No matter the painting project, interior painting or exterior painting, the first suggested step when painting many unfinished surfaces is to apply primer. Priming the object that will be painted helps to ensure that paint adheres more strongly, which means longer lasting more durable paintjobs. This is why it is so often one of the first steps in the initial surface preparation for your project.  There are different primers for different tasks. Below we will outline some of the main categories of primers.

Oil-Based

Oil-based primers are one of the most commonly used primers. They work well with both oil-based and acrylic paints so it’s a great choice for a variety of painting projects. You may want to seriously consider an oil based primer if you are painting wood.  An oil-based primer can penetrate deeply into the wood fibers, which ensures a strong bond. It works well with finished, unfinished, or weathered woods. One negative to keep in mind with all oil-based products is that the fumes can be harmful without proper ventilation, and any sort of thinning or cleanup of paint will require harsh paint thinners or mineral spirits.

Acrylic

Acrylic Primers, also known as Latex Primers, are great due to their tolerance to moisture prone areas such as bathrooms. Utilize an acrylic based primer if you are using water based paints. You can also take comfort in knowing since it is more flexible than oil-based primer there are less instances of cracking or peeling. This also means that it certain climates (mainly humid areas), where materials such as wood can expand and contract with the weather, latex affords the flexibility to help avoid cracks for a linger period of time. An additional bonus is that, being water based, it is much easier to clean with soap and water in the event of a spill while painting.

Shellac

Shellac isn’t as popular as oil or acrylic primers, but it excels in covering stains and odors. If you are repainting a surface that has severe staining or strong odors caused by smoke damage, flooding, cooking, rust, etc., shellac is an excellent option for sealing in odors and hiding those stains.

While we have described some of the main primers, there are many options available to you. If you feel that you need more guidance for what will fit your needs best, or if you would like to you speak with one of our paint contractors to assist in the completion of a project, contact Lakeside Painting online, or by telephone at (845) 878-3444 for advice or an estimate.