Why Should I Use Primer?
The purpose of primer is to:
- Help ensure a uniform paint finish.
- Block tannin, water, grease and smoke stains that can bleed through your topcoat.
- Improve adhesion of the topcoat so your paint will last longer and look better.
Selecting the Right Primer
Not all primers are created equal. To solve common painting problems, choose the best paint primer for the job. If your paint job entails indoors and outdoors, an interior/exterior primer is good to use. Otherwise, use separate primers formulated for indoors or outdoors.
The best interior paint primer to use depends on the surface you’re painting and what type of paint you’re using. We'll explain the best primers to use on interior surfaces, such as metal, wood, drywall, cabinets, wallpaper and tile.
Exterior primers are used on surfaces like brick, plaster and stucco. They're more durable than interior, so the best exterior primer to use is the one that protects surfaces from mildew and minimizes cracking and erosion.
New Wood
If your wood isn't stained, use a high-quality latex primer or an oil-based primer. If you have wood that's stained or you're painting redwood or cedar, use a stain-blocking primer.
Painted Wood
If your paint is in very good condition, a primer may not be needed. However, if you have exposed wood, chalking or chipped paint, use an oil-based primer. Before you prime, scrape away as much chipped paint as possible, and wash off any chalk. (Just because you're using a primer doesn't mean you should skip surface preparation.)
Weathered Wood
Use a high-quality latex or oil-based primer. Sand and scrape away as much paint as possible. When you start to see new wood fibers, start priming.
Porous Surfaces
For porous surfaces such as new drywall, brick, plaster and stucco, use a primer that's specfically formulated for these materials. If repainting, scrape off any loose or peeling paint before applying the primer.
Aluminum and Galvanized Steel
If your surface is rusty, remove the rust and apply a latex or oil-based, corrosion-resistant primer. If the surface is new and rust-free, you can apply a high-quality latex paint and no primer.
Wallpaper
If there's existing wallpaper that you want to cover up, it's advised to remove it rather than paint or wallpaper over it. Learn how to remove wallpaper.
If you're prepping walls for wallpaper, then we recommend a mildew-resisting formula that can prime and hide imperfections in the wall to ensure that won't show under the wallpaper.
Drywall
The best primer for drywall is a latex primer. Don't use an oil-based primer unless you're putting up wallpaper or covering a stain. Oil-based primers raise the grain of the drywall and make the finish look uneven.
Stain-Blocking
Crayons, water, smoke and grease can bleed through the topcoat. Prime these areas with a stain-blocking or stain-killing primer. The best stain-blocking primer depends on the surface and the stains you need to block. Oil-based stain killers work the best on water stains and for spot-priming. Latex stain-blocking primers work better on large areas and hold up better on exterior surfaces. Pigmented shellac primer works well to block smoke and soot damage as well as to block animal urine smells.
Shiny Surfaces
Bonding primers will stick to glass, tile, Formica and previously painted surfaces. Use bonding primers for interior surfaces only. They tend to crack when exposed to the elements.
Dark Paint
It can take several coats of paint to hide existing dark paint. The best primer to cover dark paint depends on the final look you want to achieve. If you intend to paint the walls a light color, use a white primer. If you want the base coat to be similar to your final wall color, use a tinted primer or add paint to white primer.
Paint-and-Primer-in-One Applications
Although it may sound like it, paint and primer in one isn’t the same thing as simply mixing paint and primer. Paint-and-primer-in-one formulations are best for the following projects:
- Previously painted surfaces that aren't glossy
- Patched surfaces or areas covered in spackling products
- Transitioning between colors
- Repainting interior surfaces that are in good condition
- Repainting trim, windows, cabinets and doors
- Painting new, uncoated drywall
- Previously painted metal in good condition
You need to know which type of paint you have before you start your project. Watch our DIY Basics video: Do I Have Oil or Latex Paint?