Do I need to prime before using Benjamin Moore paint?

Author: Brannon Harvey  |  Last update: Friday, December 5, 2025

While many of Benjamin Moore's paints are self-priming, we recommend a dedicated coat of a high-quality primer, like Fresh Start® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer. Primer is the best way to achieve a smooth finish.

Do I need to prime before painting if already painted?

Absolutely not. Unless your walls are bare drywall and have never been painted. You see, the primer's main job is to provide adhesion. So if your walls are already painted, they just need to be clean, dry, and dull. And then any additional topcoat you're putting on will adhere.

Can you use Benjamin Moore Advance without primer?

Advance is not considered a paint+primer, that's why BM actually makes Advance primer. Stix primer by INSLX (also owned by BM) is also recommended for such applications. The priming isn't absolutely necessary and you should be fine without it, especially with a product like Advance.

What paint does not require primer?

Above all else, self-priming paint is designed to eliminate the need for primer. It is typically thicker than average paint, with a higher concentration of solids to help cover blemishes, leave a more robust finish and ultimately make the process quicker and easier.

Why do painters prefer Benjamin Moore paint?

Benjamin Moore uses more expensive pigments, resins, and proprietary additives in their paints, resulting in richer colors and smoother applications. Their paints also have higher concentrations of solids compared to less expensive lines, providing better coverage and hiding ability with fewer coats.

Watch this before using Benjamin Moore's Aura Interior Paint

What paint do most professional painters use?

Professional painters frequently utilize premium paints, such as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams, for their work. Sherwin-Williams is widely regarded as one of the top paint brands, providing a broad range of premium quality paints, including environmentally friendly options.

What is better quality, Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams?

The best paint between Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore is Benjamin Moore, by a slight margin. In terms of paint quality, durability, coverage, and ease of application, Benjamin Moore's paint takes the cake. Indeed, their indoor paint product, Regal Select, is hands down the best interior paint on the market.

What happens if you paint without priming?

Without primer, paint will absorb into the surface instead of forming a film on top. This can cause patchy, uneven color that requires even more coats of paint.

Does all Benjamin Moore paint have primer in it?

Most premium Benjamin Moore paint formulas provide a paint-and-primer in one. Benjamin Moore's ben® Interior offers paint-and-primer in one, and also hides previous paint colors in fewer coats.

Do paint and primer in one really work?

Paint and primer combination products do work in certain situations, but every paint job is different. Paint and primer have two different, distinct functions and many times work best as two separate products. Paint provides color, hiding, sheen, scrub resistance and protection against the elements.

Do I need to prime before painting Benjamin Moore?

While many of Benjamin Moore's paints are self-priming, we recommend a dedicated coat of a high-quality primer, like Fresh Start® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer. Primer is the best way to achieve a smooth finish.

Is one coat of Benjamin Moore advance enough?

A second coat of Advance will give you complete coverage and allow the finish to cure evenly.

Can I just use white paint instead of primer?

If you allow the paint to absorb, the color will be less consistent and less beautiful. The paint is not capable of doing all this stuff, as its only purpose is to color. That's why, substituting white paint for primer is a bad idea. The two products have separate purposes and you must never use them interchangeably.

How do I know if I need to prime before painting?

When To Use Paint Primer
  1. When switching from a higher sheen to a lower sheen finish, like from semi-gloss to eggshell.
  2. Switching from a dark color to a lighter one.
  3. If your walls have been repaired or patched.
  4. If you're painting a humid area like a bathroom, which is more susceptible to mildew and leaching.

Can I just paint over old paint?

How Do I Paint Over Painted Walls? If the wall is in good condition and the paints are chemically the same (both latex, for instance), you have a few options when the new paint is the opposite shade of the old paint. You can use a primer to thoroughly cover the old color, then apply 1 or 2 coats of the new paint.

Can you prime and paint in the same day?

It's recommended to wait at least 24 hours before adding a coat of paint over your primer. Painting over it soon could cause your paint to adhere to the wall improperly, flaking and peeling.

Does Benjamin Moore paint need two coats?

We recommend at least two coats of your topcoat product for optimal hide and color development. Check the paint can for the recommended drying times and wait until the paint is completely dry before you add the second coat.

Is Benjamin Moore Advance paint self priming?

Do I need to prime before using Benjamin Moore ADVANCE? Yes, Benjamin Moore ADVANCE paint requires a primed surface. Find primer recommendations in our Guide to the Best Paint Primers.

What paint does not need primer?

Chalk-based paint is a water-based paint with a very flat finish that has excellent adhesion. The adhesion is so good, in fact, that chalk paint requires very little prep beforehand and generally does not require sanding or priming your piece.

How many coats of paint do you need without primer?

What might take three or four coats of paint can be accomplished with one coat of primer and maybe two coats of paint. Don't even think about painting wood paneling without a few coats of stain-blocking primer. Without a good primer, it could take upward of six coats of paint to cover the wood grain.

How long can I wait to paint after priming?

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR PRIMER TO DRY? Most latex primers dry to the touch in 30 minutes to one hour. But for best results, don't paint until the primer completely dries—which can take up to 3 hours, depending on temperature and humidity. Once the primer is completely dry, it's prime time for painting.

Can you paint over dark colors without primer?

Without using a primer, dark colors can bleed through the new paint layers, which might necessitate applying additional coats and consequently increase the time and materials needed.

What is so special about Benjamin Moore paint?

They are Durable

Designed to last, Benjamin Moore Paints will, without a doubt, withstand the atmosphere wear and tear for long and without losing its color vibrancy and smoothness alike.

Why do painters prefer Sherwin-Williams paint?

Many contractors are impressed by the fact that Sherwin-Williams has more than 140 years of experience behind them, which means they've had a long time to perfect what they do. And they've done it well, as they are among the most trusted suppliers of quality paints in the industry.

What is America's most trusted paint brand?

Behr Named America's Most Trusted Paint Brand in Lifestory Research 2025 Study. NEWPORT BEACH, CA, UNITED STATES, January 8, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Lifestory Research 2025 America's Most Trusted® Paint Study has revealed Behr as the most trusted paint brand among U.S. consumers.

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