price that the product is, this is a cost-effective approach to the problem.
Pros:
- Low odor formula means it shouldn’t smell for as long as other paints.
- Longer-lasting than many competitors.
- Self-primer can be beneficial.
- More washable than many of its competitors.
- Large amount of stain resistance.
Cons:
- Self-priming isn’t as effective as others.
Rust-Oleum 02761 Perma-White Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint
Many mold-resistant paints don’t offer much in the way of colors, and they’re often only available in white or off-white. The Rust-Oleum 02761, however, is tintable, so you’ll be able to change its color somewhat to better suit a room.
Speaking of color, this offers a certain amount of fade resistance, which you wouldn’t see with many other paints. As such, you’ll be able to get a better color for the product for much longer than you might have thought.
Alongside this is the fact that it’s stain, dirt, and moisture resistant, which makes it quite easy to clean over time. You shouldn’t need to in the beginning, but this can be helpful over the long-term.
There’s also a self-priming quality to this, which will save you a considerable amount of time when painting. However, this doesn’t last long, so you may need to buy more primer in a few weeks or months.
While the Rust-Oleum 02761 is designed to be as odorless as possible, this isn’t the case when you’re painting in warm weather. This is because the water will thin out, which then provides a noticeable smell of ammonia.
Lastly is the fact that the cans come in quite a small size, especially for their price. This means that it could end up being quite an expensive option to choose, though it is quite effective.
When it comes to removing any mold on your walls, it should do so, although this can depend on the type of mold. It will effectively get rid of most forms, however, while preventing it from coming back for quite a while.
Pros:
- Water-based, so there’s very little odor.
- Tintable to several colors, so it offers versatility in options.
- Self-priming quality saves time and effort.
- Stain, dirt and moisture resistance makes it easy to clean.
- Color is fade resistant.
Cons:
- The odor can become strong if painting in warmer weather.
- Self-primer isn’t long-lasting and may need to be replaced over time.
- Relatively small can for the price, making it one of the more expensive options.
Rust-Oleum Corporation 02711 Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint
Priming is something that many of us might want to avoid doing, despite it being a necessity. While many other paints offer a self-primer, these can often be ineffective, although this isn’t the case with the Rust-Oleum Corporation 02711 Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint.
The self-priming qualities of this are only rivaled by its ability to get rid of, and prevent, the buildup of mold, in which it provides a significant amount of protection. Alongside this is a Satin finish that should fit well in many rooms.
Being water-based, the odor with the paint is minimal, which is a quality that many of us will look for. This does have some negatives, though, in that the finished look can be a lot thinner than you might expect. As a result, it may not be appropriate if you’re painting over darker colors.
The can is a lot smaller than you might expect, especially for the price. This means that you could end up spending more money on a room than you might with other brands and products. This makes it one of the less cost-effective approaches getting rid of mold.
While the price is often a sign of how high-end a product is, this sometimes isn’t the case, which is seen here. Though Rust-Oleum 02711 works, it may not be worth the price that you’re paying.
Pros:
- Self-priming quality is better than many others.
- Water-based, so there’s minimal odor.
- Provides a Satin finish.
Cons:
- Small can for the price.
- Paint itself is thinner than many others, so may be slightly see-through.
Rust-Oleum 5001 Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint
This is slightly different from many of its competitors in that it’s oil-based instead of the standard latex. However, the Rust-Oleum 5001 Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint provides a variety of benefits, with the most notable being that it can be much stronger than many other products.
This is highlighted by the amount of water pressure it can handle, often double that of others. Alongside this is the fact that it offers longer-lasting protection than its competition, with this staying just as effective over time.
Many of us might assume that there would be a strong smell because it’s oil-based. This isn’t the case, as there’s a minimal if any, odor when you’re applying the paint, which is avoided completely if there’s a window open.
The self-priming factor associated with this is also much better than many of its competitors, and shouldn’t provide any problems for you in the long-term. This is something that, unfortunately, happens with many other paints.
There are two notable negatives to this, however, with the first being that you’ll need to spend more on this than you would with other cans. Given the benefits that can be associated with this, then you should still get value for money.
Alongside this is the fact that it contains led. As a result, you shouldn’t be able to use the paint in water tanks, or anywhere else where your drinking or cleaning water will pass through. For anything outside of this, then it could be a smart investment.
Pros:
- One of the better self-priming paints.
- Minimal odor when applying.
- Stronger than many other mold and mildew-proof paints.
- Long lasting prevention against build-up.
Cons:
- Contains lead, so can’t be used in water tanks, etc.
- More expensive than many competitors.
Rust-Oleum 2774 Zinsser Interior Eggshell Paint
The Rust-Oleum 2774 Zinsser Interior Eggshell Paint has a variety of benefits to consider, with one of the most prominent being that it contains mildewcide to ensure that mold and mildew don’t grow through the walls.
