Is Primer Sealer Necessary?

Primer sealer is a paint that is used to prime and seal a surface before the top coat is applied. It may not be necessary in all situations, but anytime that a paint job entails the covering of a bare or stained surface, the use of primer sealer is highly recommended.

Types of Primer Sealer

Primer sealer paint comes in many forms. Each type of paint is distinguished by the type of base or medium. Besides latex and oil base, a primer sealer can have an alcohol, lacquer or shellac base. Some of the less common bases are used to cover stains and discolored surfaces.

New Installations

Newly finished drywall and bare wood will definitely require a coat of a specially made primer sealer to seal the original material and provide a good surface for the top coat. A latex- or shellac-based primer sealer should suffice in just about every case where a new non-metal surface is involved.

Covering Old Paint

Covering very old wall paint in an old house can be difficult and at times may require several coats of a primer sealer that is either alcohol or lacquer based. This is especially true if original paint contained lead or was of a very dark color.

Water Stains

Water stains are also hard to cover. When attempting this, you should again use an alcohol- or lacquer-based paint that is designed to cover watermarks. Also make sure the water stain is completely dry and that the source of the leak has been properly fixed before painting.

Aluminum Paint

In extreme situations such as covering a petroleum stain, aluminum paint can be used. Make sure that the paint is thoroughly stirred before using and be aware that it will take several coats of a top coat just to cover the aluminum paint.

References

• Interior Paint

Resources

• Paint Primer