To Prime or not to Prime?

This is a question I've been asked a lot this week from clients. "Do I really need to prime the walls? It's an extra step, I want it done now!"

It may take some extra time and money, but to get results like the pros, PRIME!

Here's why:
Primer seals the walls. It creates a layer that allows your next layer of paint to lay on thicker, richer and allows your final coats to look smoth and uniform. You'll block stains and odors, prevent peeling, and have an easier time top coating.


Getting a Professional look:
Spot Prime: If your walls only have a few imperfections, than you can spot prime. This means hitting the few areas on the wall that needs sealing. I.E crayon stains, bare Sheetrock, patched walls.

Sand Glossy Surfaces: You'll need to hit any surface that had semi-gloss, or gloss on it. By scuffing it, you'll give the surface some tooth for the paint to adhere to. You may even want to hit it with primer to add even more adhesion.

Dramatic Color Changes: To get the color you see on the chart, the correct primer is needed to achieve that. When trying to achieve a rich, dark, vibrant color, have the paint store tint the primer around the same color that you're painting. This will cut down the number of coats that you'll need and will give you an amazing final look! It's similar when going dark to light. You'll want to prime the walls with the correct primer, usually just white to achive the correct color.

There's no way around it. PRIME! Here's 2 of my favorite primers that have always given me the best results.

Harmony® Wall Primer from Sherwin Williams:

"Need an environmentally preferred primer for walls and trim?Harmony is made with an exclusive zero-VOC, low-odor and formulated without silica."

Multi-Purpose Latex Primer from Sherwin Williams:

A general-utility primer ideal for both interior and exterior applications. Its wide versatility and strong adhesion properties make it a universal favorite – plus it works without the solvent odors and high VOCs common with most stain-blocking primers.

Just in time for a weekend painting project... prime, paint and ENJOY! Happy Painting!