How to Fix Your Painting Project Before You Start

Three Reasons to Use Primer Before Starting a Paint Job

Any good painter will tell you that for a lot of surfaces and for a lot of different coats of paint, you're going to need to use a coat of primer before applying your paint. What exactly is primer, and why is it so popular? Here are three reasons you should consider making primer part of your standard painting practice.

Primer helps paint stick. One of primer's most basic functions is to help paint to adhere to the surface you're applying it to. Without primer, smoother surfaces can see paint drip down and lose its volume. Paint can unevenly adhere to different areas of rougher surfaces, making the paint job look unprofessional and sloppy.

A good coat of primer will cover a lot of the cracks and imperfections in a surface, helping to provide the foundation for a fresh, even coat of paint that actually sticks to the surface it's being applied to. Not only will paint stick better - ultimately looking better - but it will adhere to the surface for longer periods of time.

Primer helps even out a coat of paint. One of the most crucial aspects of a paint job is how evenly spread the paint is. Anyone who's painted a wall before knows that an uneven coat of paint will look downright unprofessional. You don't want to see clumps of heavier paint next to thinner, even transparent areas. That's why primer can be crucial for applying a coat of paint that evenly spreads throughout the surface.

You want your primer to do much of the work for the paint; let the paint simply look pretty. By setting your primer deeply and evenly into your material, you'll be able to lay on a healthy coat of paint that looks even and attractive.

You have to protect your surface and the paint, especially on wood. For wood surfaces, primer is considered mandatory practice - without it, paint's chemicals easily leak through and damage the wood. This also dries the paint, giving it less durability and a shorter shelf life.

Remember that wood doesn't always respond well to moisture over time - in fact, a poor paint job can contribute to problems like rotting and warping. The layer of primer applied ahead of the paint will protect both the wood and the paint.

Do you absolutely always want to use primer? It depends on the kind of surface you're using. Make sure that you do a little more studying on your paint surface before you begin a paint job to ensure that you'll be applying a healthy, consistent coat of paint that can last for a long time.

Photo Credits: danielle_blue

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