Should I Prime A Wall Before Painting?

Should I Prime A Wall Before Painting? Choosing a new wall color can help add flair to an old, outdated room. However, it’s also important to make sure that your new wall color is applied in the best way possible.

One of the ways to make sure that paint has the best surface to stick to is by using a wall primer. Much like regular paint, wall primer is an undercoat that gets put on before you move into painting a room a new color.

But what are the benefits of using wall primer? Is this an unnecessary step that can be skipped to save time?

Sanding, Spackling and Smoothing

Before painting any room, always take time to thoroughly inspect the walls. Are there any chips, cracks, dents, or other damages to the wall? Are there any spots where the paint is stained or otherwise discolored?

If the answer is yes, there are a few preparatory steps that need to be taken before painting.

• Scrape off any paint that may be peeling from the walls, and use sandpaper to smooth out the edges where the paint has peeled
  
• Using painter’s spackle, patch any cracks, dents, or holes in the walls. This also includes nail holes or damage from hanging decorations
  
• Once the spackle has dried, sand over it to remove any rough patches
  
• Check to see if the patch is level. If it isn’t the area will need to be spackled and re-sanded until it is perfectly smooth
  
• Clean the walls to remove any dirt, grime, or stains

If you proceed to paint the room without following through with these steps, you run the risk of an uneven application. Paint can’t erase the damage done to the walls, and you will be able to see it even after applying a new color.

The Benefits of Using Primer

Even though the primer isn’t always necessary, it is going to give your new paint the best surface to adhere to. Using primer has a variety of benefits, including:

Covering Underlaying Colors:

Primer is a thick white undercoat that will cover up whatever color the wall was previously painted. This can be especially helpful if you are moving from a darker to a lighter color. Without priming first, the first color may show through a few layers of the new paint.

To help curb color bleeding, use a coat or two of a white primer base.

Covering Stains and Discoloration:

Not only will primer cover the original color, but it will also color any discolorations that have occurred over time. Even the slightest stain on a wall could potentially show through a few coats of fresh paint.

The best way to avoid this is to get the walls to an even color before applying new color, and primer is the perfect paint for the job.

Providing a Better Surface for Paint to Stick to:

Primer increases the new paint’s ability to stick to the wall, which can help prevent bubbling and peeling. Surfaces that are very porous, such as wood or surfaces that have never been painted before, need a primer to make sure that the new paint will stick.

Using Latex Paint and Oil Paint Together:

When choosing a new paint color, it is important to know whether or not it is an oil-based or latex-based paint. If possible, try to know what kind of paint is already on the walls.

If walls are already painted in oil and the new paint is latex, there is a high probability that the new paint will have a hard time sticking to the old paint. To avoid this, use the appropriate primer to make sure the layers of paint will work together.

If you aren’t sure what kind of primer is right for you, ask the employees at your local paint store for recommendations.

Should I Prime A Wall Before Painting? –
When Is Primer Unnecessary?

In reality, there are many cases where it’s okay to skip the primer, such as:

• If your walls are already relatively clean and don’t have any noticeable stains
• If the paint already on the walls is latex-based, and the new paint is also latex
• If the color you’re covering isn’t much darker than the new color, or if it is lighter
• If the paint you’ve chosen is a 2-in-1 paint and primer

Should I Prime A Wall Before Painting? – Conclusion

Many paint companies offer 2-in-1 paint and primer option for those who want to skip the priming stage. 2-in-1 paint can save you money that would be spent on separate cans of each and does all the same work of a primer.