Why You Need to Prime Drywall and Painting at Separate Times
When it comes to newly installed drywall and painting, most DIY enthusiasts make the classic mistake of by-passing the primer stage. Read our post to find out why you should never do this!
Drywall Primer
Primer should never be confused with paint. As its main ingredient is polyvinyl acetate, or PVA for short, which is the same ingredient in carpenter’s glue. Its primary job is sealing porous surfaces of the paper and joint compound, in order to make them more receptive when new paint is applied. The PVA in the primer sticks better to unfinished drywall than paint will, and paint adheres better to primer. Primer is available in different grades, and the high-build variety will fill in minor nicks and ridges in the joints better than paint does, which gives walls a smoother appearance.
Two Coats of Paint
Even though it can be tempting to save time and money by applying two coats of latex wall paint instead of using primer, don’t. The first coat will soak straight in, as the latex binder is not as strong as PVA. And, it does not form the thin, adhesive film which PVA does, so the second coat will also soak into the porous joint compound. The end result will be an uneven paint job which will probably require a third coat. And since paint is more expensive than a primer, it has not saved you any time or money in the long run.
When You Need Primer
Certain situations will need a primer instead of a self-priming paint. One of these times are when you are dealing with a stained or water-damaged drywall. You will need a high-solid primer to avoid any bleed-through and uneven coloring. It would be best if you primed drywall also before hanging wallpaper on it too.
Here ends our drywall and painting post, we hope you found it useful. If you would like to find more information on the services of Killeen Drywall and Painting, based in Killeen, TX, please call us at (254) 284-1431 today.
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