Interior Painting Question

[wcd]

So until now every house we lived in was basically painted with colors that were real estate agent friendly. Builders Beige etc. No style minimal color, you know furniture with accent colors etc.

Now we are where we are going to be no more moving for work etc. So for the first time we are going with flat complementary Earth tones etc. The drywall is in really good shape. The Builders Beige is going to be gone shortly. So if the walls are already painted is there any value in putting on a coat of color matching primer before the top coat?

Thanks

 

[BR8818]

If you buy quality paint and the walls don't have any stains then primer is a waste of time. IMO

 

[Sigblitz]

Tip. I pen stripe the paint on by the ceiling. I used to use a 1 inch cut in brush, but old eyes I guess. And purple tape on the trim. Green tape will pull the paint off the trim.

If you paint the trim, give it a few days to gas out.

Start in a corner and work your way around the room. Keep that wet edge. Don't let the parts drying fool you into thinking it needs more paint. When you finish, your first wall will tell you if you need a second coat. And don't use flat, it doesn't wash. High gloss will reflect light and make the room look smaller. Semi gloss is usually a happy medium.

I always use the roll of plastic and mask everything not washable. Tile should be ok but not the grout.

 

[indyartisan]

The primer is usually less expensive than the finish coat paint.
Balance that with the cost of left over bits different colored primer and cleaning tools an additional time.
Two coats of good paint will cover most as long as you are not using accent base (deep reds and some other vibrant colors can be problematic).
If you want to go all out use Gardz as a first coat to seal the typical builders grade paint.
It is clear, easy to apply and penetrates and seals the builders paint.
It will cut down on the amount of top coat used, makes the brush work easier and not as expensive.

 

[Bugzilla]

Can’t recall ever priming internal walls that I painted. As Sig noted, I also do the edging first then get as close as I can with the roller. Buy good quality paint which does not necessarily mean real expensive paint.

 

[Mgderf]

Primer can serve different purposes.
It is usually used to "smooth out" the color on walls, ceilings...
If you paint " green" drywall ( unpainted) you can end up with splotchy paint jobs.
Primer can also be used to cover different stains. Not all primers are equal.
Water stains can be difficult and require a special primer.

Primers are also used when drastically changing colors.
Usually going from very dark colors to light colors, sometimes it will take 2-3 coats to cover the old color.
Primers can help cut down on the number of coats required to cover.

Finally, primers are used to change paint types.
Some latex paints will bubble and blister if applied on top of the wrong oil based paints.
A good primer will seal the old paint and make it accept a new style of paint without adverse reactions.

No, primers are not " necessary.
Still, I use them more often than not.

 

[Mgderf]

The primer is usually less expensive than the finish coat paint.
Balance that with the cost of left over bits different colored primer and cleaning tools an additional time.
Two coats of good paint will cover most as long as you are not using accent base (deep reds and some other vibrant colors can be problematic).
If you want to go all out use Gardz as a first coat to seal the typical builders grade paint.
It is clear, easy to apply and penetrates and seals the builders paint.
It will cut down on the amount of top coat used, makes the brush work easier and not as expensive.
View attachment 294158

Zinsser makes many different quality primers.

 

[indyartisan]

If you find yourself needing to use deep or accent base colors use Benjamin Moores Aura.
It will cover most any color with most any color in two coats.

 

[wcd]

Tip. I pen stripe the paint on by the ceiling. I used to use a 1 inch cut in brush, but old eyes I guess. And purple tape on the trim. Green tape will pull the paint off the trim.

If you paint the trim, give it a few days to gas out.

Pen stripe? Wife really likes white ceilings so I am all ears. I do not have the patience to try to cut the ceilings in with a brush so usually painters tape is my go to. Less masking would be great!

 

[Mgderf]

If you find yourself needing to use deep or accent base colors use Benjamin Moores Aura.
It will cover most any color with most any color in two coats.

It's good stuff alright.
About average as cost/ gal
Consistency reminds me of pudding.

 

[wcd]

If you find yourself needing to use deep or accent base colors use Benjamin Moores Aura.
It will cover most any color with most any color in two coats.

Our walls are basically all white now. Walls , ceiling, trim. Which really needs to change. Seems like Valspar paint went down hill. Recently we have had good luck with Sherwin Williams. Seems to coat nicely not cheap but seems to work well.

 

[indyartisan]

Sherwin Williams Emerald and Cashmere are my go to paints as long as the color does not need to be made in the deep or accent bases.

 

[indyartisan]

Our walls are basically all white now. Walls , ceiling, trim. Which really needs to change. Seems like Valspar paint went down hill. Recently we have had good luck with Sherwin Williams. Seems to coat nicely not cheap but seems to work well.

Uncle Sherwin is proud of his stuff $$$

 

[wcd]

Uncle Sherwin is proud of his stuff $$$

My wife gets coupons for everything. Around here the low quality stuff from Home Depot is like $55.00 a gallon

 

[indyblue]

I have never been let down by Porter paints.

If you know anyone in the business, they can usually get a steep wholesale discount. Ask them if they can buy some for you.

I paid $32 per gallon for $56 a gallon paint.

 

[Sigblitz]

Pen stripe? Wife really likes white ceilings so I am all ears. I do not have the patience to try to cut the ceilings in with a brush so usually painters tape is my go to. Less masking would be great!

The paint gets under the tape. A coffee can and a big art brush is how I do it. I used to cut in, until I had to redo a couple ceilings. Also, one time the tape pulled off the builder's cheap ceiling paint, and that's when I started cutting in, until I got old eyes.

 

[Sigblitz]

It isn't quick, but my wife can't sit there and point out anything.

 

[Mgderf]

I don't find cutting in a problem, but ceilings can be a b****.
Only because my arms get tired holding a brush above my head all day.
Successful cut-ins need a quality brush.
I like to use an angled 2-1/2" Purdy medium to stiff brush.
I always get the ones that say for all paints.

 

[indyblue]

I don't find cutting in a problem, but ceilings can be a b****.
Only because my arms get tired holding a brush above my head all day.
Successful cut-ins need a quality brush.
I like to use an angled 2-1/2" Purdy medium to stiff brush.
I always get the ones that say for all paints.

This is where starting to cut in on the ceiling first makes it much easier. You don’t have to be super careful at this point then when you get to doing the walls you just carefully cut into the ceiling.

Works for me.

 

[indyblue]

I like to use an angled 2-1/2" Purdy medium to stiff brush.

THIS!

At least one quality brush is a must.

I did all of the trim in my house with alkyd paint. That needed a very fine brush to avoid leaving brush marks. Working with oil based paint was a pita but I think it was worth it because it is the toughest paint type.