To Prime Or Not To Prime? A Primer On Primers
Here are something frequently asked questions I get about primers.
Why do painters use primer on some things and no primer on others?
Will a paint-primer be sufficient for painting drywall?
Can you use water based primer on an oil based paint?
Not all surfaces need to be primed before they are painted but the ones that do must be done using the proper products. In this blog we will explain 8 surfaces that need to be primed before they are painted or you will find yourself having to start over.
Painting with a water based product over an oil based product
As we move away from using oil based paints for most paint projects we often deal with having to repaint with an acrylic over and an alkyd. These products are usually used on wood material like baseboards and trim or on metal surfaces like gates and fences. This requires a primer.
Water based products won’t adhere properly to an oil based product and if you try you’ll see the paint bubble and peel as soon as it dries. All you need to do in this situation is use an oil based primer, let it dry and you can now apply your water based product to your wood.
Painting a water stain
Once you have dealt with the source of the water stain to ensure the source of the problem has been detected and remedied you can now start your repair. Often times a water stain does not mean there is mold and can be simply painted over but before you paint you want to use a stain blocking primer and you may need to apply multiple coats. Make sure you apply as many coats of primer as needed to block out the stain entirely or you will end up seeing that stain after painting.
Painting over drywall
Any time you are doing a drywall repair, retexturing an area or installing brand new drywall the surface must be primed. If you are repairing a hole in your wall, scraping popcorn off your ceiling, or painting a brand new house; you have to prime. A product that says paint in primer in one is not going to be sufficient to make sure the drywall is sealed. Fresh drywall absorbs paint very well.
If you apply paint before the primer coat has been applied you will see an uneven coverage and may need to paint multiple coats to get it looking right. For this job all you need is a fast drying latex primer, these products are water soluble and have either low or no-vocs formulas making them a healthier alternative.
Learn More About Drywall Repair
Painting over a darker color
How come it’s more expensive to paint your walls white instead of painting your walls gray? Well, for example, if you walls are blue right now we are going to have to prime before we paint which requires more labor as well as the primer for materials. Can I paint light blue over black without priming? We would suggest not. When you decide the color you want to paint your walls and pick up the paint from the store you will notice in the bottom it is the color base. As a rule of the thumb you can paint deep and ultra deep bases over bright white and extra white bases but not the other way around or you may have to apply 4 or 5 coats for full coverage instead of 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of paint.
Painting over unfinished wood
Bare wood always needs to be primed before painting. The natural fibers of wood absorb a lot of paint so to avoid an uneven finish you want to use a primer that will adhere to the wood. When we paint oak cabinets or front doors before we apply the paint we make sure we have sanded the surface and applied a primer (usually an oil based primer) for two reasons. 1: to ensure proper paint coverage so no wood grain bleeds through. 2: to ensure adhesion so that the paint you are applying after words does not peel or scratch off after normal wear and tear.
Painting over wallpaper
We don’t like to paint over wallpaper and suggest that you have the wallpaper removed if you want to get rid of it but if you are painting over wallpaper just like the other examples you need a bonding primer that will make sure your paint adheres to the wallpaper and offers full coverage.
Painting over brick or concrete
Brick is a porous rough surface that paint will not naturally adhere or fully cover without a primer. For a project like this we recommend a professional so that the project is done right the first time so that your brick comes out looking great. Using a masonry primer we recommend applying this product with an airless sprayer to ensure the primer gets into all the nooks and crannies of the brick. A product like this will be more expensive than the paint but is worth it to make sure your brick is protected and your paint finishes evenly and beautifully.
In conclusion
Painting your house can have more elements to it than you expected. Often times we find ourselves doing projects after an inexperienced painter has messed it up. This is why we offer a 2 year warranty on all painting services we offer. If your project needs a primer and it doesn’t get it you can see bubbling, peeling and fading up to 2 years later. Our warranty is a promise that you can depend on our expertise and experience so that you home is painted properly while giving you the assurance that if something wrong happens we will come back to fix the problem no questions asked.
