All About Primer
When it comes to giving your home a proper paint job, never forget the importance of primer. While it may seem unnecessary to apply a coat of paint that has no visible purpose, the advantages of this important step in the process can’t be underestimated.
Here are some of the reasons you should never forget this important step in the painting process.
Better Paint Adhesion
Adhesion is all about the capacity of the paint to stick to the surface you are painting. Different surfaces can react differently to the paints applied and affect how well they avoid flaking and peeling in the future. Primer is designed to stick very well to all surfaces and especially well to paint. This means that in the end, the final layers of applied paint will have a better chance of enduring through the years.
This is especially important if you will be painting surfaces that don’t actually react well with the paint you are applying. There are different types of primer as well that do a better job of adhering to different surfaces so it does pay to do a little research.
Painting Over Dark Colors
If you will be painting over a dark colored surface, the darker tones can often show right through the paints applied. Primer offers a completely opaque solution to this problem that provides a light toned surface suitable for any tone of paint. Primer can cover the darkest surface and allow for a far superior final result when switching to a lighter color. This is often the only way to achieve any kind of even finish.
Better Paint Durability
Applying a proper foundation is essential to the stability and longevity of the materials placed above. This applies to paint and primer as well as modern skyscrapers. Primer can help to seal the cracks and fissures in the surface below and prevent moisture or air pockets from forming and damaging the paint above. For larger paint jobs especially those that you won’t want to repeat in the near future, we suggest you include primer in your plan for a long lasting paint job. Unless you have been specifically told that primer is not necessary by a qualified painting expert, you will want to use primer preparation.
Better Appearance
Primer provides a perfectly smooth and even surface because it is a bit thicker and heavier than a thin coat of paint. This helps to hide some of the natural features of the material beneath. Knots on wood, joints seams and other irregularities can all pop right through a coat of paint but are less visible through the primer base.
Situations Where You Don’t Need Primer
But, primer is not always required. For example, if you will be painting a darker color over a lighter color, you might not even need a primer especially if the paint is in good condition. If you are working on a larger project, you may want to include the primer anyway. Then there are some paints made for very “paint-friendly” surfaces, like drywall, that already include their primer.
Primer is an important part of a pristine paint job, but still requires some insights and experience to use properly. If you have any questions or doubts about effective primer use, call us up and let the professionals help you out. We are A-Choice Paining in Milwaukee, WI and we have extensive experience in all things related to paints and primers.
