do i really have to use primer??

Question

DO i relaly have to use it. I watch a show that said u have to use primer.But my dad never uses it and its fine. And when are the times you have to use primer??

Answer 1

If you are going to paint newly installed drywall, you definately need a primer. Primer will seal the paper surface of the drywall and prevent the finish coat from being absorbed by the drywall. The same goes for inpainted wood. You could find yourself applying several coats of finish paint if you do not use a primer first.

Many times, you need primer for other reasons. If you are repainting walls in a home where a heavy smoker lived, it is a good idea to use a stain blocking primer before you apply a finish coat of paint. The stain blocking primer will prevent the smoke residue from bleeding through the finish paint.

Other times you need a "bonding" primer. If you are going to paint a slick surface, it needs to be lightly sanded and then the dust removed with a tack cloth. A coat of bonding primer will stick to the surface of the item being painted without peeling off. You can then apply a coat of finish color.

Many primers are a combination of stain blocker and bonding primer and one coat of this type of primer will take care of both problems at the same time.

Best advice is to rely on the information you get from a reputable paint store. They are not just trying to sell you more products. They want you to end up with a good experience so you will shop at their store the next time you need to buy paint.

Good luck with your painting projects.

Answer 2

Sometimes. If you are painting walls that are in good shape and the color isn't drastically different, then you can probably get away with not using primer. Exbuilder has good information. We learned the hard way when painting our back stairs. We didn't bother to use primer, and the paint peeled off like contact paper the next day. We had to peel the parts off that did stick, prime it, and repaint all over. We were painting over a paint that was a little glossy.

Answer 3

primer is just an inexpensive sealer coat. without it you'll have to apply additional coats of the finish color. you can get away without primer on a previously painted surface. but if you're going from dark to light, primer will help prevent the old paint from showing through, reducing the number of top coats necessary for good coverage. just make sure the primer and top coat are compatible.

Answer 4

Always use primer if the object has never been painted before. THe primer helps to seal the surface and helps the paint to adhear to it better. Also use it if you are painting over a dark color with a light color or light with dark. This ensure the closest outcome to your original paint chip or color.

Answer 5

If you take wallpaper off you have to use primer. Same thing on bare wood. If there's already paint that's a light shade enough to cover, then just do paint.

Answer 6

On bare wood you have to use primer first to seal it.

Answer 7

Oh please use primer.... it provides a good base for the paint to adhere to and prevents flaking down the track.

Answer 8

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