When faced with an interior painting project, many homeowners just want to get the job done as quickly and as painlessly as possible, but still hope to achieve that glossy, professional paint job finish they see in look-books, magazines and on Pinterest. This leads them to ask if primer is actually necessary, and if it is, can they at least use a 2-in-1 paint + primer product?
Primer is boring! There is no satisfaction when you finish coating your walls in primer, because a) it actually makes your walls look worse than before, and b) you still have to paint over all that, but with the new chosen wall color. But it is necessary, and here’s why:
If you aren’t painting a paint-resistant surface, if you don’t have any stains to cover up or if you aren’t performing any repairs to the walls you’re painting, there are still a couple of reasons our professional painters suggest using primer before painting, such as when painting in a high moisture area, or when painting over a glossy surface or paintjob. If you’re unsure of whether or not you should use primer first, contact your local paint company and ask them; they’ll be able to help you out with any questions that you have about your DIY paint job.
Some Considerations:
There is a lot of confusion around primer and whether or not you actually need it, so we hope we cleared some of that up for you. Before you make a final decision though, just keep this in mind: you might save a lot of time and money upfront by skipping the priming process, but if it turns out you needed it, you’ll lost a lot more time and money by repainting your home the right way. So, if you’re not sure, just contact our professional paint company at [email protected] and ask us for tips. We’ll be more than happy to help! Or, if you are in over your head, let us come out and give you a FREE ESTIMATE.
Primer is boring! There is no satisfaction when you finish coating your walls in primer, because a) it actually makes your walls look worse than before, and b) you still have to paint over all that, but with the new chosen wall color. But it is necessary, and here’s why:
- Primer is the glue that helps your paint stick to the wall. While a lot of people think that primer is strictly for coverage, in actuality, our professional painters use it more for adherence purposes. Primer helps paint stick to typically paint resistant surfaces, such as previously unpainted drywall, wood surfaces, surfaces that see a lot of moisture (think bathroom and kitchen walls), and surfaces prone to peeling and chipping. Primer is only necessary for coverage reasons if you’re trying to cover up a bold color, such as red or dark blue.
- Primer is a great cover up. If you’re trying to paint a wall or room with a lot of stains, such as a kitchen or mudroom, primer is the answer. Primer easily covers those nasty grease stains, cigarette smoke stains, burn stains, and even crayon, marker and nail polish stains that you just can’t get rid of no matter how hard you scrub. However, you need to be sure that you use the right kind of primer – stain blocking primer – if you hope to succeed in covering up those stains for good.
- Primer is necessary to cover up repaired areas. If you had to do a drywall repair on one of the walls you’re painting, or if you’ve done any spackle or trim work, you will want to spot prime that area to ensure a seamless finished paint product.
If you aren’t painting a paint-resistant surface, if you don’t have any stains to cover up or if you aren’t performing any repairs to the walls you’re painting, there are still a couple of reasons our professional painters suggest using primer before painting, such as when painting in a high moisture area, or when painting over a glossy surface or paintjob. If you’re unsure of whether or not you should use primer first, contact your local paint company and ask them; they’ll be able to help you out with any questions that you have about your DIY paint job.
Some Considerations:
- Not all primers will do the job you want it to do, and there are various types of primer designed specifically for different painting projects. Before choosing your primer, talk to the paint department associate about what you’re going to paint and the type of finish you hope to accomplish, and they’ll lead you in the right direction.
- 2-in-1 paint + primers are actually quality products, and when applied correctly, can help you achieve the glossy, smooth, professional paint finish that you want – most of the time. However, there are those difficult paint jobs – stains from years of smoking indoors, extremely bold colors to cover, heavy stains – that would be better completed with a proper primer and then a 2-in-1 paint + primer. Again, if you’re unsure, consult your local painting professionals for tips.
There is a lot of confusion around primer and whether or not you actually need it, so we hope we cleared some of that up for you. Before you make a final decision though, just keep this in mind: you might save a lot of time and money upfront by skipping the priming process, but if it turns out you needed it, you’ll lost a lot more time and money by repainting your home the right way. So, if you’re not sure, just contact our professional paint company at [email protected] and ask us for tips. We’ll be more than happy to help! Or, if you are in over your head, let us come out and give you a FREE ESTIMATE.