Painting and the Importance of Primer

There are many ways with which to finish your surface whether it's a wall, ceiling, or floor. Choosing between the various materials available such as wallpapers, sidings, wood, etc, can be difficult if not close to impossible. But out of the many exotic and colorful finishes we have around today, paints - in some form or other - have perhaps been around the longest. - And we have certainly come a long way since harvesting color from the dirt!

Painting is a fast, durable, and potentially beautiful method of finishing - if you do it right! When compared with wallpaper or other similar pre-made sheet finishes, painting is considerably more versatile. It allows the user to experiment and contribute his own unique style or touch. The sky is the limit when it comes to paint creativity due to the fact that you can work in layers. This principle is the basis of various software used for art and design as well.

Since ancient times, painting has been closely associated with art to the point that if the word was mentioned, the first thing that came to mind would be Van Gogh or Picasso - not some house painting company! This is not to say that one must begin painting modern art on their bedroom wall. It just means there is a connection between construction and art in this way, and one should consider this advantage when deciding what finish to end their wall or similar surface with.

Not everyone is a gifted artist and no one should kick themselves for not having what it takes to paint a mural on their wall. But simple - even repetitive - designs with a little reference or help from an expert, can add life and beauty to an otherwise dull and mediocre surface. This is something anyone can do! The art of painting ranges from slapping globs of paint onto a wall to finesse works of Pablo himself!

The Importance of Primer

Preparing the surface which is to be painted is by far, the most important step. You should look at the pre-finished surface as a mold - one which will reflect every imperfection on the finished paint. This is why we need a primer. Of course, you should do what you can prior to priming such as sanding, puttying, etc, but in the end primer will do what nothing else can. I've heard it said that a thinner coat of the same paint is sufficient as a primer, but there are several reasons why this might not be such a good idea.

• Primer is usually cheaper and therefore more economical for bigger projects.
• Primer seals the grain pores on wood and other materials, preventing undue absorption of paint. Without primer, it will take more coats to produce the desired uniform color.
  
• Primer, depending on the shade, will help to cover to some extent stains and blemishes, allowing you to use less coats of paint in the event of a stubborn stain or 2. It also helps to smooth out uneven surfaces, preparing it for the final finish.
• Primer, unlike paint, is engineered specifically to control properties such as porosity and tackiness - the former to make it a better binder and sealer, and the latter to create an optimum surface for subsequent paint layers to adhere to.

So as you can see, primer plays a pretty important role in a good paint job, and you should carefully weigh out the pros and cons before deciding to either ditch it or substitute it. Granted, if a given surface that needs paint is small in area and is going to be in a dry environment, it may be more economical to NOT buy the gallon of primer. But obviously, primer comes in smaller quantities as well, and you should take into consideration future projects that may need primer.