How to Apply Paint Primer

Paint roller applying white paint to wall
What You'll Need
Drop cloth
Paint roller
Paint tray
Painters tape
Oil-free soap
Warm water
Sponge
Lint-free towel
Sandpaper
Sander
Spackle
Trowel
Hammer
Screwdriver
Drywall tape
Primer
Paintbrush
Eye protection
What You'll Need
Drop cloth
Paint roller
Paint tray
Painters tape
Oil-free soap
Warm water
Sponge
Lint-free towel
Sandpaper
Sander
Spackle
Trowel
Hammer
Screwdriver
Drywall tape
Primer
Paintbrush
Eye protection

Applying paint primer to a wall will help to create a better finish for the topcoat and keep your paint job looking fresh longer. The paint primer allows for the true color of the paint used for the topcoat to come through. Many people think that using a paint primer is time-consuming or that it is not really needed, but if you want the best look possible then a paint primer is a must. Applying a paint primer isn’t difficult. The proper technique is important to get the results you want. The following article will show you how to properly apply the paint primer to your walls.

Step 1 - Prepare the Space

As with any painting project, you will want to protect the surrounding area. Move furniture out of the room or place it away from walls and cover it with a thick drop cloth or tarp. Also, protect your floor. Before you can apply paint primer to the wall, it needs to be cleaned. Any kind of residue left on the wall can cause the paint primer not to adhere correctly. Carefully examine the wall and use the hammer to pound in extruding nails to just below the surface of the wall or pull them out completely. Use a screwdriver to plunge screws deeper into the wall just below the surface or remove them. Fill any holes in the wall with putty. Allow it to dry completely and sand lightly. Use soapy water to wipe down the walls and then a damp lint-free towel to remove any residue. Affix painters tape around the wall where you do not want paint primer.

Step 2 - Choose the Paint Primer

Choose a paint primer

Choosing a paint primer is very important in determining how your finished paint job will look. You will have to choose between oil and latex paint primers. A primer made with a latex base is easier to apply and is flexible. Latex paint primer also resists peeling and cracking and it can be cleaned with plain soap and water. Paint primer made with an oil base penetrates the wood deeper and can also stop tannin in the wood itself from coming to the surface. This primer is perfect to use on milled lumber. When selecting your primer, speak with the staff at the home improvement store, or paint center. Tell them the color of the paint you will be using so they can tint the primer as to compliment it.

Step 3 - Apply the Paint Primer

Applying primer to a wall

When you get the primer from the store, ask them to shake it up thoroughly for you. If it has been sitting unused for a while before you begin your project, stir the paint primer from the bottom of the can to reintegrate any chemical separation. Pour some of the primer into a paint tray. Use a paintbrush to apply the primer around the edges of the wall to be painted. Brush away from the painter's tape to keep the primer from getting underneath the masking tape. Once the primer is applied around the edges you can switch to the paint roller. Remove the excess paint primer and begin to cover the rest of the wall. Make sure to overlap what you just did with the paintbrush and in each rolled-on section.

When applying the primer, make sure that you cover the entire area without making the layers too thick. Also, ensure proper dry time before painting over the primer so that it has time to properly cure to the wall and is ready to accept the layer of paint.