Painting with a primer is the foundation to getting professional looking results. A paint primer will seal a surface by providing somewhat of a protection barrier, and help cover the underlying paint colour more easily especially when painting a light paint colour over a previous darker one.
It is hard for the casual DIY painter to know which paint primer to choose, since there are so many out on the market. From all in one paints, to paint and primers which are two of the same just a different catchy name used to market the product, knowing if you need to use a specific paint primer or one of the highly hyped and advertised all in ones we hope we can help you make the right choice when you are tackling your next home project.
What Is A Paint Primer
A paint primer is an undercoat paint product that prepares the walls before painting the final colours. It ensures the best adhesion, increases durability and provides a sort of barrier of protection to the final paint on any surface.
Its function is to bind and allow the final coats of paint to dry evenly and help retain it’s sheen. Without the paint primer results may turn out blotchy or uneven. Paint manufacturers like Benjamin Moore paints offer exceptional interior painting primers and exterior painting primers that will ensure you get the best coverage and end result.
To read more about the technical aspects of the composition of what primers are made up of visit this wikipedia link about paint primers and the different types of interior and exterior primers you may need for your home project.
What Is An All in One Paint
While paint manufacturing companies call it a all in one paint, there is no actual primer in the paint mix. It is thicker than the final paint product and may come pre-tinted but there is no primer in the mix, it is simply good marketing and advertising on the manufacturing and resellers side to lead homeowners and the casual DIY painter to believe that they are saving time, money and energy by skipping the step of priming before painting.
They have popular names that they are given to enhance the notion that it’s an everything in one type paint. Names such as self-priming paint, all in one paint, paint and primer in one, paint + primer, and probably a few more are commonly and widely used to market these types of products. These names can mislead the consumer to believing they can purchase this type of paint and avoid the priming of the drywall all together.
The Difference Between Paint Primers vs All in One Paints
The basic difference between paint primers and all in one paints is how they are made. One is made with resins the other is made with pigments.
Resins in a paint primer are such that they provide the best seal for porous surfaces such as new drywall, and helps bond the final paint coats to the walls or surface. It is the primary function and purpose of a paint primer.
Pigments which are found in actual paint colours provide the final coat of paint product with its actual real colour. It also provides a stronger durability factor to the paint to help it withstand the everyday elements of the interior or exterior of your house. The difference in chemical formulation between the paint and the paint primer are the characteristics to a professional end painting result for both interior painting and exterior painting.
Painting With a Primer Paint
Painting with a primer products first provides a barrier like layer of protection to new never painted drywall and wood surfaces. Both new drywall that has never been painted and wood surfaces are extremely porous.
These porous surfaces if not primed properly will require many coats of the final paint product before getting a thick enough layer to cover the surface. Along with that not using a primer on a wood surface runs the risk of the natural knots found in wood to show through. The primer will ensure you get a protective base to which you can confidently apply paint over that will adhere better and provide you the best coverage.
Painting with a primer paint product is also recommended when painting over a dark colour with a lighter one. It avoids the colour underneath from seeping through the new one. It will also provide you with coverage when things like rust from nails and stains from water leaks.
Skipping over the most important first step of the prep work when doing any interior or exterior painting is the one thing you shouldn’t skip over. Ensuring the main paint adheres properly when painting the walls, using quality paint and calculating how much paint you will need to buy are just a few good buying tips to follow.
An experienced painting contractor will always recommend to you that painting with a primer paint will improve the entire final outcome of any painting project. When using the best products in paint along with a good paint brush and roller, all the hard work and effort will be worth it.
Knowledge is Power and knowing which paint primer to use for either an interior or exterior painting project is important advice that professional painters can offer so that you will achieve the results you are looking for.
If you are considering to hire any of the painting companies in Ottawa to tackle your next painting project, consider connecting with us to schedule your next painting project.
this post was originally published on Sep 28, 2017 and edited on Mar 14,2021
