Paint vs Primer Checklist: If you answered yes...you need primer!

We can hear you trying to talk yourself out of that primer.

This is you: 

“Primer…but do I reallllllly need you?”

Not need you, but reallllllly need you. As if there’s a ‘need’ scale.  

Listen, we’ve all been there Paint Pals! We’re just like you. How can you get the best results with the least amount of dough and time: that’s called being efficient! 

But skipping primer when you need it is not efficient and will cost you more dough and time and the worst part is that you won’t even be satisfied with the end result! Let's discuss first Paint vs Primer and their benefits.

Paint vs. Primer - quick rundown

Job of Paint

Provides color, personality, brightness, sheen, scrub resistance and protection against the elements.

Job of Primer

• Seals over the surface like a protective force field that says, ‘Nope, nothing gets through here!’

• Helps provide uniform coverage, filling in gaps and imperfections so your topcoat goes on like a dream.

• Provides adhesion by creating a strong bond so your paint sticks around for the long haul! It’s like the glue that keeps your paint job from ever ghosting you! 

• Blocks stains and creates a barrier between oils in the surface and the new paint. Think of it as a stain camouflage - once primers on the case, those stains are history!

As you can see from above, paint and primer have two different, distinct functions and most of the time should be used as co-dependants for maximum efficiency. 

In other words, a primer prepares the wall you are about to paint and is often explicitly formulated to alleviate many surface problems and ensures your paint sticks around longer than your last Netflix binge.

If you're nodding along to any of the circumstances below - you need primer!

Do you need Primer? Check out the table below to see if you require Primer for your painting job.