Do I Need To Use Primer?
Question:I am painting two rooms in my house. When I told the guy at the paint store I was doing one room red, he suggested I use a gray primer to help minimize the number of coats. He said to help darker colors cover and to give its best color, he recommended to use primer. However, the other room is dark brown and he didn't say to use primer or not. Would I need to primer that room (dark brown) as well? (The walls are white now.)
Answers:
I would suggest to yes, prime it all.you will get better coverage and a more professional look in less time...and he was REALLY right in saying to prime in gray for a red wall!
There are two reasons to use primer. One-- for adhesion problems. If the old paint is stained, flaking off, or otherwise not sound the primer acts as an adhesive between the two paints, The other reason is color bleed-thru. The color red is translucient--you can see thru it. White is very hard to cover with red. Even 6 coats of red may not cover white.
Dark brown would most likely not need a primer.
I was told the same thing and primed with the gray to paint red over it. Now I know why, too. I ran out of primer and did the last wall with red only. Big mistake! That wall took 7 coats of red just to match the saturation that was on the other walls. My painting contractor was right. Now whenever I am going to paint a dark color over white I prime with a dark based primer first to save time, energy and effort. Just to be on the safe side, I'd prime before painting dark brown.
i agree w/ Larry... I jst did a red walls & used grey primer... I had to use 2 coats of red over the grey which covered really well. Covering over white or a lt color takes forever w/ red pigment. On the other hand I have also painted brown on the a wall & needed no primer. so definetly go w/ grey primer for red & u can go w/o w/ brown.
Hey if its a dark color already dont worry about it you only need to prime with a dark primer on the rooms with light colors otherwise it will take at least 3 coats to take care of the hollidays on white or light collored walls/dark colored walls shouldnt take as meny. Dont use oilbased paints over waterbase or visa versa it may cause peeling if you do so pay attention to the paint you use. when painting oilbase put lotion on before you paint so you can clean yourself easyier.
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