The Same XYZ

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Using a primer before you paint isn’t just another way to spend money. The right primer will make your paint job look better, hiding the kids’ scribbles on the wall, the grease splattered in the kitchen, the smoke stains above the fireplace. Hiding isn’t all it does, either. It smoothes out the surface, seals in saps and color that bleeds from wood, and ensures you use less paint. A quality primer, chosen carefully, will actually save you money.

Three Formulas of Interior-use Primers

If you've ever wandered through the paint section of your home improvement store, you might have found the choices staggering. To begin with, every primer comes in one of three formulas or types:

Alkyd primers are oil-based products. Reduced with mineral spirits, you also clean up after using with mineral spirits or paint thinner. Alkyd primers are favored on wood or wood products such as MDF since they don’t soak in and cause the surface to swell as water-based products might. Alkyd primers are also used for many metal surfaces.
• Alkyd primers may offer stain-blocking coverage. Choose an alkyd stain-blocking primer to cover water-based stains such as nicotine, rust, water stains, smoke and tannins bleeding from wood.
• Dry time may prove a little long, taking up to overnight in some cases.
• Alkyd primers sand well, producing an ultra-smooth surface if desired.
• Follow with any type of paint, whether oil-based or latex.

A considerable drawback to alkyd primers is they produce a very strong odor which tends to linger for a while. Look for products with low VOCs for a greener, healthier choice.

Acrylic primers are often called latex primers. They are both thinned with water and clean up is easy, given a little soap and warm water. Acrylic prime...

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...(those marked all-purpose are a general use primer) and any other special qualities. These include odor and stain blocking, high-build primers (which cover many irregularities), wall-protecting choices and vapor barrier primers (as the name suggest, these primers block water movement).
• Consider using the same manufacturer for both primer and paint. In most cases, they work best with each other.
• Tape the area properly. Failing to tape almost guarantees a sloppy prime and paint job.
• Paint within 48 to 72 for best results. This allows the primer and paint to chemically and physically bond.
• Apply primer in the same manner as paint. Use brushes and rollers as appropriate.

Choosing the right primer product and taking the time to prepare your wall or ceiling properly helps ensure a paint job you're proud of. Best of all, it was last longer, so you can stay proud.

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