What is primer paint?
A good place to start - what exactly is primer paint and what does it do?
Primer paint is a substance applied to surfaces before painting to give the paint something to lock onto. Other than offering a more solid base than a bare wall, it’s been developed to hide surface stains so that the colour is all that shines through. Painting from dark to light? Primer is also very effective at toning down dark colours.
Yes, priming adds an extra step to the painting process and does take a bit more time. The good news is that with some paints (such as ours - humble brag) you can skip this step.
If you’re using another brand though, here’s what you need to know:
When to use primer paint
DIY-painters, if you’re feeling tempted to skip the primer, here are some scenarios where priming is more of a must:
When you’re dealing with porous walls and ceilings. The more porous a surface is, the more likely it is to draw paint into its pores. This leads to an uneven finish; exactly what we don’t want. Don’t skip the primer on surfaces such as bare wood and newly installed drywall, which are known highly porous.
Primer paint can also beneficial if you’re working with a glossy surface. These tend to be more difficult for paint to lock onto, but a light sandpapering and a coat of primer paint should do the trick to help the paint stick.
Painting a radiator? Primer paint is crucial to ensuring that any rusty radiator parts are well-protected. It also offers a solid base for the rest of the paint to stick onto. Read our top tips on how to paint a radiator.
Painting from dark to light? Treat the dark surface with two coats of white primer paint to tone it down.
Dealing with surface stains? Primer paint can cover these right up, making it easier for your beautiful paint job to shine through. You still need to clean your walls before painting though (no getting out of that one).
(Tip: If you’re painting your walls the same colour as the previous coat, there’s less of a need to prime. At Lick, we’ve worked hard on our paint so you can get the most flawless finish withoutthe need for a primer. However, we still recommend a coat of primer when painting on porous surfaces or if you’re going from very dark to light, or on certain surfaces like wood or metal.)
