Drywall primer

[NUTTSGT]

What are you guys using for primer new interior drywall ?


My go to primer for the garage has been oil based Kilz but this is for the utility room project in the house. No way am I using that stuff in the house. However, I'd be open to use some of there water based primer.


I'd like something that doesn't have a real strong odor. Like I mentioned above, new drywall so I don't need a "stain-blocker" primer.



Kilz water based ?

SW Pro-Mar ?

Zinsser ?


What else is out there ?

 

[Fierljeppen]

Zinsser® Bulls Eye 1-2-3® Water-Base Primer

I've used this for many years for all of the reasons you mentioned. It should be available at most of the big box stores near you.

 

[Beater5liter]

Any PVA primer will work. Usually use glidden from Home Depot as its relatively cheap and there's not much difference when it comes to PVA primer between brands.

 

[JRC3]

Yeah, don't over think it. I use the Behr in mine and customer's homes. Depending on the final color you have planned you can have the primer tinted. In my laundry room after primer I used exterior paint. I'd never done that before and was worried about the smell as it dried, no biggie because I wasn't living in the house yet. It was no smellier than any other interior paint.

 

[Catfishdan]

Any PVA. I get mine from Sherwin Williams, but I've used Ace and Home Depot brands as well.

 

[ford33]

I use Glidden PVA primer from Home Depot.

 

[Bruce 993 SEA]

Unless it is old drywall that is in an area that has been smoked in, go with the PVA.

Otherwise, oil based kilz or zinzer is the way to seal in the stink from smoking.

 

[Iowa drywallguy]

PVA from menards $9.87 a gallon

 

[rlitman]

Unless it is old drywall that is in an area that has been smoked in, go with the PVA.

Otherwise, oil based kilz or zinzer is the way to seal in the stink from smoking.

This. A low VOC forumation will have less stink as it dries.

FYI, PVA primers act as a vapor barrier. If you want a vapor barrier against your drywall (generally, you do), then this is appropriate. If you do not (such as if you have sprayed closed cell foam in the wall cavity), then use plain latex paint, which does not block moisture.

As for the oil based primer, I pretty much only use it to prime wood.

 

[77thor]

Zinsser® Bulls Eye 1-2-3® Water-Base Primer . . . .

+1

 

[NUTTSGT]

PVA primer. I had to look that up and found some decent information. Well, what I needed atleast.

I had to touch a few spots on the drywall after some sanding. Hopefully, I can get some primer tonight and get it on the drywall tomorrow.


Any more suggestions, ideas or information, keep it coming.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

Zinsser® Bulls Eye 1-2-3® Water-Base Primer

+2

 

[cgrutt]

Just finished a large project and used the SW Pro Mar. It wasn't new drywall but it had alot of new drywall compound. The Pro Mar worked well, applied easily and didn't have that much of an odor. I used BIN on some tough spots which always works great but has a strong odor and is significantly more expensive.

 

[Cougar]

Zinsser® Bulls Eye 1-2-3® Water-Base Primer ....

+3

 

[NUTTSGT]

Checking out HD website, I see they carry a Kilz PVA primer. I've had some decent luck with Kilz products before so I'm tempted to stick with the Kilz brand. They also carry a 2 gallon bucket of the Glidden PVA primer like mentioned by a few others.

I do need to go there and grab (hopefully) another gallon of Kilz interior paint for the ceiling. I have some already a partial can of that paint. That will get the ceiling done and we already know the color for the walls. It'll be a Sherwin Williams color that the wife likes.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Just finished a large project and used the SW Pro Mar. It wasn't new drywall but it had alot of new drywall compound. The Pro Mar worked well, applied easily and didn't have that much of an odor. I used BIN on some tough spots which always works great but has a strong odor and is significantly more expensive.

I used some Pro-Mar at the fire house on a project and it covered decently. that's why I included it in my first post. Also I see SW has their 30% sale going on too.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Zinsser® Bulls Eye 1-2-3® Water-Base Primer

+1

+2

+3

I'm also considering this too. Fortunately, the Green and Orange store are only 2 miles apart. The Blue store is in the middle and I drive right by that one.

 

[JRC3]

I had a brain fart and forgot about this stuff i've been using over the past few years. It makes new drywall and patches blend perfectly with old. And make new drywall look like it has more layers of paint on it.

https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...443-c-8028.htm?tid=7980565332573964109&ipos=1

 

[shelteredV]

use the final wall color with 50% tint in it. It's just regular interior work, no need for anything special.

