At the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) last week, Masterchem Industries, manufacturer of top-of-the-line architectural coatings including Behr paint and its flagship KILZ brand products, debuted KILZ PRO-X Interior Latex Paint, the company’s newest product line specially engineered for painting and wall covering contractors, general contractors, residential remodelers, commercial and property managers, as well as professionals involved in new construction.
First Impressions and Features
What struck us about this paint was the pitch given to us by one of the product managers. If you take a light-colored wall and draw on it with a permanent marker, you’ll still see the marker six coats later. With KILZ Pro-X, you can completely hide the marker in just two coats. Anyone who has experienced this type of cover-up job will immediately understand the significance of performance paints.
Available exclusively at Home Depot, KILZ PRO-X will be offered in two series:
KILZ PRO-X 300 Series
KILZ PRO-X 300 is a high-quality interior latex paint series that offers premium performance with an environmental edge. This high-performance series provides exceptional touch-up, superior hide, and great coverage, is low VOC and low odor, and can help a project qualify for LEED credits.
Kilz PRO-X 300 Series Sheens
- 300 is a “Dead Flat” sheen available in five classic white colors
- 310 (Flat)
- 330 (Eggshell)
- 370 (Semi-Gloss) available in a two-base system that can be tinted to more than 1,000 high-hiding colors
The KILZ PRO-X color palette is distinctively designed for professional trade applications.
Kilz PRO-X 100 Series
Kilz PRO-X 100 Series interior paint is designed for industry professionals who require high-hide and commercial-grade paint, allowing you to complete projects more quickly and with fewer coats. After a period of R&D, Kilz improved the sprayability of its interior paint, allowing it to be applied with either a brush or roller.
Kilz states that one 5-gallon bucket is capable of covering up to 2,000 sq. ft., but we didn’t achieve quite that much coverage in our testing. Still, the paint rolls easily, and it seems to cover reasonably well. We found that by using a much thicker nap roller and keeping it nice and wet, we could achieve decent coverage on our slightly textured walls with a single coat of paint.
Kilz PRO-X 100 Series Sheens
The new Kilz PRO-X 100 Series interior paint is available in three sheens:
- Interior dead flat
An ultra-low sheen, high-hiding, non-reflective, latex paint for production environments with strong spray, spray back-roll and touch-up features. It’s ideal for walls and ceilings in high turnover properties and excels at hiding small surface imperfections. - Eggshell
A production quality latex paint developed to provide maximum performance in applications such as spray, spray back-roll, and touch-ups. The washable paint is excellent for high traffic surfaces and rental property walls and trim. - Semi-gloss
A production-quality latex paint providing maximum performance when applied via spray, spray back-roll, and touch-up that is well-suited for kitchens, baths, doors, trim, high traffic surfaces, and higher-moisture areas.
Kilz states that its new PRO-X 100 Series paint is versatile enough to be applied to various surfaces, including drywall, concrete block, masonry, metal, wood, cured plaster, architectural plastics, and poured concrete. We stuck to an interior drywall application, but it’s not difficult to believe it would also provide decent coverage on other materials.
The entire KILZ PRO-X product line has been formulated to optimize spray, roll, and brush application, along with features including superior hide, coverage, and touch-up – offering professionals dependable performance.
“The launch of KILZ PRO-X is an important step forward in Masterchem’s commitment to serve the professional market. KILZ PRO-X is the answer for professional tradespeople who are looking for quality products along with easy access, plentiful inventory and discounted pro pricing, and we’re confident this new line will live up to pros’ expectations.”
Mike Walsh, VP of Marketing and New Product Development for Masterchem Industries
Final Thoughts
KILZ PRO-X paint and KILZ brand primers are available at The Home Depot in-store and via job site delivery. KILZ PRO-X is part of a program that offers specialty services aimed to save painters, contractors, and other professionals time and money. These services include free delivery to a job site, an easily accessible and available inventory, order fulfillment in less than 72 hours, factory tinting for precise color matching, volume discounts, and dedicated expert advice. For more information on KILZ PRO-X, visit www.kilzpro-x.com.
