What primer to use before painting?

Author: Arlo Ebert I  |  Last update: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Water-based latex primer and oil-based primer are both suitable for priming interior walls. Latex primer is considered an all-purpose primer and is easy to clean up with water. Oil-based primer is also versatile. It's the preferred choice for blocking stains, wood tannin and for covering porous wood surfaces.

What is the best primer to use before painting?

  • 1. Zinsser B-I-N Shellac-Base Primer
  • 2. KILZ Adhesion Interior/Exterior Primer
  • 3. Zinsser Bondz Maximum Adhesion Primer
  • 4. INSL-X STIX Waterborne Bonding Primer
  • 5. Zinsser Cover Stain Interior/Exterior Primer-Sealer & Stain Killer
  • 6. KILZ 2 All-Purpose Interior/Exterior Primer
  • 7. Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus Primer
  • 8.

Is primer necessary before painting?

This is especially important when you are changing the paint from a dark colour to a light colour. Primer for painting also provides a new and clean base for dirty walls that are hard to clean. Using a primer is especially important if the walls are going to be exposed to sunlight, rain and pollutants.

How do I know what paint primer to use?

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.

Do I have to prime over old paint?

As long as the paints are the same chemistry, and as long as the existing paint has been cleaned to remove oxidation and surface contaminants, then there's no need for primer.

Buy The RIGHT Primer

What happens if you don't primer before painting?

Without primer, the paint absorbs into the surface unevenly, leaving an inconsistent finish with patched areas showing through the final coat of paint.

Do I need to 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.

How do I 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.

Do professional painters use primer?

In order to save time and money, professional painters recommend using a good primer.

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.

Do you paint straight over primer?

In most cases we recommend using one coat of primer before two coats of your chosen paint to achieve a professional finish. For porous surfaces (wood/masonry) or to cover dark colours a second coat of primer may be required.

How long after priming can I paint?

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.

Do I need two coats of paint if I use primer?

In most situations, a good rule of thumb is to use a primer plus two coats of paint. If you use this rule, you may do one more coat than needed but this won't hurt the final product. There are few situations where this rule of thumb will result in doing too few coats though which is why it is prevalent advice.

What are the three types of primers?

Types of Primers. There are three basic types of primers: oil-based, latex and pigmented shellac primer. Each has its strengths and weaknesses and works best on certain surfaces and in particular circumstances.

What do you apply first before primer?

  1. Step 1: Moisturizer. Before you begin applying your makeup, take the time to prep your skin with a high-quality moisturizer. ...
  2. Step 2: Primer. ...
  3. Step 3: Liquid Foundation. ...
  4. Step 4: Concealer. ...
  5. Step 5: Foundation Powder. ...
  6. Step 6: Bronzer. ...
  7. Step 7: Blush. ...
  8. Step 8: Highlighter.

Should primer be darker than paint?

For darker paint colors, like black, dark blues and greens, and other dark colors, use a black primer. Black primers yield deep, vibrant colors, especially when the hues are dark and rich. If you choose a black primer as the base for a dark color, like black, it will take fewer coats of paint to fully cover your car.

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.

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.

Which brand of primer is best?

Our Top Picks
  • Best Overall: Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer+ Hydrating Primer, $42.
  • Best Firming: Beautyblender Boost Firming & Smoothing Peptide Primer, $29.
  • Best Glowy: Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer, $46.
  • Best Moisturizer: Merit Great Skin Priming Moisturizer, $38.

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.

How do I know if my primer is correct?

Choose a primer set with minimum secondary structure formation. Thereafter can use Primer BLAST for the primers obtained using IDT oligo analyser. If the blast result shows the the genetic sequence of your desired gene, the primers designed are perfect.

Can I skip sanding if I use primer?

Can you paint over primer without sanding the car? Technically, yes, you can do that. Some circumstances don't require sanding the existing paint and primer before repainting. If you choose this route, the car's surface might show minimal damage like puncture holes, body scratches, dents, and cracks.

Will primer stick to 400 grit?

When looking to sand a surface before applying primer, the best grit sandpaper to use is 320 to 400.

How thick should primer be?

Applying primer is a different ball game from applying the top coat, though. How thick should paint primer be when you first apply it? Well, the surface should have an even layer of coverage, but still expect to see the underlying colour showing through, you may need to apply two coats.

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