If you plan to paint your home, consider using a primer before applying the paint. Primer is essential in any paint project as it prepares, seals, and protects the surface, resulting in a better-looking interior and exterior project. As one of the leading residential painting contractors in Elmhurst IL, Final Touch Painting & Decorating believes that priming before painting is essential to create a beautiful finish. This article explains when priming is necessary and when it is not.

Why Primer Is Necessary

Before applying paint, you need to prime the surface. Primers work well to seal in stains, create a smoother, more leveled finish, and assure higher adhesion between the topcoat and the surface. Here are some scenarios in which priming is necessary:

Raw, unfinished wood – If you are painting bare wood, you must use a primer to cover knots, softwood, oil stains, and other imperfections.

Raw drywall – If you are painting a drywall wall, you will first need to cover the drywall with a primer to ensure the final coat has a surface to adhere to.

Masonry – For surfaces such as block, brick, or concrete, you will need to use a primer, as paint alone won’t stick to the surface.

All Bare surfaces that are not porous- Bare metals, plastics, and other non-porous surfaces will require a primer with a firm grip to support the topcoat.

Uncoated metal or plastic – If the surfaces are not coated, the paint will not adhere to them. As a result, you need to use a primer before any painting.

Water stains and other types of stains – Stained areas require a suitable primer to prevent the stains from bleeding through during the painting process.

To ensure a uniform finish, you should also prime any areas that are difficult to adhere to the surface or glossy areas. Moreover, a primer is necessary whenever the walls are new, the surface you’re painting is porous, or you’re dealing with kitchen stains and grease.

When Primer Is Not Necessary

Although a primer is typically needed for a good painting job, in some cases, you can skip the primer step. There are situations where a primer is not necessary, such as when:

There are no stains or marks on the walls – If the walls are clean and straightforward, you can skip the primer.

The current and new colors closely match – If the current wall color and the new color are close in tone, a primer may not be necessary.

Painting over previously painted surfaces – If you’re painting over pre-painted walls in good condition, you may not need a primer.

Don’t Trust Paint and Primer Combos

Many paint manufacturers advertise “paint and primer in one” products that claim to be the same as priming PLUS painting. This clever marketing technique leads consumers to believe that these two-in-one products are the same as using a primer before painting. However, most of these products don’t contain any primer. They usually add a higher concentration of solids to make the paint thicker and help hide the previous color of the paint. Don’t be fooled. These products are not a substitute for traditional priming. Instead, hire professional interior painters to help you with your painting needs. We use high-quality products to ensure your home’s beautiful and long-lasting finish.

Let Us Help You with Your Painting Project

At Final Touch Painting & Decorating, we have experience as interior painters and residential painting contractors in Elmhurst Chicago. We understand that a primer before painting is essential for achieving a beautiful and long-lasting finish. Our team of professionals is here to help you with your painting needs. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss colors, schedules, and more. We look forward to hearing from you and don’t hesitate to take the first step towards achieving your dream home.