Will putting Kilz on basement walls for mold cause other problems?

Question

This may be more of a theoretical question... We have black mold (basic stuff, not the deadly stuff) on the basement walls. I already know how to clean it off (soapy water, then bleach water) and then would like to paint it with Kilz to try to keep the mold from regrowing. Can the Kilz cause other problems? My idea is, if a sealer only seals a basement wall on one-side, then the moisture can still enter the wall from the other side. By sealing one side it stops the wall from breathing and it can then develop a mold problem INSIDE the concrete where you can't see it. Does this sound accurate or am I totally off-base? This is just something that popped into my head, I base it on no scientific reading... Is Kilz a sealer? Or does it contain chemicals that kill the mold? Which is better to use, Kilz or a sealer? Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

The absolute best thing you can do is to excavate around the outside of your foundation, clean the wall and apply a coal tar epoxy to seal the outside of the foundation. Then you could use a good sealer for the inside wall if you want to.

I would not use Kilz, it is more of a primer for painting over. I would use one of the good sealing products out there, one that expands to fill the voids in the cocnrete to really seal the wall.

Answer 2

I agree with JEFF and have had basement water/moisture problems before in the first home we owned.  

My view and use of KILZ is to seal water stains on drywall so I can paint over without the stain later showing up whereas I seriously doubt if KILZ will prevent mold from reappearing bec if moisture is coming from outside exterior wall, it requires digging below and sealing cracks/holes in exterior wall of foundation with tar type sealers, letting dry etc plus on interior concrete or basement cinderblock wall, Lowes and Home Depot sell wet drylock paint.  It's a lot of manual work believe me as I even put in my own French drain digging along the entire backwall of my split foyer home and going 1 foot below foundation and ordering load of pea gravel, then sealing entire back exterior wall with tar sealers etc plus renting jackhammer to install my own sump pump...

Hope the Above Info Helps!

Answer 3

before applying the Kilz spray the wall with a little water, wall dries back to front by putting water first it will pull Kilz deeper in the block