 

[James-W]

As I recall Behr was used in our basement and it seemed to work quite well. The guy who primed and painted the drywall left some cans here in case I needed it for touch up or whatever, and I tried to find them but for some reason I have no idea where they are. If I figure out where I put them I will let you know exactly what they are.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I had a brain fart and forgot about this stuff i've been using over the past few years. It makes new drywall and patches blend perfectly with old. And make new drywall look like it has more layers of paint on it.

https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...443-c-8028.htm?tid=7980565332573964109&ipos=1

I saw that on Menard's site when I was searching primers. Also available at my local Menard's.

 

[NUTTSGT]

This is the product I decided to go with. I cut in the edges, corners and trimmed around the lights/outlets last night. One brush coat appeared to cover very well. We'll see what happens when I roll the rest of it out today. I found a few pock marks so I need to take care of that first.


The paint the wife picked out is a Glidden Paint + Primer Diamond series. She found a color she like so I was not going to argue. Hopefully between the two products, it'll cover nicely and she is happy. As she says, the end result will be worth the mess in the house.

 

[ford fanatic]

Zinsser® Bulls Eye 1-2-3® Water-Base Primer

This.

 

[JRC3]

This is the product I decided to go with. I cut in the edges, corners and trimmed around the lights/outlets last night. One brush coat appeared to cover very well. We'll see what happens when I roll the rest of it out today. I found a few pock marks so I need to take care of that first.


The paint the wife picked out is a Glidden Paint + Primer Diamond series. She found a color she like so I was not going to argue. Hopefully between the two products, it'll cover nicely and she is happy. As she says, the end result will be worth the mess in the house.

I will warn you that First Coat splatters a bit when you roll it. Also it will kind of make lots of small bubbles when you roll it. These settle out and I think it's part of the process that makes it blend so well. I think it's also why it splatters as you roll it.


And don't forget good rollers and brushes. Purdy, Wooster, or at very least Shur Line. Don't try and save $20 by buying the store brand brushes and rollers.

 

[oil dripper]

On the subject of PVA. Does anybody know of a source of PVA (not primer!) in the US that is the same as this that can be found in the UK and Ireland?

https://trade.evo-stik.co.uk/product/evo-bond-pva

I've used it to seal floors, walls, help bond new concrete to old etc .

 

[rburke65]

It's money that will pay off in good results when you buy the better brushes and rollers.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I will warn you that First Coat splatters a bit when you roll it. Also it will kind of make lots of small bubbles when you roll it. These settle out and I think it's part of the process that makes it blend so well. I think it's also why it splatters as you roll it.


And don't forget good rollers and brushes. Purdy, Wooster, or at very least Shur Line. Don't try and save $20 by buying the store brand brushes and rollers.

I bought 5 gal of First Coat once. That room was my best drywall and paint job ever. Great stuff but did not go very far. I hired this house done. I wish I had insisted on the trade using it. They really, really pushed back against using it. I have knock down texture and I can see defects. I wish I had insisted in living room.

They did use a primer from SW or some other paint only store.

 

[JRC3]

I bought 5 gal of First Coat once. That room was my best drywall and paint job ever. Great stuff but did not go very far.

It doesn't go as far because it covers so well. At $11 a gallon it all evens out in the end.

 

[yeldogt]

This is the product I decided to go with. I cut in the edges, corners and trimmed around the lights/outlets last night. One brush coat appeared to cover very well. We'll see what happens when I roll the rest of it out today. I found a few pock marks so I need to take care of that first.


The paint the wife picked out is a Glidden Paint + Primer Diamond series. She found a color she like so I was not going to argue. Hopefully between the two products, it'll cover nicely and she is happy. As she says, the end result will be worth the mess in the house.

First coat is without question the best primer for new taped drywall. As I'm sure you noticed it has a slight chalk to it that smooths out the paper/ taped area after it dries ... it's important to apply properly (not too light) and with the correct roller (not too thick). Two top coats and you have a great looking wall.

I only use an oil primer with plaster -- and if you have a level 5 the option are a bit different because you are no longer dealing with the drywall's paper covering. Drywall's paper is not smooth and will never get you the look of a painted plaster wall. You need a product like first coat to equalize the surface.

 

[Brian_WK]

First coat is without question the best primer for new taped drywall. As I'm sure you noticed it has a slight chalk to it that smooths out the paper/ taped area after it dries ... it's important to apply properly (not too light) and with the correct roller (not too thick). Two top coats and you have a great looking wall.

