Benjamin Moore Fresh Start · Oil-based K032
Stains that keep
coming back? Stop them.
Benjamin Moore's premium alkyd undercoater and stain-blocking primer. It seals water stains, smoke, marker and cedar bleed so they don't show through your paint, and it sands smooth under enamel on trim and doors.
2 hrsto sand or recoat*
Oilalkyd stain blocker
$30.80946 mL from
$249+ships free in Canada
*At 25 °C and 50% humidity. Overnight before a finish coat. Interior, plus exterior spot priming.
Fresh Start Undercoater, WhiteBlocks stains, sands smooth
Plan my jobBenjamin Moore Fresh Start Undercoater and Primer/Sealer, Oil-Based (K032)
Prix habituel
$30.80 CAD
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Benjamin Moore Fresh Start Undercoater and Primer/Sealer (K032)
Fresh Start Undercoater and Primer/Sealer (K032) is Benjamin Moore's premium alkyd (oil-based) primer for use as an undercoater, sealer or stain-blocking primer. It offers outstanding stain suppression and enamel holdout, sands easily to a smooth finish, and can be sanded or recoated in 2 hours.
Key Features
- Blocks stains: water, smoke, crayon, marker, nicotine, grease, rust, coffee and tannin bleed.
- Sands easily for a smooth undercoat on trim and doors.
- Outstanding enamel holdout under latex or alkyd topcoats.
- Excellent adhesion on wood, drywall, plaster, masonry, ceiling tile and Masonite.
- MPI 45 and 136.
White (00). 946 mL and 3.79 L. Interior use, plus exterior spot priming. Mineral spirits clean-up.
Specs & Coverage
| Type | Alkyd undercoater and primer/sealer |
| Sheen | Flat (1–5 @ 85°) |
| Coverage | 400–500 sq ft (37.2–46.5 m²) per 3.79 L |
| Dry time (25 °C, 50% RH) | Touch: 1 hour. Sand or recoat: 2 hours |
| Application temperature | 10–32 °C (50–90 °F) |
| VOC | Under 350 g/L |
| Application | Brush, roller or airless spray (1,500–2,500 PSI, .011–.015 tip) |
| Clean-up | Mineral spirits |
Application Guide
- Clean the surface and dull glossy areas.
- Spot prime nail holes, putty and bare wood.
- Apply 1 coat, or 2 for maximum stain suppression. Do not thin.
- Dry overnight before your finish coat; clean up with mineral spirits.
FAQ
1What stains does it block?
Water, smoke, marker, nicotine, grease, rust and tannin bleed, among others.
2Can I use it outside?
For exterior spot priming only.
3How much do I need?
A 3.79 L can covers 400–500 sq ft per coat.
Canada Shipping
- Enjoy free shipping in Canada on orders over $249. Yukon, NWT, Nunavut not included.
Winter Shipping:
- From December to April, shipping outside of Ontario and Quebec is limited.
- Returns accepted within 35 days from the date of delivery.
- Custom tinted paints are classified as Final Sale items and are not eligible for return or store credit.
Why an oil-based primer
Some stains walk right through latex.
Water marks, smoke, marker and the tannins in cedar can bleed through water-based paint and primer. An alkyd stain blocker locks them in first, so your topcoat stays clean.
01
Stops stains
Outstanding stain suppression on water, smoke, crayon, marker, nicotine, grease, rust and tannin bleed.
02
Sands smooth
Sands easily for a smooth undercoat on trim and doors, with outstanding enamel holdout under your topcoat.
03
Sticks to most things
Excellent adhesion on wood, drywall, plaster, masonry, ceiling tile, Masonite and previously painted surfaces.
For interior surfaces, plus spot priming outside. Apply between 10 °C and 32 °C with good ventilation. Two coats give maximum sealing and stain suppression. MPI 45 and 136.
Primer calculator
How much do I need?
Enter your room size. We'll work out the cans, using 400 sq ft per 3.79 L, the low end of Benjamin Moore's coverage so you don't run short.
ft
ft
ft
Coats
You need
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Set up for a 12 × 12 ft room with 8 ft walls, one door and one window, and 1 coat. Just spot priming a stain, or a few doors and some trim? A 946 mL can covers about 100 sq ft.
Compare
Which primer do I need?
Tough stains, oil-based
Fresh Start Undercoater
- Best for
- Water, smoke and marker stains, cedar bleed, and undercoating trim and doors.
- What you get
- Alkyd stain blocker that sands easily. Mineral spirits clean-up.
- From
Everyday, water-based
Fresh Start All Purpose
- Best for
- Most interior and exterior priming, glossy surfaces and big colour changes.
