Do I *have* to prime? UPDATE with Sherwin-Williams rave

We are getting ready to paint our bedroom. I bought a sample size of a color, and I noticed that it covered pretty well. A second coat would have been perfect. We primed and painted five years ago when we moved in.

So are there other benefits to priming over the paint that is already there? It's already a light color and a light color will go over it. We have a dark accent wall that will definitely need priming (maybe even a few coats) but I would be happy to skip priming the rest.

UPDATE: So, it took a while because of work, etc. DH painted yesterday. I was getting ready to do it myself when school's done for the summer b/c he's been busy.

Anyway, he didn't prime (I would have- I didn't say anything when he told me he wasn't priming because I was grateful that he was doing it. I figured I'd do additional coats).

Anyway, it looks GREAT. He even went over the eggplant-purple wall and you can't tell. In the past we've used Behr and Glidden, but I'm a Sherwin Williams girl from now on.

Message edited 6/18/2010 12:18:46 PM.

Re: Do I *have* to prime?

Primer is not mainly used to hide color. Primer is used to bond the paint to something. Mainly paint by it self does not have good bonding characteristics.(ie peeling). So we use a primer that bonds to the wall creating a smooth even surface. We then paint over the primer which creates a good bond.
Even if you have primed and painted before, years of dust and dirt, sunlight creates unevenness on the wall. It may take a little more time and money but I would always prime.

Arthur

Re: Do I *have* to prime?

I've never primed before painting unless I was going over a very dark color with something light. When I moved into my house 3 years ago we painted every room in the house without priming because all the walls were light to begin with. We used Behr paint... none of its peeling and it still looks great!

On behrs website it says:
For best performance with heavy stains and watermarks use a product such as BEHR ENAMEL UNDERCOATER PRIMER & SEALER NO. 75.

So if you don't have heavy stains... I think you can skip that step.

Re: Do I *have* to prime?

i wouldn't prime unless its new sheetrock, very dark color and/or hasn't been painted in decades. Just wipe down the walls let it dry for the day if you see its dirty otherwise most paint is a prime/paint combo.

Re: Do I *have* to prime?

OK, I've painted so much it's ridiculous at this point and my opinion is that you should always prime if you're going to paint. The few times I didn't, I was sorry. It's a pain in the butt, but to me, I see a big difference. You tend to use less of the top coat, too. You could try one of the paints that has primer in it already, but I've never used them before.

Re: Do I *have* to prime?

If you want to save time you can buy the paint with primer already in it

Re: Do I *have* to prime?

Re: Do I *have* to prime?

you only need to prime if you are going from a light color to a dark color or a dark color to a light color, or if the walls have never been painted before

otherwise you don't need to prime waste of time and $

Re: Do I *have* to prime?

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I have seen the Behr paint/primer but the color I found and sampled is Sherwin Williams- I have to see if they make the paint/primer combo.

Re: Do I *have* to prime?

Re: Do I *have* to prime?

Re: Do I *have* to prime? UPDATE with Sherwin-Williams rave

Update in first post.

Re: Do I *have* to prime? UPDATE with Sherwin-Williams rave

Yay!!

I am a fellow Sherwin Williams lover (I think you and I are the only two on this board)...

What color did you do?

Re: Do I *have* to prime? UPDATE with Sherwin-Williams rave

Posted by Jenn627

Yay!!

I am a fellow Sherwin Williams lover (I think you and I are the only two on this board)...

What color did you do?

Message edited 6/18/2010 2:59:36 PM.