I only use an oil primer with plaster -- and if you have a level 5 the option are a bit different because you are no longer dealing with the drywall's paper covering. Drywall's paper is not smooth and will never get you the look of a painted plaster wall. You need a product like first coat to equalize the surface.

I thought Level 5 also coats the paper in a skim coat.

 

[DFB]

Same as post #2

Stuff is great dry fast no odor I did several areas at work with only that alone and no top coat nice bright white too.

 

[yeldogt]

I thought Level 5 also coats the paper in a skim coat.

level 5 is fully coated -- so no paper to worry about. Level 5 results depend on the skill of the finishers and the final product used .. can end up with a surface that's very close to plaster. I always do it on ceilings and first floors / bathrooms if I'm not springing for plaster.

regular primer can't equalize the surface -- the properly taped areas are going to be smoother vs the paper.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I will warn you that First Coat splatters a bit when you roll it. Also it will kind of make lots of small bubbles when you roll it. These settle out and I think it's part of the process that makes it blend so well. I think it's also why it splatters as you roll it.


And don't forget good rollers and brushes. Purdy, Wooster, or at very least Shur Line. Don't try and save $20 by buying the store brand brushes and rollers.

Thanks for the warning. I'm letting the spackle cure right now, the wife has an appt and will be with her. I can roll it on tonight. I'll try to be careful as I have a n unfinished door in there too.


I have a small stock of Purdy rollers. I raided the dumpster after a spill behind SW about 18 months ago. They tossed a bunch of stock and the plastic packages had polyurethane on them so they couldn't sell them.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I bought 5 gal of First Coat once. That room was my best drywall and paint job ever. Great stuff but did not go very far. I hired this house done. I wish I had insisted on the trade using it. They really, really pushed back against using it. I have knock down texture and I can see defects. I wish I had insisted in living room.

First coat is without question the best primer for new taped drywall. As I'm sure you noticed it has a slight chalk to it that smooths out the paper/ taped area after it dries ... it's important to apply properly (not too light) and with the correct roller (not too thick). Two top coats and you have a great looking wall.

Glad to hear others have had good luck with it.

I bought two gallons. Small room, 8.5'x10.5' and 2.5'x4" closet, including ceiling for both minus two doors.

If I need more, it looks like a trip back over to get some. I can also grab another can of Minwax polycrylic for the cabinets.

 

[the gypsy]

I have been painting since I was about 12 or 13 yrs old (not professionally) now I am 59 yrs old. I do not want to voice my opinion but I would like to say that my moms home, my home my relatives home (little reminder I am of Italian background, stubborn believe in past experiences and all the old ****) no one has a problem with mold. We, the parents , the in laws, the family, we all have a property or 2 or 3. All the tenants paint with latex and many have mold at one time or another. I don't mean to judge but if latex is water based paint, won't the fresh mud absorb the water in the paint or even a water leak from a room above? I believe that the base coat should be anything other than latex based.
I believe that paint producers are happy because painting has become such an easy chore/ task/ thing that they are selling a lot more paint than ever, where we painted every 3 years or so because my pops smoked now tenants are painting every time they move in( which may be every year) or when a new tenant moves in.

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

I am a little slow on paint, what is "PVA" primer?



.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I am a little slow on paint, what is "PVA" primer?



.

I had to look it up myself.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/pva-drywall-primer-91249.html

 

[Norcal]

I am a little slow on paint, what is "PVA" primer?

.

Poly Vinyl Acetate. Common name, PVA Sealer.

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

Thanks for the explanation on PVA. There was a fellow who sold paint here, years ago, who always talked in his TV ad's about his "PVA paint" but his store closed a long time ago, ( several decades ) and I hadn't heard that term since. I thought it was a particular brand of paint.


.

 

[NUTTSGT]

OP here. I rolled on one coat of First Coat and it covered nicely, other than a couple spots that I had to fix. I sanded a spot this morning, hit it with some First Coat and went to town. I came home broke out the paint and got busy.

The initial coat of paint looks real nice and I wanted to add a second coat but we went out with friends to eat this evening. My plan was to have both coats of paint on so it could dry while I was at work tomorrow so I could proceed with the room when I come home Sunday morning. Maybe I'll get up an hour early before I go to work and roll on the second coat of paint.


So I'll put it this way. I'm happy with the First Coat product and I would use it again. Honestly, when I do the drywall in the basement stairway, I'm using it again.