One of the biggest and most common do-it-yourself projects is painting. Especially for new homeowners, it’s only natural to paint over a room (or four). But, before you head to the paint store, ask yourself a key question: Should I prime the walls before painting?
The answer? Maybe. Because priming adds a lot of time, effort and cost to a project, let’s be sure it’s necessary.
Dark colors, wild patterns and designs. Priming is a must when covering over a dark color with light colored paint. It’s also wise to use primer when covering up a large colorful mural or other artsy patterns on the walls. In fact, it may even take two or three coats of primer to get the job done.
Glossy finishes. A new coat of paint doesn’t stick well when applied over glossy finishes. Expect to apply two coats of primer.
Bare drywall. It’s best to prime bare drywall with a coat for two of primer. Think of wood and drywall like a sponge with lots of tiny holes and crevices. Prime first and your paint job will look much better.
When to skip primer. If your walls are clean, or you plan to freshen up a paint job with the same color, priming is not necessary. Primer also won’t do much good if you’re changing from a lighter to a darker color. Pro tip: Consider buying paint with primer in it to cut costs and time commitment.
