Why Prime?

It's a topic of constant discussion. Some say primer is an absolute necessity, while others are content to just throw on a coat and just call it a day. Let's put this issue to rest once and for all: do we really need primer?

The Case

1. To avoid uneven absorption

   Some surfaces have mingled textures. Consider drywall, or a collection of wood planks. They simply will not be the same all over. What primer does is seal those porous surfaces to ensure the coming coat is spread as evenly as possible. An unevenly spread coat is just... disasterous.

   
   

2. Less running

   Paint adheres noticably better to surfaces that have been primed. If the topcoat doesn't bond securely, you'll face peeling and flaking, moisture intrusion, and overall accelerated degredation. So, not only does primer make a surface look better, it also guarantees the coat stays longer.

   
   

3. Neutralizing the eyesores

   Especially when repainting a wall, there's always that handful of ungodly stains or horrid marks that threaten to break through the coat and desecrate your renovated room. Primer is the cure-all for that! Sealed behind a barrier of primer, no unsightly coloring will be able to penetrate the coat once it has been applied.

   
   

Finale

Is primer a must? Technically, no. But is it, without a single doubt, a should-always-do-if-possible? Yes, yes, and yes. Remember that people, including yourself, will have to be looking at that wall for months and years to come. Way after the painting is done, you'll be thanking yourself ten times over for going through with the primer, for not even risking your wall to those marks and stains. That's what primer ultimately is, the chief precaution. Maybe the coat would have covered the stain on its own... would you really want to take the risk and end up wrong? Certainly not. Primer is the gateway to a top-notch paint job, and that's why we're so passionate about it.