Prime tmie: three reasons why you need to prime

The perfect finish starts long before your first brush stroke. Before you even consider breaking out the roller, you’ll need to ensure that the surface you’re painting has been prepared. Cutting corners can mean wasted paint, a poor appearance, and a finish which just doesn’t last.

Even if you’re painting over a surface which has been painted previously, you’ll find that a primer is likely to adhere to the old paint better than a fresh coat of paint will. You might even save yourself a few pennies as the primer will help you achieve better coverage, meaning you'll require fewer coats of top coat (the paint itself).

Read on for three reasons why you should always prime before painting.

 

1. Back to basics

After you have filled in any imperfections, sanded down the offending area, and cleaned the surface, it’s nearly time to start thinking about paint. Before you do though, consider reach for a priming product.  

Primer works as a sealant, preventing excess moisture from being drawn into the surface. This means, when you get to the painting stage, you will achieve a better coverage with the same amount of paint. This is especially important when working on unpainted surfaces.

2. The perfect finish

While the base and top coat might look quite similar and even contain many of the same raw materials, the ratios are very different, giving the products themselves entirely different properties. Primer is designed to help hide seams and joints, as well as other small defects, and help create a clean base layer for a smooth and seamless finish. When you apply your top coat, the colour itself, you’ll find it goes on much more smoothly over a primed surface. The result is a much more professional finish, and one you can be truly proud of. 

3. Make it last

Your new painted surface will no doubt look better, covering old colours as well as looking smooth and seamless, but there’s another benefit of primer that you’re unlikely to notice straight away. The correct base coat will mean that your paint adheres better and so, overtime, you will experience less peeling and lifting. The result will be that you have to repaint less frequently. Redecorating is not a quick job, but if you properly prepare your wall, and take your time over the project, you might find you never have to redecorate again... 

You can find a wide range of primers in our catalogue. For more information please contact us.