If you’re the kind of DIY painter who ends up with more on your coveralls than on the walls, you might need every shortcut possible. However, skipping the primer might not be the best idea. Topcoat durability often suffers when painting without primer. A trustworthy professional painter in Mountain View, CA, can advise you on the best option and save time by doing the work for you.
Common Situations Where You Can Skip Priming
Adding a layer of primer increases the cost of the painting work for both materials and labor. You can save a little money by skipping primer in certain situations.
Old Paint That’s in Good Condition
When you’re painting over a layer of paint that’s already in good shape and is a similar color to the new paint, you shouldn’t need primer.
When Using High-Quality Paint
If you’re willing to spend more on a high-quality, self-priming paint, you can often skip primer. Even though you’ll have a higher cost for the paint, you should save on labor costs with the self-priming paint.
Low-Traffic Areas
If you’re painting wood in an out-of-the-way area of the home that won’t be subject to rough treatment, one coat of paint without using primer should be adequate.
Materials and Areas Where You Need To Apply Primer
In certain situations, painting without primer would be a significant mistake and could lead to a few problems, including:
- Uneven coat of new paint
- Early paint peeling
- Needing more than one coat
You should choose to use primer in a few specific situations, including the following areas.
Covering Old Colors and Stains
The most common area where you should use primer is when the new layer of paint has a significantly different color from the original paint. One or two coats of primer should prevent the old color from bleeding through the new color.
If the area you’re painting has staining, you might need a stain-blocking primer to prevent the stain from bleeding through the new paint.
Painting Porous Surfaces
Skipping primer would be a mistake with new drywall. Drywall is one of the most porous surfaces that people commonly paint, meaning you need primer to seal it.
When seeking paint coverage over porous wallpaper, you’ll definitely want to apply primer. In a situation like this, you may need a primer specifically made to cover wallpaper.
For Improved Adhesion
New paint might struggle to adhere to certain smooth surfaces, such as laminate or metal. Adding primer gives the new paint something to grip to help it resist peeling.
Let Fresh Coats Painting Provide Advice About Using Primer
Deciding about painting without primer is difficult for homeowners to do on their own. To take the stress out of the process, rely on the experts at Fresh Coats Painting. We’ll inspect the area and the material that needs painting before determining whether surface preparation with primer is necessary.
We’ll advise you on whether primer can affect exterior paint drying time or will prevent peeling in the future. To request an appointment or to receive a free quote, call us today at (408) 271-6956 or use our online contact form.