Primers are a vital part of the painting process.
Choosing the correct primer for your painting project depends on the type and condition of the surface. By following the recommendations in this article, as well as using a premium Dunn-Edwards primer, you will achieve beautiful, long-lasting, professional-quality results.
Why use a primer?
A primer helps improve the adhesion of the topcoat to the surface, providing a quality, uniform finish that lasta longer. Primer is the first coat of the paint system and should be applied when the surface has never been painted. It also is necessary when painting a surface that has been stripped, is uneven or badly deteriorated, or is worn down to the original substrate.
While primers are a vital component of the painting process, it is important to use a complete primer and finish system. This is beacause primers are not intended as topcoats, as they are not designed to hold up to normal wear and tear.
Primers are necessary to:
- fill and seal porous suraces such as bare wood or masonry.
- Provide a smooth, even surface for the finish coat, especioally for enamel topcoats.
- Cover the surface so the topcoat hides better.
- Seal staining woods, such as cedar and redwood, and cover stains from water damage, knots and sap streaks.
- Bond to slick, shiny and other hard-to-paint suraces and create a surface to which the topcoat can adhere.
- Provide corrosion resistance for metal surfaces, such as iron, steel, aluminum and galvanized metal.
Generally, if you are repainting a surface that is in good condition, a primer may not be needed.
Recommended Primers (Available in throughout most of the USA)
- Vinylastic (Dunn Edwards)---New Drywall
- Unikote (Dunn Edwards)---Interior wood
- E-Z Prime (Dunn Edwards)---Exterior wood
- Corrobar (Dunn Edwards)---Ferrous metals
- Galv-Alum (Dunn Edwards)---Non-Ferrous metals
- Blocfil (Dunn Edwards)---Porous masonry
- Eff-Stop (Dunn Edwards)---All types of masonry
- Ultra-Grip (Dunn Edwards)---All purpose priming
- UMA Primer from XIM---Difficult to paint areas (Enamels/Glossy Urethane)
- Bulls Eye from Zinsser---Damaged drywall or where applying wallpaper
- Super-Loc---Chalky masonry
- Flex-Prime---Masonry with hairline cracks
- Block-It---Over stains
Best Practices for applying primer.
- Apply primer immediately after completing surface prep.
- Allow adequate dry time between primer and finish coats.
- Follow product instructions on the maximum time recommended between applications of primer and finish coats.
- Wood may need to be sanded between primer and finish coats.
- When patching or caulking a surface, primimg should be done both before and after. That gives the patching or caulking material better adhesion to the surface and prevents the finish coats from flashing
- Remember the weather when you are ready to paint. Damp weather or rain that falls within an hour or two of your application can ruin your paint job. Also, do not apply paint when the temperature is below 40 or above 100 degrees.
- Primers are not intended to be used as topcoats, use a quality topcoat.
