If your walls have any stains on them (old water damage, smoke stains from cooking or candles, kid “art” projects), you’ll want to prime first. This step will ensure your walls’ surface has enough texture so both the primer and paint can adhere perfectly. While these surfaces will definitely need primer, we would also recommend a light sanding or scuffing beforehand as well. If the wall is covered in a high gloss paint, enamel or if the wood paneling has been shellacked, you could paint coat after coat and never have it stick. Glossy surfaces are hard for paint to adhere to. If you’re thinking about painting over that old wood paneling in your study, or painting a set of shelves, you will want to prime first. Untreated or unstained wood is also very porous. This material will literally absorb your paint right into it if you don’t prime first. Both the paper that covers it and drywall mud are compromised by water or moisture when they are not sealed first with primer. For example, brand new drywall is a very porous material. The surface is porous when it absorbs water, moisture, oil, odors or stains. If the surface is porousĪlways prime your walls before painting if the surface is porous. There are a few cases in which you will always need to prime before you paint. In some ways, it’s more of a glue or sealant than a paint. It essentially seals the surface and provides a smooth and clean area for paint to adhere. Primer looks a lot like paint, but has a higher concentration of solids plus an adhesive binder in it. What You Need to Know About Primer and Paintīefore we tell you when you should use a primer on your next interior wall painting project, let’s first explain what primer is and what it does.

But today, with these high-quality and effective paints on the market, many homeowners may never need to crack open a can of primer. Years ago, many painting professionals recommended primer nearly every time you painted. One question we still get from homeowners, however, is if you need to prime your interior walls before painting. Not only are the formulas better and provide better coverage and more saturated colors, many high-quality paints are now no- or low-VOC, meaning they’re healthier for you, your home and your home’s air quality. High quality paints and primers continue to get better and better as the years go by.

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