Here at Red Truck Painting, we preform a lot of  Rochester wall paper removal projects.   A main priority with this work is proper surface preparation after the paper is take down.  

When wallpaper is removed, there is often a good amount of glue residue left over.  If this glue is not fully removed from the walls, it will interfere with the finish coat of paint.  In cases where we cannot clean the walls fully of the glue residue, we must use a product to seal the walls before the finish is applied.

 Oil Primer like Cover Stain  used to be our go to.  Now we usually choose GARDZ Problem Surface Sealer.  Here are the main advantages:
1. Unlike oil, GARDZ does not smell horrible
2. Unlike oil, GARDZ is truly ready in one hour under normal conditions
3. GARDZ takes about half as long to apply
4. GARDZ spreads out almost twice as far
5. GARDZ preforms slightly better at sealing down glue residue, and has worked where oil has failed

Cover Stain would still be a better choice if you only want to paint only one coat of finish after the primer, because it can be tinted, while GARDZ is a clear.  We always suggest two coats of paint, so for us this rarely applies.

There is a learning curve to applying GARDZ (which is also true of oil primer).  GARDZ is extremely watery, and has a consistency resembling milk.  You must be very gentle not to squeeze the roller, or it will run very easily.  Once you get the hang, though, GARDZ will spread out far and easily.  

Once the walls dry, give a light sanding, and they are ready for paint.  The paint will go on easier, because your walls are freshly sealed.

Cover Stain is made by Zinnser.  Now a part of the Rustoleum company, the Zinnser brand is perhaps the best known manufacturer of primer specific coatings.  This primer has been around for years, and is one of the most popular oil primers in the painting industry.

We have been using this primer for years as well.  Cover Stain became our go-to oil primer because it is thick, and because it blocks out stains like it is supposed to. We most commonly used Cover Stain for bare wood surfaces (especially old exterior wood that is porous and/ or or prone to tannin bleed, like cedar) and for problem surfaces with staining issues.  These surfaces include water stained ceilings, smoke stained ceilings, and walls from which wallpaper was removed.

This product does a great job at blocking stains.  With wall paper removal, Cover Stain does a good job at locking down torn drywall, and wall paper glue residue on the wall substrate.  This provides a safe undercoat for application of a latex product.  If latex is used without an oil primer, bubbling of the finish coat, and flashing of the residues is common

Cover Stain dries fast, and can be recoated in one hour, as stated on the can.  We do however suggest an overnight dry with oil primers, as they can take some time to harden, and can also take time to off-gas their oil solvents.   

Cover Stain's main weakness is that it is very smelly, with intense oil fumes.  You must use with adequate ventilation - or you will catch a nasty headache.  Also, if you plan to clean your brushes be prepared to spend some time with thinner or mineral spirits.

See our review of GARDZ, which offers a great, water based alternative for wallpaper removal use primer.