The most frequently asked question concerning painting is do you need to prime walls before painting? Most people see priming the walls as an added expense that creates added work. Professionals know that priming the walls is the most important part of the painting project.
The short and simple answer to this question is, yes, if you want your walls to have a professional quality finish then you need to primer them before you paint them.
The Benefits of Primer on Walls
Let’s start exploring whether you should prime or not by revealing all of the benefits that the primer gives you.
- Makes you use less paint. Surfaces absorb some of the paint that you apply. Primer is almost half the price of paint so when you apply the cheaper primer you actually save money because you will apply less paint.
- It creates a smooth surface. If your surface area is not perfectly smooth, and most of them are not, then the primer creates a smooth surface for you to paint. If you have minor imperfections or have had to make repairs in the surface area the primer will camouflage those imperfections and create the illusion of a perfect surface.
- It creates a uniform surface that is a neutral color. When you select the paint for your walls you choose a color that you love. When you apply that color to walls that are a different color then you often get a color other than what you selected. When you apply the primer the color of the wall is taken to a neutral off-white. The new color that you are about to apply will be true to what it says on the container and you will be happier with the finished look.
- It makes paint stick to the surface better. The primer creates a surface that the paint can easily adhere to. Your paint will stick better and last longer without peeling, blistering, or flaking because the primer creates the right surface for it.
- Primer is capable of blocking offensive odors that may be present in the surface material. It is great for painting a room that has smoke or pet odors that have permeated the wall coverings. The primer creates a barrier that stops the odor from leaching out.
- Primer can block a stain and hide it away. If you have watermarks or other stains on the surface of your walls when you paint the watermark will bleed through and ruin the look of your new paint. Primer coats and seals the stain so it cannot bleed through the new color.
- You will finish painting faster if you apply primer first. The primer creates a surface that does not require as much paint and is smooth and ready for paint. The time it takes you to paint the primed surface will be shorter than the amount of time it would take to paint an unprimed surface. The paint can be applied in thinner coats and it will dry faster so you will finish the work faster.
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When You Must Use Primer
Primer is the preparation material that makes it possible for your DIY paint job to look professional. There are times when you might get by without using a primer on the walls before you paint. There are some times when you absolutely cannot skip the primer, no matter what.
New Drywall or Never Painted Wood
If your walls are covered with new drywall that has never been painted, or with wood that has never been painted, stained, or sealed, then you MUST use a primer first. You will find that these surfaces drink up the paint as you apply it. If you are painting these surfaces a primer is needed to create a coating on the surface that will stop the paint from being absorbed.
Patches and Repairs on Drywall
When you get a hole in drywall, or you have to putty over the places where screws and picture hangers have been in the wall then you will need a spackle, a small amount of drywall compound, or filler. That filler will need to be applied, dried, sanded smooth, and coated with primer to create a consistent look for the wall so your paint does not show the color variation created by the patch.
Covering Glossy Paints
If the surface you are about to paint was previously painted with a high-gloss or shiny paint then you need a primer for sure. Primer is the only thing that can cover that shiny paint and create a surface that accepts the new paint.
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Covering Dark Colors with Light Colors
If the surface you are about to paint is currently painted a deep or dark color, and the color you want to paint is a lighter or pastel color, then you must have primer. You have to have a primer to seal the bolder color so it does not bleed through and show through the new paint. Reds, dark blues, deep purples, and black always need a primer applied before you try any other shade of paint.
When You Can Skip the Primer
Professionals will tell you to NEVER skip the primer, but realistically there are a few times when the primer might be avoided.
When You are Painting in the Same Color
If you are repainting a wall back to exact same shade you might skip the primer. You must first inspect the wall and make sure there are no stains or marks that could bleed through the paint. You should also make sure that you have bought paint that has a primer added to it.
If the Surface is Perfect
If you are painting a wall that is totally smooth, totally flawless, and painted with a low sheen paint previously then you can probably skip the primer as long as you use a paint that has primer added to it.
Temporary Paint Jobs
If you are painting something temporarily like for a play, or something that is going to be used for a very short amount of time then you can probably skip the primer.
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Learn how to prime your wall before painting.
Experts’ Tips about Using The Primer
- Always use a primer that is manufactured for the surface material. Such as a primer for metal will stop rust and a primer for wood may stop mildew.
- Always use a primer that has the same base as the paint you will use. Such as an oil-based primer should be used under oil-based paints and a water-based primer should be used under water-based paints.
- Primer is thicker than paint and you should not thin it too much. The primer should be put on thickly so it can be self-leveling and cover all imperfections.
- If you are worried about the light color of the primer changing the deep color of your paint you can tint the primer before applying.
Final Thoughts
Primer is the base coat of paint that creates the perfect surface you wish you had. Skipping the primer when you are painting cheats you from having the perfect finish that a professional would get. The professionals use primer even when the paint they are using has an added primer. Primer is the conditioner that makes flawless walls out of normal surfaces.
