Do I Need A Primer To Paint My Walls?

Almost all expert house painters advise applying a coat of primer before putting on the main colour. Primers serve multifold purposes and make the paint, to glow in all its elegance and glory.

But then there is always a doubt as to how important and necessary is the application of a coat of primer before the painting, they are:

1. Helps in lesser consumption of the paint:

Professional house painters opine that for a porous surface, if the main paint is applied before a coat of the primer, then the paint will tend to fill up the pores and will thus require a couple of coats more of paint.

Same goes with a glossy surface; here too one may need too many coats of paint to help it stay. But if a primer is put on before this the much of the paint consumption can be reduced.

2. Poses as a covering to the defects of the surface:

For instances like wood marks, patchwork marks, previous spots or stains, greasy spots, etc. in short, any marks can be very well covered by primers. Applying a direct coat of paint can never totally cover up the stains, especially if the paint is light coloured.

Primers keep the ability to veil almost all sorts of marks that can’t be in any way taken off the surface.

3. Ensures uniformity in the painting:

Another important quality of primers is that it helps to maintain a basic uniformity in the density and consistency of the paint on each and every surface. Without a prior coat of primer, you might witness a disproportionate distribution of paint in the surfaces.

In a word, it helps the colour to do its job of beautifying the house.

4. Allows a perfect transition from dark to light colours:

In case you suddenly make up your mind to change the colours from dark green to light green or from maroon to light pink, primer is the main hack. If you paint light green over dark green, it is an obvious fact that none of the colours will perform its job.

Here the primer acts almost like a neutralizer. It is only after a coat of primer that the change can be beautifully made.

5. Essential for proper bonding of the paints:

Primers can be of various types. There are primers that can be applied to wood, metal, masonry, etc.

As mentioned above, the primer works on the surface, to help in binding the entire paint on it all along. For, without the primer, it isn’t possible for the colour to hold on well enough.

There are several primers. Each of which is suitable for different surfaces. These are namely;

• Drywall Primer: This is for walls which are to be newly painted. In other terms, those walls are bare and dry. New walls tend to absorb colour disproportionately, which can give quite a clumsy look, but with primers, the issue can be easily solved.
• Wood Primer: Next comes, primers applied mainly to cabinets or wooden furniture which poses a difficulty in retaining paints. This promotes the entire process of soaking.
• Masonry Primer: Here, the major issues are the high pH level that affects adhesion and efflorescence. Good masonry primers are the ultimate solutions to these issues.
• Stain-blocking Primer: This is once again of various types. Beginning from crayon scribbles to grease spots each have their own type of stain-blocking primer.
• Bonding Primer: Slick surfaces like ceramic, plastic, high gloss surfaces require this type of primer for the colour to hold on.

• Multipurpose Primer: Such type of primers pulls off their job well enough in almost all surfaces. It is advisable to purchase the most well-known brands for considerable quality.
• Painter and Primer in One: This is the latest type of primer doing around in the markets. But there are many limitations to this product and cannot perform as well as the others.

Wrapping Up:

Almost all surfaces need primers. The only cases where you may skip the step is in the case of previously painted walls, changing from dark colours to light colours, etc. Or else one should not neglect it in any case.