There are many scenarios where you may need a porous surface sealer. For instance, if you have just torn wallpaper or tiles from your wall, you may be left behind with a huge mess that needs to be covered.
Alternatively, these primers and sealers also come in handy when you want to paint over porous surfaces.
Products such as PRO-999 and Gardz are surface sealers and primers that do an excellent job of fixing damaged surfaces. Both options dry into a hard film that seals crumbling, chalky or porous surfaces.
If you are in the market shopping for a porous surface sealer, Gardz and PRO-999 are some of the most common products you may come across. Both do the same job.
Their prices are almost the same. So, which one should you choose? In the article below, we will be comparing PRO-999 against Gardz.
The goal is to ensure you make an informed purchase and choose the best porous surface sealer that will get the job done to perfection.
What is PRO-999?
PRO-999 is mainly known as RX-35. It is a sealer and primer used over residual paste from wallpapers, popcorn ceilings, spackling, mud joints, or even skim coats.
PRO-999 leaves behind a residual tack as it dries. This helps promote adhesion if you want to install new wallpaper. This surface sealer and primer dries into a clear-matter finish. That’s because it is water-based.
A gallon of PRO-999 can cover an area of around 450 square feet. Therefore, you only need a considerable amount to cover your walls.
You can get PRO-999 at a nearby Home Depot store or buy it on Amazon. Like other primers, PRO-999 can be applied using a roller brush or an airless sprayer.
Go with whichever option is most suitable. Before application, ROMAN Products, the manufacturer of PRO-999, are strict about surface preparation.
To ensure the sealer adheres, you should clean the surface because grease and other residues can interfere with adhesion.
ROMAN also has a 12-month warranty for its primer and sealer. Should it fail, you can always claim compensation. Before we look at Gardz, it’s worth mentioning that PRO-999 has a drying time of 3 hours.
However, it would be best to give the product at least 12 hours to cure fully. That will depend on the humidity levels, ventilation, and temperatures.
Other than fixing surfaces with wallpaper residue, PRO-999 is very effective at facilitating a stronger bond between drywall and the new wallpaper.
Many people praise PRO-999 for its ability to smoothen out the roughest surfaces. It is also effortless to apply. All you need is a roller brush or an airless sprayer.
The RX-35 PRO-999 is also highly resistant to bubbling. This is one of the things that makes it stand out from many other surface sealers.
If you have been experiencing frequent cracking and blistering with regular primers, the PRO-999 will resolve this problem for good.
What is Gardz?
Remember when we said that PRO-999 and Gardz have a lot of similar characteristics? Gardz is also a water-based sealer designed for use on problematic surfaces such as chalky, crumbling, and porous walls.
Gardz is a product of Zinsser, a leading paints, sealers, and primers manufacturer. It dries into a moisture-resistant film that is pretty hard and durable.
Gardz penetrates deep into the porous surface and creates a strong seal when applied. If you are planning a redecorating project on your wall, Gardz is the best primer and sealer to use.
Besides damaged drywall, you can use Gardz on wallpaper adhesive residue, calcimine, plaster, skim coats, spackling, and plenty of other substrates.
There are a couple of reasons why you should choose Gardz over other sealers. First, it does a great job of eliminating bubbles. Secondly, it dries into a clear finish.
The drying process is pretty fast. It takes around thirty minutes to dry to the touch. However, it can take up to three days to fully cure. It is also effortless to apply. And a gallon can be used on a surface area f around 450 square feet.
How Are They Different?
• Drying Time
The most significant difference between Gardz and PRO-999 is the drying time. Gardz is dry to the touch in around thirty minutes. As for PRO-999, it may take up to 3 hours to fully dry to the touch.
If you are in a hurry to redecorate your walls, you may lean more towards Gardz because it has a shorter drying time, allowing you to get the project done much faster.
Before we move on to the other difference, you should know that PRO-999 dries into a tacky finish. The reason behind that is to promote the adhesion of new wallpaper.
• Popularity
Between these two options, it’s clear that Gardz is the most popular option. Regarding problematic surface sealers, Gardz has built a name for itself. It is more popular amongst expert builders and DIY enthusiasts.
It is often the first choice for everyone. As for PRO-999, it doesn’t have a lot of fans. But its reputation is slowly building up.
• Availability
The recent unavailability of Gardz has to do with high demand and low supply. Gardz happens to be very rare these days in most stores and even online.
This is why more people are moving to alternatives such as PRO-999. As for this problematic surface sealer, you can find it at your nearest Home Depot or order it online from Amazon.
If you are in a hurry to primer and seal a problematic surface, you have a better chance of getting PRO-999 much quicker than its counterpart.
• Resistance to Bubbling
Gardz happens to be more resistant to bubbling than PRO-999. These two problematic surface sealers are made using different formulas. Unfortunately, a couple of PRO-999 users have experienced some bubbling.
Besides the formulas, sometimes, bubbling can be triggered by moisture, heat, and the condition of the drywall. These are things you need to check on first.
How Are They Similar?
Gardz and PRO-999 are so similar that people have alleged that one imitates the other. However, this discussion is for another day. Here are some of the shared similarities between Gardz and PRO-999.
• Gardz and RX-35 PRO-999 are both water-based primers.
• Both primers and sealers can be used on problematic surfaces such as wallpaper adhesive, spackling, joint compound, and porous surfaces.
• Irrespective of whether you settle for PRO-999 or Gardz, the application process is fast and effortless.
• With either a gallon of Gardz or PRO-999, you can cover an area of around 450 square feet.
• Both Gardz and PRO-999 create a hard and moisture-resistant finish that can be painted over.
Pros of Gardz
• Highly resistant to bubbling.
• Easy to apply.
• It can be used on a wide range of substrates.
• It dries in less than an hour.
Cons of Gardz
• It is hard to find some Gardz these days.
Pros of PRO-999
• It is widely available.
• It is very easy to apply on damaged drywall.
• It dries into a tacky finish that promotes the adhesion of wallpaper.
• It can be used over the joint compound and crumbling surfaces.
Cons of PRO-999
• It is known to bubble sometimes.
• It takes a bit longer to dry.
Which is Better?
Now that you know how PRO-999 compares to Gardz, it’s time to choose the best sealer and primer for any problematic surface you would like to fix.
If you are always keen on brand reputation, you can go with Gardz because it’s the most popular sealer for porous surfaces. However, PRO-999 also has several selling points.
For instance, it’s widely available in stores and online shops. Plus, it dries into a tacky finish that promotes wallpaper and paint adhesion.