How To

How to Choose a Paint Primer

I am using the proper primer!
I am using the proper primer!
Member
By MacDonald
eHow Community Member
(8 Ratings)

Paint technology has improved greatly over the last 2 decades. Adhesion, hide and color retention is much better with newer acrylic paints. Many applications do not need a primer if the top coat paint is good quality.

Knowing when to use a primer, the right primer to choose and when you can skip this step will save you time, money and ensure a long lasting, professional job.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    New drywall: Always use a PVA drywall primer for new drywall. It will save you money--the first coat will really soak into the wall, and drywall primer is cheap. Priming the drywall first also ensures a more durable and washable finished surface.

  2. Step 2

    New interior trim: You can skip the priming on composite wood trim and of course pre-primed trim. You don't really have to prime new wood although it may save you some time. Wood primers do not "raise the grain" of wood as much as water-based paint will, and you'll have to sand a little more thoroughly in between the first and second coats.

  3. Step 3

    Redwood or cedar: This always has to be primed with an oil or shellac primer, no exceptions. These woods contain tannin, which will bleed yellow and brown stains right through any water-based paint.

  4. Step 4

    Exterior wood trim and siding: I suggest always priming this for a longer lasting job with either good acrylic or oil-based primer.

  5. Step 5

    Metal: Galvanized metal (like gutters) and aluminum usually needs no primer; just clean and paint. Iron and steel usually must be primed with a rust-inhibiting primer before painting.

  6. Step 6

    Painting white or light colors over a very dark or intense color walls: No primer necessary. Since most primers aren't designed to hide underlying colors well, most likely you'll just be adding an unnecessary coat of paint to your job.

  7. Step 7

    Painting intense or dark colors over a light wall: Check with the paint store when buying the paint. Most colors will only require 2 coats of paint--no primer necessary. Some colors in "neutral" or "accent" bases, like some reds, will require a colored primer or you'll be doing up to 6 coats of paint! They will be able to tell you when you buy the paint whether you need primer.

Tips & Warnings
  • Prime wood trim before caulking. Not only will it be easier to see where the gaps are, the caulking will last longer.
  • The term "cover" actually refers to how much area your paint will cover in square feet.
  • "Hide" means how well--or how poorly--the paint hides the underlying color or surface.

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