Primers - PRO News | Home Hardware

Choosing and Using Primers

Primers can be applied any way that paint can – brushing, rolling or spraying. They make most paint jobs better, including those on indoor wood, drywall, outdoor surfaces and metal. Specialty primers are made for use in high-moisture areas such as bathrooms and outdoors, with fungicides that prevent mold growth. Many of the best primers are 100 per cent acrylic for maximum adhesion and all surface use.

When to Prime?

While primer is almost always a good idea, it’s vital when new paint is drastically different in colour than what’s in place now. Are you repainting cabinets and furniture? Primer is essential here, too. 100 per cent acrylic primer allows latex paint to be applied over old oil-based paints. Oil primer is ideal for thirsty, unfinished textured ceilings.

Previously painted wood with no peeling requires no primer, and neither does previously-coated interior drywall where no major colour change will occur with new paint.

Different Types of Primer

All primers are formulated for specific applications, so it’s important to use the right kind for any given job.

Bare Wood

This surface is particularly prone to peeling, so never paint bare wood without priming first. Sanding wood before primer lessens the chance of peeling even more. If you want the ultimate in smooth paint on wood, use sanding sealer as the first prime coat, then sand lightly. Both alkyd and latex primers are made for bare wood.

If you’re dealing with softwood that has knots, be sure to use a stain-blocking primer to stop resin stains from bleeding through the paint over time. Both primers and paint raise the grain of bare wood so it feels rough after it dries, but primer is easier to sand smooth than paint before subsequent coats. A 120-grit abrasive is ideal. Oil primers are less likely to raise the grain than acrylic primers.

Primer Application Tips

Most primers are made for brush or roller application, but you can speed progress on large jobs with an airless sprayer. This works well indoors when flooring and trim is either not being retained or in new construction.

Porous surfaces like drywall and new wood get rougher after primer dries, so consider a light sanding and cleaning before moving on to paint application. This makes a big difference on new drywall. The same kind of pole sander used to sand drywall joints works well for smoothing dry primer.

It’s easy to forget that painting can be a high-stakes venture for you. Dealing with a troublesome call-back can be even more work than the original paint job, but no one gets paid for call-backs. Using the right primers in the right way reduces your risk and helps build a profitable reputation.

Choosing and Using Primers

Different Types of Primer

All primers are formulated for specific applications, so it’s important to use the right kind for any given job.

Primer Application Tips

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