What is the best primer for drywall before painting?

Author: Lilyan Moore  |  Last update: Friday, July 11, 2025

PVA primer: PVA (polyvinyl acrylic) primer is a water-based primer that is specifically designed for use on new drywall. It is easy to apply, dries quickly, and helps to seal the surface, making it less porous and more receptive to paint. PVA primer is also affordable, making it a great choice for large projects.

What is the best primer for painting drywall?

A pva primer is fine for most fresh drywall applications. You will see names with pva primers (pva is usually cheaper) they will work on fresh drywall perfectly.

Do I need to prime drywall before painting?

For new drywall, primer is really essential. New drywall is pretty porous (it will absorb more of the paint than a previously painted wall would) and primer helps fill that in before you paint.

Is Kilz a good primer for drywall?

I love this product for priming drywall. It goes on really light and it provides great coverage and its easy to sand. I've seen guys try to use all types of paint product to prime drywall. For a clean job, using this PVA primer should be a no brainer.

Is there a difference between drywall primer and regular primer?

Drywall primer has less pigment and more resins, it's referred to in teh industry as more of a pigmented sealer than a primer. Maybe the products your competition uses is cheap crap? I could get better results than that with one coat of tinted pva and one topcoat of Regal or Accolade.

Buy The RIGHT Primer

Is it better to spray or roll drywall primer?

Conclusion. Typically, back rolling after spraying on walls and ceilings is ideal especially for your primer. It will help in promoting better adhesion of the primer and reduce issues of raised filaments with drywall.

Which is better, Kilz or Zinsser?

Original Kilz Primer allowed more seep through when put in two coats to two different walls in the same area, whereas Zinsser provided superior coverage.

How many coats of kilz primer is needed on new drywall?

Only one. Shellac based primers like KILZ, ZINSSER, BINZ will always cover in one coat. You may see old stains and see strong paint colors showing thru it as it dries, but it is sealed, believe it or not, (shellac primers are great and all do this),and is ready to put one good coat of first class paint on.

What is the best primer for interior painted walls?

Best Interior Primers at a Glance
  • New Drywall: INSL-X Aqua Lock Plus Primer or Coronado PVA Primer.
  • Previously Painted Drywall: Benjamin Moore Fresh Start, High-Hiding Primer.
  • Water-Damaged or Marker-Stained Drywall: Benjamin Moore Fresh Start All-Purpose Primer.

Do you paint over kilz primer?

It's ready to brush, roll or spray and can be topcoated after one hour with latex or oil-based paint. Use KILZ STANDARD Primer on almost all interior surfaces including wood, drywall, plaster, brick, masonry and more.

What are some common mistakes to avoid during the drywall finishing process?

Common Drywall Finishing Mistakes
  • Over-sanding the drywall. ...
  • Inadequate joint compound application. ...
  • Not using the right tools. ...
  • Poorly installed corner beads. ...
  • Forgetting to feather out joints. ...
  • Fixing over-sanded drywall. ...
  • Correcting inadequate joint compound application. ...
  • Choosing the right tools.

What happens if you paint over drywall mud without primer?

What happens if you paint over drywall mud without primer? Fresh drywall acts akin to a sponge, readily absorbing the paint that you apply.

What's the difference between drywall and sheetrock?

One key difference between the two is that sheetrock is a brand name of drywall made by the United States Gypsum Corporation. Another difference lies in their production process; sheetrock has a slightly denser core than drywall due to the addition of a small amount of wood fiber to the gypsum core.

How to choose the right primer?

Consistency and texture: Look for a primer with a consistency and texture that works well with your skin type. For example, if you have dry skin, you may want a hydrating primer with a creamier texture, while oily skin may benefit from a mattifying primer with a lighter, more gel-like consistency.

Does new drywall need a special primer?

New Drywall — Opt for drywall primer because drywall is porous and must be sealed with a sealer or self-priming paint. Bare Wood — Use a wood primer, as wood contains tannin acids that can bleed through. Stains — Choose a stain-blocking primer for stains, because it prevents stains from appearing through the topcoat.

Is Kilz 2 a good primer?

Overall, it is viewed as a cost-effective solution for priming and sealing surfaces before painting. Great product!! [This review was collected as part of a promotion.] My project would not have turned out so well without using Kilz.

What type of drywall primer is best?

PVA primer: PVA (polyvinyl acrylic) primer is a water-based primer that is specifically designed for use on new drywall. It is easy to apply, dries quickly, and helps to seal the surface, making it less porous and more receptive to paint. PVA primer is also affordable, making it a great choice for large projects.

What primer do painters use?

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.

Is drywall primer the same as paint primer?

Paint and drywall primer differs in functionality, chemical composition, and variety. However, their differences complement one another, giving you optimally painted walls. Although skipping steps might seem like a time saver, that's not always the case.

Should I sand after primer?

After the primer dries, lightly sand away bumps and ridges using very fine grit sandpaper folded into quarters. When the grit of one section of sandpaper becomes covered with dust, switch to an unused section and continue. Wipe the wall clean with a damp towel or sponge and allow it to dry before painting.

Why do people use kilz before painting?

Kilz works to trap and seal odors, block stains, or even fill in porous surfaces. By doing so, it leaves a smooth base for fresh paint to go on smoothly and look its best.

How far does a gallon of primer go on new drywall?

In general, one gallon of paint or primer will cover roughly 250-350 square feet of surface.

What is the difference between Zinsser bin and Zinsser 123?

Zinsser BIN is shellac-based, whereas 123 is water-based. This makes Zinsser Bullseye 123 a lot quicker and easier to apply. It's also better suited for use on bare wood, or to prime plastic and composite before painting. BIN may be harder to apply, but it is by far the better stain block.

What can I use instead of Kilz?

KILZ's top competitors include 58 Foundations & Waterproofing, COAT, and Groupe Durieu.

Which type of wall primer is best?

Shellac-Based Primer:

They are a good option for interior painting as they provide the best adhesion. Moreover, they can effectively work on wall surfaces damaged by water and smoke. Though they are quite durable, it is advisable not to use them for exterior painting.

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