Interior Paint - Need to prime?

[nippaero]

Just finished sheetrock/mud/texture. What is the purpose of PVA primer? Do I need it or can I just roll on the paint?

I am guessing it will not soak up so much paint if I prime it first but is there any other reason?

 

[Stargeezer]

I like to use Kilz2. Two coats-then the color coat. seems to work for us! Primer is cheaper than paint-and the color coats pop better when used over a good primer. Rule of thumb: prime, caulk, paint...

 

[chadman]

You definately want to prime fresh drywall.

 

[JimVonBaden]

You definately want to prime fresh drywall.

Right, and I found two coats is better than one. I used contractor grade primer, and it was much cheaper.

Jim

 

[1967marti]

I used killz on my basement and garage. It's great stuff and pretty cheap... After 1 or 2 coats you can't see any mud lines...

 

[rlitman]

Right, and I found two coats is better than one. I used contractor grade primer, and it was much cheaper.

Cheap latex primer is fine on fresh drywall. In no way would I use paint for the first coat. It soaks right into the spackle.

In a newly re-done room, I'll first go over the taped joints and ceiling in a white latex primer (no need to do the whole wall yet). New wood molding gets a white oil based primer.
Then the whole walls get done in a primer tinted to be close to my paint (if I'm painting the walls in two shades, I'll get the primer to match the lighter shade).

Then paint.

This leaves two coats of primer on any spackle, and one coat over the drywall paper, under the paint.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Cheap latex primer is fine on fresh drywall. In no way would I use paint for the first coat. It soaks right into the spackle.

In a newly re-done room, I'll first go over the taped joints and ceiling in a white latex primer (no need to do the whole wall yet). New wood molding gets a white oil based primer.
Then the whole walls get done in a primer tinted to be close to my paint (if I'm painting the walls in two shades, I'll get the primer to match the lighter shade).

Then paint.

This leaves two coats of primer on any spackle, and one coat over the drywall paper, under the paint.

That's pretty much what I did, though I just two-coated all the walls. Worked well. See my build thread in my sig.

Jim

 

[1948]

yes you will see the color changes through the paint, also it wont dry the same on the drywall as it will the filler and also makes the color look off, youll end up spending more time/paint repainting if you dont prime.

 

[Addrock]

I like 2 coats on Drywall brand primer, rolled on gives you a nice subtle texture. Light sand between coats to get rid of any over sand areas.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Yes, like the others said, Prime and use something decent. Don't use something cheap like a landlord grade paint/primer in one.

 

[Davefr]

Yes, definitely prime the bare wall. However ask the paint store to tint the primer to half the color formula of the top coat. That will give you a head start with coverage.

Use only the best paint from real paint stores.

 

[nippaero]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll put down the primer as suggested. I am going with Behr paint since I have had good luck with it in the house.

 

[Mmfh]

Behr make the PVR primer in the Orange and white can. I used that on mine and it only took one coat of paint to look good. Without primer, who knows how much paint I would have had to use.

 

[Kevin54]

Before you prime, take a damp towel and wipe the walls down from any compound dust that is on them. A lot of people will prime a bare wall then wonder why the primer or paint isn't sticking.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

"Cheap" and "paint" virtually never add up to satisfying or pleasing. You just went through all the effort of Sheetrock and mudding; the last thing I'd want to chance is using cheap ANYTHING on it.

Yes, use PVA primer and a good latex and you'll not regret it.

 

[ddawg16]

For my garage....I used Kilz2 with a heavy knap roller....it gave it a bit of texture....

I then rolled on the paint with a heavy knap roller...for a bit more texture without actually having texture....

I used exterior high gloss.....reflects light better and the saw dust from my wood working does not stick to it as bad...much easier to clean up.

 

[JC23]

I've had good luck using Kilz on my reworked house walls.

I take it one step further and have it tinted a shade or two lighter than what the finish color will be. Makes fer a deeper color coat.

Overkill fer the garage? No such thing...

 

[JimVonBaden]

Before you prime, take a damp towel and wipe the walls down from any compound dust that is on them. A lot of people will prime a bare wall then wonder why the primer or paint isn't sticking.

Good advice!

Jim

 

[Kevin54]

I've had good luck using Kilz on my reworked house walls.

I take it one step further and have it tinted a shade or two lighter than what the finish color will be. Makes fer a deeper color coat.

Overkill fer the garage? No such thing...

I normally get primer tinted, but some of those people at Lowes can be real dicks about it. One Lowes i go to wouldn't do it as they said it was agqainst policy. WTF. I went to a different Lowes and no problem at all.

 

[rlitman]

I normally get primer tinted, but some of those people at Lowes can be real dicks about it. One Lowes i go to wouldn't do it as they said it was agqainst policy. WTF. I went to a different Lowes and no problem at all.