Similar to many of its competitors, this is also a self-primer and sticks to anything that you paint it on, although this mightn’t be as effective as others. Where the product shines, however, is that it’s much more washable than many of the others on the market.
This means that you’ll be able to quickly and safely get rid of any dirt without affecting the paint. You shouldn’t have to do this often, however, as the Rust-Oleum 2774 is much more dirt resistant than other paints on offer.
The odor will be another factor that many of us will consider when buying the product. This is water-based, so there shouldn’t be any issues with smell while you’re applying the paint.
This doesn’t mean that there aren’t any negatives to this, however. One of the most notable of these is that it can be much more expensive than its competitors. This is especially true when you consider the size of each can, which is much smaller than others.
Typically, this comes in a pint-sized can, which could mean that you’ll need a few of them to paint a room. As a result, it may not be the most cost-effective option to choose from. If you’re looking to cover a small area effectively, then this is when it might be appropriate.
Pros:
- Dirt and moisture resistant.
- Easily washed and scrubbed.
- Water-based so there’s a minimal odor.
- Self-primer.
- Contains mildewcide.
Cons:
- One of the pricier options to choose from.
FAQ
What Is The Best Mold Resistant Paint?
While each of the mold-resistant paints that we highlighted above will be effective, the clear winner here is the Zinsser Perma-White Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint. This is because it offers a variety of benefits when compared to the majority of its competitors.
Alongside this is the fact that there are relatively few drawbacks to using the paint. As a result, it’s the best mold-resistant paint that we’ve come across. It’s worth noting that there may be better ones out there, although this will take you a considerable amount of time to find.
For an easy and effective way to get rid of your mold, however, you shouldn’t go wrong with the Zinsser Perma-White. If you’re unable to find this locally, then each of the above will be an effective substitute.
Is It Ok To Paint Over Mold?
While this is a simple question, the answer can be relatively complex as it’s a ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ This is because it can often depend on the extent of your mold problem, as well as the paint that you’re using.
In the majority of cases, you shouldn’t paint over it as this only hides the issue in the short-term while it becomes larger. This is also true for mold-resistant paint, as it often masks the problem while preventing any further growth.
As a result, more damage can be done to your home if you don’t have the underlying issue fixed when you’re painting over the walls. Before you do so, you should aim to remove as much of the mold as possible so that it doesn’t become a hazard to your health.
As we mentioned already, there is also a ‘yes’ part of this answer, although only in certain circumstances. This is where mold-killing paint comes into the equation, as it can often be an effective way of killing it while preventing growth from occurring in the future.
Does Mold Killing Paint Really Work?
We mentioned mold-killing paint a moment ago, although many people will be skeptical amount whether this works. It can, also this depends on the type of paint that you’re using, with much of this being focused on what it uses as a base.
There are a few that you’ll be able to choose from, with some using ammonia and others using bleach-based formulas. Also on offer are many that are made with mold-eating enzymes, which can be expensive, although they’re quite expensive.
This means that the answer to this question is ‘yes,’ although only if you choose the right paint in the first place. Failing to do so will mean that you’ll end up with more mold in the long-term, and you’ll be forced to tackle the issue again in a few years.
This means that it can be well worth the investment to choose an expensive option at the beginning, as you’ll be saving time and money so that you don’t have to deal with it again.
Is There A Paint That Kills Black Mold?
There are as many types of mold-focused paints as there are types of mold, with many of these being focused on killing specific breeds. This includes black mold, which can often be the most dangerous strain.
Because of how dangerous it is, you’ll need to ensure that you purchase a paint that’s made specifically for this strain and that’s as strong as possible. By doing so, you’ll be able to ensure that you’re ready to get rid of it early, which deters all of the associated health risks while also providing you with peace of mind.
The health consequences of the strain, also known as Stachybotrys chartarum, can carry a large burden, with part of this being financial. This means that the price tag for paint that kills it can often be well worth the price.
Regardless of how effective a mold-resistant paint is, you should always work to treat the underlying cause. If there’s something minor behind your walls creating the problem, then this will get worse over time.
While paint can do a great job of killing any mold or mildew that it comes into contact with, it may only mask the issue. This means that it could begin damaging more and more of your home without you noticing it.
Much of this will be seen on the inside of a wall, where your mold-resistant paint shouldn’t come into contact with it. As a result, it could begin to spread throughout the interiors of the wall and affect more of the building.
Putting off addressing the issue will lead to more problems in the future, as well as more money need to fix it. Though paint will keep it from coming to the surface, this often will not affect the underlying issue.
There are a variety of ways that you’ll be able to do so, with the majority of these being focused on making your entire home water-proof, not just one side of your wall. While this may take a significant amount of effort, it can reap dividends.
These shouldn’t just be seen in finances but in you and your family’s overall health long-term.