What is the best primer for new drywall?

Author: Brandyn Shields  |  Last update: Saturday, May 17, 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 kind of primer should you use on new 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.

Is Kilz a good primer for new drywall?

Kilz can be used as a drywall primer, but an unnecessary expense unless some sort of stain in new drywall. Plain flat white latex primer generally the best and lowest cost choice.

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.

Is it better to roll or spray primer on new drywall?

I would also recommend back rolling after spraying the primer. When you spray drywall, the dust and hairs raise up in the paint. Spraying primer over dusty drywall without back rolling doesn't create good adhesion either. That new drywall might look okay, but there is a lot more dust on it than what meets the eye.

Buy The RIGHT Primer

How many coats of primer do I need for new drywall?

Here are some examples of how a primer should be used on different surfaces, depending on condition: One Coat—New drywall, raw wood, subtle color changes. Two Coats—Damaged drywall, stained walls, rusty metal. Three Coats or More—Wood paneling, bold color changes.

Should you backroll after spraying primer?

Back-rolling is typically most impactful when applying the primer for the interior walls of a home or a new construction build. While the primer is the coat that bonds with the substrate initially, airless spraying itself does not penetrate or enhance adhesion.

What happens if you don't use primer on new drywall?

The new surface will be porous and will absorb the color of the paint.

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.

What is the best high build primer for drywall?

BEHR PRO High Build Interior Primer is recommended for new and previously coated drywall and plasterboard walls and ceilings. It is a primer that combines skim coating and priming steps into one spray application over properly prepared new drywall.

How many gallons of primer for new drywall?

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

How many coats of kilz primer is needed?

Depending on how strong or bold the previous color is, it may be necessary to apply more than one coat of primer. However, it is not necessary to over apply the primer with so many coats. As long as the primer applies uniformly over the previous color, then one or two coats should be sufficient.

Is Behr paint and primer good for new drywall?

For excellent performance under flat and eggshell paints, choose BEHR® Drywall Plus Primer & Sealer. This 100% acrylic formula is more versatile than PVA primers, making it ideal for wood, woodboard, drywall and other porous surfaces in all your home's low-moisture rooms.

Can you use kilz original primer on new drywall?

Trusted by pros for over 40 years, excellent sealing and adhesion properties help paint adhere to most interior surfaces leading to better results. Use on wood, drywall, plaster, paneling, wallpaper, masonry, brick, painted metal and properly prepared glossy surfaces†.

What is a good bonding primer?

If you have various stains, shellac Bonding primer is the ideal choice. It can be used to cover rough surfaces and old varnish as well as metal and ceramic.

Should you sand between coats of primer on new drywall?

Test the primer after it dries. If it still looks patchy, add another coat. Sand lightly between coats for an extra smooth finish. This step helps the paint look its best.

What is the best all-purpose wall primer?

Our paint pros recommend INSL-X Aqua Lock Plus Primer as the best drywall primer. This multi-purpose, acrylic, water-based primer/sealer features outstanding sealing properties perfect for priming new drywall. It adheres to interior and exterior surfaces and can be top-coated with latex or oil-based coatings.

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 is special about Kilz primer?

KILZ MOLD & MILDEW Primer will block most medium to heavy stains including felt marker, grease, ink, pencil, tannin and water stains. It is a fast drying, low odor, very low VOC formula and is easy to clean with soap and water. Not recommended for floors.

What type of primer to use on new drywall?

PVA primer: PVA (polyvinyl acrylic) primer is a water-based primer that is specifically designed for use on new drywall.

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'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.

Is it better to brush or roll primer?

Applying primer first is the best way to ensure a perfect finish later. Just as it does with makeup and on cars, primer creates a smooth base that promotes better adhesion and truer color from your topcoat paint. Pro-tip: Apply primer using a brush first to “cut in" around edges, then use a roller to fill in.

What happens if you don't backroll?

This spanning or bridging will soon crack and separate as temperatures rise or fall causing the paint to expose those troubled areas again. This will be a paint failure in the future. In order to get proper adhesion and penetration you need to force the paint into the voids or troubled areas described.

Should you paint right 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.

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