Hi, I seek your advice in this really confusing matter, mostly because I'm a first-timer. So please bare with me. Is it really unnecessary to prime? Ok, I realize that for the following conditions you should prime: 1) When going from oil to latex 2) When putting on a lesser sheen paint 3) When drastically changing colours But, a handyman whom I trust and has lots of experience has told me that putting on a coat of primer will not hurt, and if anything, will help provide a good foundation to work with. There are lesser worries that way (e.g. paint chipping, bubbling, etc.) Just to be on the safe side, as you never know what is underneath the paint and stuff. (The other day while painting there were small bubbles forming and they went away as the paint dried.) Here I get the opposite vibe. Pretty much all suggestions have been that priming is unnecesssary (if the above conditions are not met). So, has what the handyman I know suggested correct or wrong? What should I do? I really appreciate the help I've gotten here, and thank you once more for the patience.

I need to repaint the exterior of my 100+ year old house, but I need help selecting a paint brand. Consumer Reports gave high marks to Glidden Endurance Exterior paint, but I have never worked with this paint. I have used Benjamin Moore paint previously but only for interior painting (and was pleased with the quality and result). Consumer Reports did not rank Benjamin Moore as well as Glidden. Does anyone have any recommendations based on personal experience/insight? Thank you!