What should primer look like

A member of the KILZ team for over six years, John is a true expert on all things primer and has a wealth of knowledge to share. Ready to learn more? The formula of paint is different from the formula for primer. Paint is formulated to deliver color while primer is formulated to stick, better protect the surface, and in some cases block stains. Applying primer is indeed an additional step in the painting process but, depending on the surface condition and problem areas that might be present, investing in the primer step might actually save time and money.

Applying primer to solve the problem for example uneven, porous surfaces, strong colors or stains that might bleed through the paint, or adhesion issues that might cause peeling of the paint before applying paint may prevent the need to re-paint or add several more coats of paint to get desired results.

This is a quite common misconception about primer. A primer coat or coats is not meant to look like the finished topcoat paint. So even if the primer coat does not look like a fully painted wall, it will still perform the above functions. Measure ad performance.

Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Materials Finishes. By Juan Rodriguez. Juan Rodriguez is a former writer with The Balance who covered large-scale construction. He is an engineer with experience managing and overseeing large civil works construction.

Learn about our editorial policies. Updated on January 04, Your Privacy Rights. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. Two primer coats are recommended in this scenario because much of the first primer coat will be soaked up by the wall; the second coat will replenish any primer absorbed by the surface and hide any flaws in the wall. If your plaster walls are unfinished, prime them with two coats of an oil-based stain-blocking primer such as Zinsser Cover Stain to prevent the lime stains that affect plaster walls from bleeding into the paint.

Wood that was never primed or painted is even more porous than unfinished drywall. Two coats of an oil-based primer are recommended on unfinished wood: The higher solid content in primer can fill the pores, level the surface for painting, and mask any knots in the wood.

When water-based primer is used on wood, it has a tendency to cause the grain to swell, so if you do choose to use water-based primer, lightly sand the surface after the first coat to flatten and level it. Primer is a must when making dramatic wall color transitions from dark to light.

Without it, the dark color may continue to peek through even after three or more coats of paint. Apply two thin coats of either a white primer or a tinted primer that matches the new paint hue. This will bring the surface closer to the final color and reduce the number of paint coats needed. Two-in-one paint-and-primer products, also known as self-priming paints, contain a much higher percentage of solids than average paints, producing a thicker coat.