Zinsser Primers for London Decorators: BIN, Bulls Eye, Gardz, Watertite, PermaWhite — When to Use Each

Why primers matter more than most decorators admit

The finish coat gets the attention. The primer does the work. On London's diverse property stock — Victorian plaster with 150 years of paint layers, new plasterboard extensions, stained ceilings, damp-affected walls, and every variation in between — no single primer covers every situation. Knowing which Zinsser product to reach for, and when, is one of the markers that separates professional results from competent ones.

Zinsser produces the best-known specialist primer range in the UK trade market. Here is a product-by-product guide.

Zinsser BIN: the shellac-based problem solver

BIN (Bulls Eye In a New Coat, if you want the backronym) is a shellac-based primer-sealer. Shellac is one of the oldest film-forming substances used in decorating, and it remains uniquely effective because it seals almost any stain or contamination in a single coat without reaction.

Use BIN for:

• Smoke and fire damage — blocks soot and odour that water-based primers cannot contain
• Water stains and ceiling marks — seals the stain completely before topcoating; conventional primers allow water stains to bleed through repeatedly
• Knots in bare timber — seals resin bleed that causes discolouration under topcoats
• Strong odours (nicotine, cooking, mould) — shellac is an effective odour barrier
• Previously gilded or metallic surfaces — seals metallic pigments that would otherwise react with topcoats

BIN is solvent-based (methylated spirit thinner), fast-drying (30 minutes to touch), and can be topcoated within one hour. The odour is significant — adequate ventilation is essential, and in occupied properties it should be used cautiously. Cleanup requires methylated spirits.

Do not use BIN as a general primer. It is expensive and its solvent base makes it unsuitable for large areas. It is a targeted problem solver.

Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3: the all-surface water-based primer

Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is the closest thing to a universal primer in the professional decorator's toolkit. Water-based, low-odour, fast-drying (30 minutes), and sandable after one hour, it adheres to surfaces that would defeat conventional primers: previously painted gloss, tiles, glass, PVC, laminates, and metal.

Use Bulls Eye 1-2-3 for:

• Previously gloss-painted walls and woodwork where mechanical preparation (abrading) would be difficult or insufficient
• Mixed surfaces on a single project — a London renovation might include new plaster, old painted plaster, MDF joinery, and existing gloss woodwork on the same wall
• Adhesion promotion before topcoating with Farrow & Ball, Mylands, or other premium paints that need a stable, consistent base
• Priming around pipes, radiators, and metal fittings where an oil-based primer would be impractical

Coverage is approximately 10–12 m² per litre. On porous surfaces, a second coat may be needed before topcoating. The dried film provides good stain blocking for light stains — for heavy water marks or smoke damage, revert to BIN.

Zinsser Gardz: the damaged surface specialist

Gardz is a water-based deep-penetrating primer designed for unstable, friable, or damaged surfaces. Where sanding and scraping have left a substrate that has variable porosity — dusty plaster, powder-coated walls, surfaces damaged by wallpaper removal — Gardz consolidates the surface and provides a stable base for subsequent coats.

In London properties, Gardz is most useful after stripping multiple layers of old wallpaper from Victorian and Edwardian plaster. The paper stripping process inevitably leaves areas of damaged skim, torn facing paper on plasterboard, and variable surface condition. Gardz applied by roller and allowed to dry hard consolidates all of this in one product before any filling or topcoating begins.

It is also effective on chalky or powdery existing emulsion that would otherwise cause adhesion problems for a new finish coat.

Zinsser Watertite: the waterproof masonry primer

Watertite is a high-build, waterproof coating designed for below-grade masonry — basement walls, cellar walls, and any masonry surface subject to hydrostatic pressure or active moisture ingress.

In London's large stock of Victorian terraced houses with semi-basement rooms and older mansion blocks with below-ground storage and utility areas, damp walls are endemic. Watertite applied to a clean, mechanically sound masonry surface (follow preparation instructions carefully — this product will not bond to loose or contaminated surfaces) provides a waterproof membrane that resists positive water pressure from the exterior.

It is not a substitute for proper tanking in severely wet conditions but handles the moderate damp that affects many London below-ground spaces effectively. Apply by brush or roller in two coats, filling the texture of the masonry surface.

Zinsser PermaWhite: moisture-resistant finish for bathrooms

PermaWhite is a self-priming topcoat designed specifically for bathrooms and other high-humidity spaces. It contains a mould and mildew inhibitor and is formulated to withstand sustained condensation without breaking down.

For London bathrooms — frequently poorly ventilated, particularly in older flats and period conversions — PermaWhite applied to walls and ceilings provides a durable, cleanable finish that resists the mould growth that affects conventional emulsions in damp conditions.

Available in matt and satin finishes. Tintable to light and mid-tone colours.

A practical stocking note

Most London decorating trade centres stock the full Zinsser range. Keeping small quantities of BIN, Bulls Eye 1-2-3, and Gardz on the van avoids lost time when unexpected surface conditions appear mid-project — which on London period properties is not a matter of if but when.

Talk to us about your project

We use Zinsser primers as standard on London period property work. Contact our team or request a free quote to discuss your next project.