That's the difference between shopping at a box store, and a paint store.
Anyway, they'll all tell you that the color match won't be perfect, especially if your final tint requires a dark base paint.

 

[darkk]

ALWAYS prime new drywall. I just did my addition, 2400 sq ft. with 11ft and 13ft ceilings I used Dupont PVA drywall primer, it covers extremely well and is relatively cheap. I did how ever put two finish coats on top of it.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Two coats of Pittsburgh seal primer Medium nap roller and two coats of Moore or Pittsburgh quality paint low nap roller.

 

[Davefr]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll put down the primer as suggested. I am going with Behr paint since I have had good luck with it in the house.

I would rethink your choice. Behr is generally regarded as low end consumer grade paint. (like the Harbor Freight of paint!!). Read the various professional painting forums.

Best results come from good prep/technique and professional grade products.

 

[JC23]

I normally get primer tinted, but some of those people at Lowes can be real dicks about it. One Lowes i go to wouldn't do it as they said it was agqainst policy. WTF. I went to a different Lowes and no problem at all.

Wow! I'd be a real problem for them as they've done it before. The hardest part should be picking out the color!

 

[blasto9000]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the paint-and-primer-in-one products. I used this about a year ago; it was given to me by a neighbor. I was skeptical at first, but it rolled on more smoothly than paint and had great coverage in one coat.

 

[machine_punk]

+1 on Kilz2 for primer. Not the cheapest, but it covers well and goes on well.

I usually look at Consumer Reports for whatever the current 'best' paint is for my application...then usually go to a paint store, instead of a box store, to get it. (but, I REALLY hate painting...I want it to last as long as possible, once I've had to actually paint something).

M_P

 

[MrMark]

consumer reports has always rated Behr as one of the best, if not the best, so you would be going to a "big box" store to get it.

Paint should be the one thing that consumer reports can get right.

 

[dodgepolara500]

That's the difference between shopping at a box store, and a paint store.
Anyway, they'll all tell you that the color match won't be perfect, especially if your final tint requires a dark base paint.

Amen. Go to a paint store and buy latex based PVA primer. Using oil based primer on the drywall may lift the nap. Not necessary to boot.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Just finished sheetrock/mud/texture. What is the purpose of PVA primer? Do I need it or can I just roll on the paint?

I am guessing it will not soak up so much paint if I prime it first but is there any other reason?

Other way round. Paint is less likely to take to drywall. Primer adheres to drywall and gives paint a surface to adhere to. Paint provides the protection that primer does not.

Use a drywall primer if all new construction, and a trouble shooter primer if the surfaces are mixed between old and new construction.

 

[6768rogues]

Primer seals and stabilizes the surface. The finished paint will appear more uniform with primer. Also, it acts like glue and helps the paint adhere properly without soaking into the wallboard.

 

[jvitez]

Lots of good and correct information here.

Drywall primer is PVA primer (polyvinyl acecate), which is the resin binder. It's not as good as "acrylic" binder, but we can get away with using a cheaper resin when it's a drywall primer, because of the properties of drywall, plus the fact that it will be quickly top coated with paint. Fresh drywall can use PVA primer. Old stained drywall, or wood/concrete/metal etc need a better primer, which is "acrylic" if you're using latex paint.

Fresh drywall: PVA primer (because it's cheaper), 100% acrylic latex top coat paint, TWO coats. Yup, lots of painting. But because it's so much work, do you want to do it over again because you cheaped out or got lazy? I did this to my previous garage, with a semi-gloss top coat. 8 years later it looked excellent, only losing a little gloss in the first year. No flaking, fading, failing. I'll be doing this again in my new garage.

 

[ericburns4]

Interior primer is an essential step to get the best color out of your paint. Additionally, it keeps up the quality of the paint so you don't have to redo the project!

 

[flyng_fool]

consumer reports has always rated Behr as one of the best, if not the best, so you would be going to a "big box" store to get it.

Paint should be the one thing that consumer reports can get right.

Consumer reports has no clue what they are talking about 90% of the time. All painters I know, and having owned a painting company as well, I can assure you that Behring is utter ****.

 

[darkk]

yup, prime first. primer soaks in and gives the paint something to adhere to.

 

[TerryHodge]

some functions of primer:
Sticking to the old paint more securely than paint can
Covering a lighter color so a darker color can cover in one coat
Covering a darker color so a lighter color can cover in one coat

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Yes, use primer. I like 2 coats of paint after.


Can you guys elaborate on why Behr is bad paint? That said, we've used Behr in the house and I've got it in the garage. Didn't have issues. This most recent paint we went with, Valspar signature. It went on well and we're happy with it so far.