Do I Really Need to use Primer on Wood?

To begin with, primer is the first coat that is applied to a surface to ensure the paint will stick as well as any gaps are filled. Primer is also going to enhance the color of the paint and really give it that spark. Wood is a canvas and all canvases have the ability to absorb.

It is essential to prepare the surface before you begin painting to ensure the canvas will not absorb your paint and allow those gorgeous colors to come through. This same type of procedure will be done with wood surfaces. Otherwise, the paint will simply get absorbed into the wood and the finish will be dull and easily damaged.

What Exactly Is A Primer?

Primers are also known as an undercoat and is a preparatory coating that is designed to increase the durability of paint and allow for better adhesion and protection. This is the first coat that is applied to a surface and will allow it to be paint-friendly.

The use of a primer is highly important when coating a wooden surface. This is because wood is super absorbent, similar to that of a canvas. As you may know, a canvas must be properly prepared before it can be painted on. The same is true for any wooden surface. Both canvas and wood will absorb paint if they have not been properly prepared beforehand, leaving dull colors as a result.

A primer will fill all the small gaps present in the surface. It will fill in small and larger gaps as well as cracks and help to smooth out the surface. One should always avoid painting untreated wood as the color will lose all of its intended sharpness.

Do I Need To Apply Primer To Wood Prior To Painting?

Primer should always be the first coat on almost every surface as it will help to even out any blemishes. Primer is also essential when you are looking for a smooth finish. It is going to enhance the level of sharpness and allow the paint to stick to the surface, which is going to lead to a higher level of durability for a number of years.

Primer is always going to be applied prior to painting. It is essential to prime the surface you plan to paint, this is a necessary step in painting regardless if you are a beginner or pro.

It really does not matter if the surface is old, dry, dented, or rough, as a good coat of primer is usually enough to make a solid difference. The majority of the time, primers are going to be sticky and semi-vicious in nature, which is going to allow them to be a decent component for painting and allowing a greater durability in your paint.

What Happens If You Omit A Primer?

If you do not seal with a primer, you can generally expect the first coat of paint to be blotchy, this is due to the fact that wood absorbs paint rather easily. In addition, the water that is found in the paint will cause the grain to raise, especially around knots. While a second coat may help to erase some of these issues, but due to the fact that there is no undercoat binding, you will generally see peeling within a year or two. When you omit wood primer from knotty timber, you will generally see the dark spots that are found around every single knot. It is impossible to eliminate these spots regardless of how many additional coats of paint are applied to the surface.

Many Benefits Of Paint Primer

There is actually no harm in using a good primer prior to painting a wood surface. A primer is going to help fill out any imperfections and ensure that the paint does not soak in deeply. Primer will form a protective barrier on the surface and allow for a smooth level surface which is easy to paint on. The following points are just a few of the benefits of using paint primer.

Smooth Surface Designed For An Incredible Finish

The texture on which you are painting is going to have the ultimate design on what the finished product is going to look like. There are going to be some surfaces that are going to require two coats of paint in order to balance out any blemishes. However, when you are working without a primer on a rough surface, you are going to need much more paint as the rough surface is going to soak up a good deal of paint. Additionally, you will generally end up with a sub-par end result.

In order to end up with a perfect finish, you will need to apply a few coats of primer to ensure you have a level surface to paint as well as a protective layer. This is the exact opposite of this situation is when you have a surface that is simply too glossy. This kind of surface can be quite difficult to apply primer or paint due to the fact that neither would be able to properly adhere to the surface, leading to a very bad end result. It is imperative to ensure the surface you plan to work on is going to be friendly to both primer and paint.

Eliminating Blemishes and Covering Stains and Grains

One of the most essential characteristics of a primer is the overall ability to conceal a wide variety of blemishes. When these blemishes are properly hidden with just a couple of coats of primer it is quite easy to achieve an incredible final finish with paint.

However, it is important tyo realize one can simply not toss on some primer and paint and expect professional results. You will need to take considerable care while painting, if you make a mistake, it is very possible to see blotches, marks, and stains.

How To Save Considerable Cash

It is important to understand that paint primer is rather inexpensive when compared to actual paint. Therefore, it makes quite a bit of sense to use it before painting. It will actually allow you to save a considerable amount of paint and provide you with a long-lasting finish ending up in more savings over the years.

What Type Of Primer Should Be Used For Wood Surfaces

When deciding upon a primer for surfaces, you need to decide on two factors. Obviously, you need to consider the surface you are painting as well as whether it will be for interior or exterior use. In the case of wood, we would consider interior and exterior primers. For wooden surfaces, exterior primers are generally better as they are designed for long-lasting results which will help in regard to cracking and erosion. However, not every primer on the market is going to work well on wood. There are specific primers designed for different types of wood.

Painted Wood

If you are planning on repainting wood that is in good condition, you may not even need to apply primer. However, if the paint is chipping and cracked, you should try to scrap off most of the old paint and apply an oil-based primer.

New Wood

When discussing new wood, this simply means wood with no stains and minimal grains. This type of wood does not require a stain-blocking primer but in many cases a latex primer will work fine with it.

Weathered Wood

If you plan to tackle weathered wood, it is best to get latex or oil-based primer to ensure the smooth application of paint. Always remember that simply applying primers does not mean one can neglect preparation of the wood. You will always want to use sandpaper and scrap off as much paint as possible until new fibers are visible and finally coat with a thing layer of latex or oil-based primer.

As you can see, there is much more than you may have thought about when deciding upon priming wood. While it seems as though skipping this step will save time and money, it can lead to very bad results. Take the time know and simply prime your wood for results that you will be proud of for many years to come.