When you decide to take up a DIY painting task, it might seem that it’s not a big deal. But, you must learn that even a small painting project can take up a massive portion of your effort & time. So, before you start your DIY painting process, you need to ensure that you have everything beside you to get the task done on the first go. Moreover, since the condition & type of your painting surface will determine whether you need primer, it’s also crucial to know how a primer can make your painting process successful.
But, before we get into the in-depth details, we’ll be discussing the reasons why you should use a primer and the purpose a primer serves.
The Basics About Primers
According to competent painters in Queenstown, primer (also known as primer paint) is an adhesion and masking agent, that helps your paint to stick to the painting surface well. So, if you’re looking to cover a dark-coloured surface with a lighter-coloured paint, then using a primer will help in masking the old colour so that your new colour can show its truest hue.
Primers also help paints to adhere to the painting surface better as certain paints don’t bond well to all kinds of surfaces. Additionally, you can use primers to fill cracks and holes on porous materials such as concrete or wood. Furthermore, primers also help paint to stick to slick surfaces like aluminium.
A compact guide on how you should utilise primers:
- For raw wood, new drywall or any surface where subtle colour changes are required, one coat of primer is enough.
- For stained walls, damaged drywall or any rusted metal, two coats of primer is enough.
- For bold colour alterations and wood panelling, three or more coats of primer should be applied.
Primer provides a stable base surface.
A primer is required when a surface has a high level of porosity. Too much paint can draw in the surface if the surface is porous. Before the paint can form a protective, thick shell, it will need multiple coats.
It can also be problematic if the opposite happens. Color coat adhesion can be difficult if the surface is too glossy. The paint will not stick to the surface. The paint primer is porous and slightly rough, making it easy for paint to stick to.
Primer Covers Stains
For covering lower stains, paint primer can also be useful. The color coat can now be used to cover the stains.
Primer is generally less expensive than paint, so it’s a good economic decision to use primer as a base coat instead of paint.
Priming is a must-have. Prime it if you are unsure about the wall’s condition before painting.
How Much Primer Do You Need?
The amount of primer that you’ll require will depend on what you’re planning to paint. No two painting tasks will be similar, but you can follow some general guidelines for the same so that your DIY painting project is carried out smoothly.
Guideline #1
One of the first things that you need to consider is what you’re painting. If you’re painting untreated drywall or a plank of unfinished wood, then the surface will absorb more paint, which is why you’ll need more primer to make the porous surface ready for the paint coat.
Guideline #2
If the surface has no paint or is white, then you’ll not need any primer. But, the surface has dark-coloured paint, then you’ll need to first cover the same with primer before painting.
Hence, the amount of primer required will depend on the circumstances. For any additional painting queries, contact us today.
