When using Kilz has anyone had a problem with it smelling like kerosene?

Kilz Original does have a characteristic smell for about 1-2 days after applying it. You are referring to the oil based version of Kilz, which is the best KILZ primer to use for stains, smells, and applying over old surfaces.

I had to remodel my entire kitchen last year after a 25 year old Kitchen Aid dishwasher malfunctioned and burned up and spread water and soaked my entire kitchen. I had to deal with the insurance company for over ten months with just wanting to remediate the problem.

I won my appeal with them and ripped our the entire old kitchen down to the floorboard. I treated the floorboards with 2 coats of KILZ and then ripped out the wallboard, kilzed the exposed area, put in new insulation, added green board back in and Kilzed that before texturing and painting it.

KILZ is an amazing product. You do have to put up with the smell and I would use a fan and let the area get a good airing out.

I find that when it has cured and I have applied new paint over it, I get the NEW smell and I know that my walls and floor boards are protected.

An added note on putting KILZ on floorboards is that, in my opinion, it seals the floor from smells and also goes into cracks and exposed areas causing it to seal. Also, I like to say that it "tames" the floorboard because the oil based properties of this paint cause the wood to seal down and not splinter. Also, it insure that whatever you put over it is going to be sealed properly.

In my house, I kilzed the kitchem dining room, and hallways before adding hardibacker and putting in travertine flooring. Also, I kilzed my sons room and the living room before putting in bamboo flooring.

Recently, I had to rebuild the laundry room and after finding a rats nest in the wall, made sure to Kilz the area thoroughly with multiple coats after using a shop vac to get all the nasties out. I also replaced the wall board with GREEN BOARD and KILZED it thoroughly before texturing the wall. The new wallboard sucks up a lot of the KILZ and you will go through a few gallons but the lasting benefits of knowing that wallboard is sealed gives a lasting peace of mind.

I also believe that new insulation will last longer if the area where it is going to be placed is protected with a coat or two of KILZ. Remember, KILZ seals so that means that nothing is going to get in and oxidize the insulation prematurely.

I hope this helps you and I also need to say that if I had a choice between the oil based Kilz primer and the water based Kilz primer, I would choose the OIL BASED every time and put up with that kersosene smell you refer to in your original question.

It is just a small inconvenience to pay for years and years of protection that the oil based KILZ product insures you when you apply it to your walls, floors and all areas that need protection, sealing, and primering.

Also, every contractor that has come through my house and has learned how I do things nods and affirms that I am doing it right. When the city official came to sign off on my permits he was also equally amazed at the attention to detail I took to getting the job done.

I have KILZ to thank for that!

-Ken Graham

Napa, CA