Yes, paint primer is highly recommended prior to paint application. Paint makers almost generally recommend that you apply one or two layers of paint primer by brushing, rolling, or spraying it on because this will result in a more vibrant color coat in the end. Paint professionals who charge by the hour could suggest that you use a primer. Paint contractors that charge by the job, on the other hand, may prefer not to use primer, particularly if the supplies are included in the price of the project. When it comes to painting, the answer is frequently based less on objective variables and more on subjective ones, such as the cost, the amount of time required, and one’s level of patience. And besides, priming may appear to be a pointless exercise. It takes as much effort to prime the surface as it does to lay down the color layer. We have rounded up everything that you need to know about using a paint primer.
When Should Primer be Used?
Experts advise applying primer prior to actually your two layers of paint, even though the paint is self-priming, in order to achieve a finished look. Priming before anything else enables even the most vibrant, true-to-life color to be seen through the paint. We refer to the ideal foundation for bright color. Throughout most instances, one coat of primer will suffice, although, in the following situations, you will certainly like to apply one to two coats of primer to ensure complete coverage. Here are the sample instances where the primer is required to be used prior to painting.
Exterior Surfaces
Unlike interior projects, where you’d be likely to dodge priming entirely, that’s not the case for exterior developments. So it will be exposed to high temperature and will be subjected to a greater amount of abuse, this will require a layer of exterior paint primer. Consider carefully painting over the primer after two days if you find yourself in either of these circumstances. The majority of primers are developed to create a physiochemical connection with the paint that is placed upon it. If you leave it for an extended period of time, this will diminish its efficacy.
Covering Stains
With something like a new paint job, you may give a boost to a piece of old furniture or reshape gloomy trimming into something completely different. Keep in mind that paint is intended to highlight color rather than conceal what is underlying it. Painting a discolored area is better achieved by first applying a primer, followed by the final coat of paint. This will guarantee that the discoloration somehow doesn’t leak throughout and that the paint has a firm base to adhere to in the future. As an outcome, you’ll have a more modern appearance which will endure considerably longer.
Dark to Light Color Change
Minimize the difficulties that arise with constantly painting with pricey light-colored paint atop darker colors on a large surface. Alternatively, if indeed the previous color is incredibly dark, apply two coats of white primer to the area before painting over it. Whenever transitioning from such a bright to a deep hue, keep in mind that almost all paint dealers can color the primer to compliment the new color. This improves the color of the primer relatively close to the shade of the wall finish, resulting in a decrease in the number of priming and color applications that need to be applied.
Conceal Unpleasant Odors
For instance, whether you’ve recently relocated into a residence where the prior owner smoked nicotine, kept dogs, or prepared dishes with strong odors, you’ll really like to prime the walls prior to painting. In a manner that conventional paint was not intended to do, high-quality primers can encapsulate these scents in such a manner that ordinary paint simply cannot. If you do not however prime, these smells would return immediately.
Porous Surface
Carefully prime porous areas including such untarnished or unprotected wood prior to painting them, even if the base appears to be smooth and unblemished. Whenever a medium absorbs water, humidity, grease, scents, or discoloration, it is considered to be porous. The drywall that has just been placed is also extremely porous, but also in two distinct ways: the naked face sheet on the drywall as well as the hardened joints cement coating the joints.
If you do not even prime beforehand, these pores will actually soak the paint and digest it straight into the hardwood or even the drywall. Aside from that, whether you have mended or rebuilt drywall, you would most probably see spots of spackle or bond solution on the face of the structure. Unless the areas are large, it is not necessary to purchase an additional primer. After you’ve completed your repairs, you can apply a little quantity of the regular paint to the parts that were damaged. Whenever the places are completely dry, you can proceed to paint the wall as usual, with the areas you focused on remaining invisible.
New Drywall
Oftentimes, not whether a material must be primed is determined by not when the material is very absorbent. The problem is that you might wind up requiring numerous layers of paint because much of the paint would be absorbed into the crack. P articularly, this is evident in newly installed, untreated drywall and, in specific, of the putty used with the gaps. When painted, it will resemble splotchy skin and be dreary with a polished look due to the fact that it soaks up paint faster than other surfaces.
There really are two possibilities for drywall that are the most effective. But if you’re a specialist or have employed specialists, and you are making progress on a material that is particularly flawless, a regular drywall primer would suffice. If you are not proficient or even have hired specialists, drywall primer should suffice. Alternatively, if the drywall has minor flaws such as dark spots, scratching, or microscopic grooves, you should use a high-build drywall primer-sealer. It will flatten and even have a rough surface, despite the fact it is more costly.
