To Prime or Not To Prime

Are primers becoming a thing of the past? We're not so sure.

With the rapid technological advances in the paint industry and increased competition coupled with depressed markets, every manufacturer is desperate to bring to market as many of the most innovative products, as fast as possible. Some genuinely do so, others jump the bandwagon not to be left out, whilst still others pretend to do so. At the end of the day, it can all be very confusing to the homeowner and even the painter who have no idea what to do. Should the surface be primed and then paint or should they go for the recently promoted and seemingly easier all-in-one option?

If one were to ask a painter, he’d probably sing a loud chorus that praises a “paint and primer in one.” No question about it! But what would his motives be for doing so? Some painters argue that all-in-one products simplify the process, reduce the time it takes to complete the job and most of all reduce the cost of both paint and labour. This gets the painter a job against others who may be recommending the more costly time-consuming option. In addition the job is completed faster and allows the painter to move on to the next job more quickly. Sounds like a win – win for both the painter and client. Ideally a homeowner is looking for the best products, at the lowest price, painted in the shortest time and with the least disruption. Sounds like a dream. But do these products really work? Are they on par in performance with the traditional system of primer plus 1 or 2 topcoats?

If we understand the myriad of problems solved by primers in the first place, we might get a better understanding of why companies continue to recommend the use of primers in the painting system. Since primers exist to prepare the surface for top coats, it seems counterintuitive to think combined with paint, they are able to meet the different criteria of a primer, at the same time serve as a topcoat. At the end of the day, no one primer solves every problem. A primer that provides super adhesion may be poor at blocking stains, and a primer that provides blocking may be poor at solving chalking for example.

As the standard, we recommend the application of 1 primer coat + 2 topcoats. This system has been tried, tested, and proven to be the best painting system for any new surface, and for other reasons as well; such as over-coating glossy, smooth surfaces, with a different sheen level, such as from a gloss or semi-gloss to a matt finish where the primer would provide sealing, adhesion and minimise the glare of the glossy coat. Another good reason is the increasing shift away from oil paint, where homeowners who would have painted in oil see the merit in shifting to equally comparable, water-based alternatives. Moving from oil paint with to water-based acrylic will definitely require a primer as an intermediary tie-coat, to ensure adhesion. The primer sticks to the oil paint and the topcoat sticks to the primer, so that all three remain bonded together.

At first glance, applying primer may seem like an unnecessary expense. It creates an extra step, requires more material and increases the cost of the job, but in reality because of the long term durability this system costs, it saves money and time in the long run. A good coat of primer improves the ability to cover, reducing the number of coats that are necessary to achieve a smooth finish. Primers can also be tinted to match the paint colour. Tinting improves the primer’s hide and makes the transition between primer and topcoat smoother.

On the flip side, there are many instances where a primer or all-in-one would add no additional value and therefore are not recommended; such as repainting at the same sheen level. As long as the surface is in good condition and any pre-existing surface problems resolved, there’s absolutely no reason to add the unnecessary step of applying a primer in this instance. So, is there room for compromise? Yes indeed there is!

All-in-one paint will work in some situations; e.g. where the homeowner is not seeking long term durability, simply because it’s either a yearly tradition or they quickly get bored with the colours and seek to change their colour scheme. Of course, there are the added benefits of reduced labour time and costs, especially if painting on an already painted surface. If that is the case, the homeowner could simply purchase a value-for-money where long term durability is not the consideration.

Another good reason for using an all-in-one, would be over-painting a dark colour in a light shade. So there are circumstances where the all-in-one would be worth consideration. Conversely, new construction with bare sheetrock where the homeowner wants to paint white, would require a separate primer. Of course this would work well for most interior surfaces; but would the same apply to exterior surfaces?

Let’s first examine the reasons why primers are used. These include sealing pores and knots in wood and other permeable materials, water-marks and tobacco smoke. Primers also ensure topcoats can be applied more smoothly and minimise surface absorption, so that your paint would definitely look better and last longer too. Every new surface—wood, drywall, metal, and concrete—should be primed before painting. While it can be tempting to skip this step, the results could be disappointing. Paint applied to un-primed surfaces is more prone to cracking, peeling, flaking, and chalking compared to paint applied to properly primed surfaces.