- What you get
- High-hiding acrylic primer with low odour and soap-and-water clean-up.
- From
Smooth finish, water-based
Fast Sanding Primer
- Best for
- New wood doors, trim and cabinets when you want to sand between coats.
- What you get
- Acrylic primer that sands to a powder in 1 hour. Not for severe stains.
- From
Priming new drywall? Drywall Primer is made for it. See all Benjamin Moore primers.
Specs
The details.
| Type | Alkyd (oil-based) undercoater and primer/sealer (K032) |
|---|---|
| Use on | Wood and engineered wood, drywall, cured plaster and masonry, ceiling tile, Masonite, previously painted surfaces |
| Blocks | Water, smoke, crayon, marker, pen, pencil, nicotine, fingerprints, grease, rust, coffee and tannin bleed |
| Colour | White (00). Can be tinted toward your topcoat |
| Sheen | Flat (1–5 @ 85°) |
| Coverage | 400–500 sq ft (37.2–46.5 m²) per 3.79 L |
| Coats | 1 or 2. Two for maximum stain suppression |
| Dry time | Touch 1 hour. Sand or recoat 2 hours. Overnight before a finish coat |
| Apply at | 10–32 °C (50–90 °F), air and surface |
| VOC | Under 350 g/L |
| Apply with | China bristle or nylon/polyester brush, roller, or airless spray (1,500–2,500 PSI, .011–.015 tip) |
| Thinning | Do not thin |
| Clean-up | Mineral spirits |
| Certified | MPI 45 and 136 |
Dry times at 25 °C and 50% humidity. Full adhesion and hardness in 3–4 days. Combustible: keep away from flames and sparks.
How to apply
Prime it right.
- Clean and dull. Remove grease, wax, chalk and loose paint, and wash off mildew with a mildew wash. Dull glossy areas with a sanding sponge.
- Ventilate. Open windows and run a fan. Air and surface between 10 °C and 32 °C.
- Stir, don't thin. Stir well before and during use. Never add other paints or solvents.
- Spot prime first over nail holes, putty, caulked areas and bare wood, then prime the whole surface with a brush, roller or airless sprayer.
- Two coats for tough stains. Sand lightly after 2 hours for a smooth undercoat, and let it dry overnight before a second coat or your finish coat.
- Clean up with mineral spirits. Put oily rags in a sealed, water-filled metal container.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What stains does it block?
Water stains, smoke, crayon, marker, pen and pencil, nicotine, fingerprints, grease, rust and coffee, plus tannin bleed from woods like cedar. For the toughest stains, apply two coats for maximum sealing.
Fresh Start Undercoater or Fresh Start All Purpose?
The Undercoater is oil-based (alkyd). Pick it for bad stains, bleeding woods like cedar, and as a sandable undercoat under enamel on trim and doors. Fresh Start High-Hiding All Purpose is water-based, with less odour and soap-and-water clean-up, for everyday priming inside and out.
Can I use it under latex paint?
Yes. It's an undercoater for latex or alkyd topcoats. Let it dry overnight before your finish coat, then topcoat with a paint like ADVANCE on trim and doors or Regal Select on walls.
How long before I can sand or recoat?
Dry to the touch in 1 hour and ready to sand or recoat in 2 hours at 25 °C and 50% humidity. Benjamin Moore recommends an overnight dry before a second coat, spot priming or your finish coat. It reaches full adhesion and hardness in 3–4 days.
Can I use it outside?
Only for spot priming exterior surfaces, like bare spots before you paint. For full exterior priming, use Fresh Start High-Hiding All Purpose.
What surfaces can I prime?
Wood and engineered wood (including bleeding woods like cedar), drywall, cured plaster and masonry, ceiling tile, Masonite and previously painted surfaces. Spot prime nail holes, putty and bare wood, and re-prime puttied areas before the finish coat.
How much do I need?
A 3.79 L can covers 400–500 sq ft per coat, and a 946 mL can about a quarter of that. Use the calculator above.
Can it be tinted?
Benjamin Moore allows tinting toward your topcoat colour with up to 60 mL of colourant per 3.79 L, which helps when you're going darker. We sell it online in white. Want it tinted? Ask us.
Does it smell? How do I clean up?
Yes. It's an oil-based alkyd (under 350 g/L VOC), so use it with good ventilation. Don't thin it. Clean tools with mineral spirits, and put oily rags in a sealed, water-filled metal container right away, since they can catch fire on their own.
Sizes and shipping?
946 mL and 3.79 L. We ship across Canada, free on most orders over $249, or pick up free in Mississauga.
Ready to block that stain?
Not sure which primer your stain needs? Ask our team. We've been helping painters and contractors since 1997.