Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Prime

Whether you’re hiring somebody to paint your home or you’re tackling the project yourself, you’re probably wondering if is it really necessary for me to prime, or is that just an extra step that I don’t need to worry about? It’s a good question. There are several benefits to factoring in the preliminary step of priming a wall or surface, and we are covering them for you here!

1. It blocks stains, marks, and odors. This is especially important for an older home that has experienced it all. Several different paint colors over the years, trapped odors such as smoke, and typical stains that a home’s wall will develop over time. If you don’t prime over existing stains, they may still bleed through after multiple finish coats. Therefore, priming can save you a lot of time and labor!

2. Faster topcoating time. Priming can increase the speed at which the topcoat is applied because it provides an ideal surface for a topcoat. One that is clean, dry, and smooth.

3. Get the truest paint color in the fewest amount of coats. When tinted correctly, priming can reduce the number of coats needed. For instance, using a black shade primer may reduce the number of coats needed to achieve a deep tone color.

4. Prevent peeling. Priming helps prevent premature peeling and keeps your paint job looking good for longer. Primer adheres to the existing surface and secures a bond between the topcoat and substrate.

5. Achieve a smooth professional-looking finish. The sealing properties of primer assures a uniform complete look.

Priming may not be necessary for every paint job, especially if the wall or surface has been painted recently. Fresh drywall is truly the best candidate for priming, and it might also benefit you to “spot” prime, especially if the area is rusty or uneven. If you have additional questions about priming, feel free to reach out to us! We are happy to answer them.