When To Use Primer On Walls Before Home Painting Services?
“Do I need to prime the walls before I paint them?” is a question many homeowners ask. A long time ago, many painters would have told you to use primer almost every time you painted. But now, there are many more high-quality and effective paints on the market, so you don’t always have to prime.
The answer can be hard to figure out. In some interior situations, using a primer before Home Painting Services In Sacramento CA could be a waste of money and be unnecessary. On the other hand, if you don’t use a primer, it may cost you more in the long run because you may need to put on more than one coat to get the coverage and look you want. Therefore, in this blog post, we will learn when to prime your wall and when it is unnecessary.
Home Painting Services in Sacramento CA and Understanding What Primer Is?
Paint primer is a base coat put on wood, furniture, or walls before they are painted. Primer is similar to paint, but it has more solids and a glue-like binder in it. It is more like glue or a sealant than paint in some ways. It protects the surface you are working on and gives the paint a clean, smooth place to stick to. Sometimes, it is necessary to use primer on walls before home painting services but not all jobs or projects need primer. So it helps to know what makes a difference in whether or not to use it. So let’s look at the situations when it is important to use a primer.
Color Contrast
Imagine trying to paint a light shade of lavender over a dark shade of green. You will quickly see that you need Home Painting Services In Sacramento CA over the dark color from dark to light. When painting over an opaque layer, you may need a tinted primer to make the new color look more like the color swatch you chose.
Walls with Odor or that have Stains
Walls that are scratched or stained will look much better after a coat or two of primer. Some stains will show through new paint, like crayon marks or grease spots. Surface flaws may also be easy to see through a lighter color of paint, so if your walls have a few things to hide, it is worth your time to use a primer.
Don’t use a primer to hide mold or mildew on your walls, though. It can only get bigger. First, find out what is causing the mold and get rid of it. Then you can start priming and painting.
Even after painting, cigarette smoke and other strong smells can still be left behind. Special primers can cover up and block the bad smells for good.
If the Surface is Porous
It is always a good idea to prime a porous surface like unstained or untreated wood before painting it. It is said to be porous when a surface soaks up water, moisture, oil, odours, or stains. The drywall that has just been put up is also very porous but in different ways. The drywall’s facing paper and the dried joint compound that covers the seams are both very absorbent. If you don’t prime first, the paint will go right through the wood or drywall and into the pores.
Also, if you’ve fixed or patched drywall, there will probably be some spackle or joint compound on the surface. If these patches are small, you don’t need to buy a separate primer. You can use a light brush to apply a small amount of regular paint to the areas you just fixed.
When you are Painting over a Glossy Surface
Paint doesn’t stick well to shiny surfaces. If your wall is covered in shellac, high-gloss, or enamel paint, you can try to paint it over and over, but it won’t stick. Before the Home Painting Services In Sacramento CA these surfaces might also need a light sanding or buffing before the primer. If you do this, the surface of your walls will be rough enough so that the primer and paint will stick well.
When you Have Wallpaper
You should use a primer whether your wall has marks from removing wallpaper or you want to paint over wallpaper already there. Each of these surfaces is a bit rough and could use a primer.
When Painting over Plastic or Metal
There is primer out there that is made just for metal. It will protect against rust and give the next coats of paint a good base to stick to. Apply the primer in even amounts to the area of the plastic that has been sanded, cleaned, and dried.
When to Skip Primer?
There are certain conditions when skipping a primer won’t be a problem for you. Let’s have a look at these conditions.
The walls are in Good Shape
You might not need a primer if your walls are clean and in good shape. It is easy to clean your walls quickly but thoroughly. Make a thin solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP) and water. This solution uses a soft cloth or sponge to wipe down the walls. You can now start painting.
New Paint Nearly Matches the Old One
When your old color and your new color are the same or similar, you may not need a primer at all, or you may not need it at all. The difference between the base color and the topcoat is not big enough to change how the coat turns out.
The Paint Already Has Primer In It
The new generation of paints that don’t need to be primed is thicker paints with primer added. Most of these paints are great and do a great job. But, as we already discussed, these paint primers can’t do everything. If you’re not sure about a project before you start it, it’s much better to take the time to prime the surface right. Moreover, you can also look for Home Painting Services In Sacramento CA to hire experts who can look at the situation of the walls and can decide better whether the walls need a primer. You’ll be happy with the beautiful and satisfying result.
If you are looking for professionals for painting services for your home, you can contact A4 Painting Pluss. The experts have years of experience, so that you can expect high-quality services from them.
