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Here’s Why You Need Both Paint and Primer for a Smooth Finish
When painting a new home, a fresh office, or a simple wall, many people focus only on the colour. But there's another key ingredient that ensures long-lasting results: primer. Using paint and primer together is not just an extra step; it's what makes the difference between a patchy job and a smooth, durable surface. In this blog, we’ll explain why both are essential, how to use them, and when you can’t afford to skip primer.
What Is Primer and Why Is It Important?
Primer is a preparatory coating applied before paint. Its main job is to get the surface ready for paint by sealing pores, covering stains, and helping the topcoat stick better. When choosing a paint primer for walls, it’s essential to match the type of primer with the condition of your surface.
Role of a Primer
1. Seals the Surface
Primer acts as a barrier that prevents paint from being absorbed unevenly into porous surfaces like new plaster or drywall. This helps in reducing paint wastage and ensures a more uniform topcoat application.
2. Smoothens the Wall Surfaces
Primers help fill small cracks, pinholes, or surface irregularities, creating a smoother canvas for paint. This results in a neater finish and reduces the need for excessive sanding or patching.
3. Improves Adhesion
By bonding firmly with both the surface beneath and the topcoat above, primer helps the paint grip better. This enhances durability, reduces peeling or flaking over time, and ensures the colour stays vibrant.
Different Types of Primer
Here are the different types of primer:
1) Cement Primer
Ideal for masonry, brickwork, and newly plastered walls, cement primer soaks into porous surfaces and provides a strong, sealed base. It prevents lime or moisture from affecting the topcoat and is best used before applying emulsion paints.
2) Acrylic Primer
Made with acrylic resins, this primer works well on a variety of surfaces including concrete, wood, and fibreboard. It offers good adhesion, resists flaking, and is suitable for both interiors and exteriors exposed to varying weather conditions.
3) Water-based Primer
Lightweight and low in odour, water-based primer is perfect for general use in dry indoor spaces. It’s easy to apply and clean with just water, making it a practical choice for DIY or regular repainting jobs on previously coated walls.
Primer vs Paint: What's the Difference?
Before diving into why primer is essential, it's helpful to understand how it differs from paint.
| Feature | Primer | Paint |
| Purpose | Prepares and seals the surface for paint | Adds colour, finish, and protection |
| Adhesion Role | Helps paint stick better to walls | Relies on primer for proper grip |
| Coverage | Does not provide final colour or decorative finish | Offers the desired shade and visual appeal |
| Formulation | Contains resins and bonding agents | Contains pigments, binders, and additives |
| Surface Suitability | Used on raw, porous, or stained surfaces | Applied over primed or previously painted surfaces |
| Durability Support | Improves paint lifespan by enhancing adhesion | May chip or peel if applied without proper priming |
Priming Before Painting Walls: When and Why
One of the most common questions people ask is, “Do I need primer before painting?” The answer depends on the surface, but in many cases, the answer is yes. Priming before painting walls is necessary in the following situations:
- New Plaster or Drywall – These are porous and will absorb paint unevenly.
- Patched or Repaired Walls – Filler and spackle spots won’t hold paint the same as the rest of the wall.
- Drastic Colour Change – Moving from dark to light shades needs a primer base.
- Stained or Dirty Walls – Primer blocks stains and odours.
Benefits of Priming
- Even colour and finish
- Stronger bond between wall and paint
- Reduced number of topcoat layers
- Better long-term durability
Our Suggestion: Our range of primers is formulated to seal, smooth, and strengthen surfaces, so your paint performs exactly the way it should.
Tools for Applying Primer and Paint
Using the right tools for applying primer and paint can make a big difference in speed, finish quality, and overall ease of work.
Use Tools like :
- Brushes – Best for edges, corners, and touch-ups.
- Rollers – Ideal for large, flat areas like walls and ceilings.
- Spray Machines – Useful for large projects or detailed finishes.
Quick Tip: You can also read our blog on choosing the right wall paint type and decide which suits your home the best.
How to Use Primer and Paint Effectively
So, you’ve decided to use both. Now comes the practical bit—how to use primer and paint together for best results.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Clean the Surface – Remove dust, grease, or old peeling paint.
- Apply Primer – Use a roller or brush to coat the entire area.
- Drying Time – Let it dry fully (usually 6–8 hours, depending on product and weather).
- Apply Topcoat – Once dry, follow up with your chosen wall paint.
How Many Coats?
- Primer – One coat is usually enough unless covering stains or dark colours.
- Paint – Two coats of paint generally offer the best finish and coverage.
When to Skip Primer (and When Not To)
Wondering when to skip primer? There are a few situations where you can:
When It's Okay:
- Pre-primed surfaces – Some materials come ready-to-paint.
- All-in-one paints – These contain built-in primers, suitable for light refreshes.
- Smooth, well-maintained walls – If the surface is clean and you’re repainting with a similar colour.
When Skipping Primer Causes Issues:
- Peeling or flaking paint
Without primer, the paint may not bond properly with the surface. Over time, this leads to peeling, flaking, or bubbling.
- Uneven colour absorption
Bare or porous walls can soak up paint unevenly. This results in patchy areas with inconsistent colour coverage.
- Visible stains or patches
Stains from water, smoke, or repairs can bleed through the paint. Primer blocks these marks and ensures a clean finish.
- Poor adhesion of topcoat
Paint applied directly to untreated surfaces may not stick well. This reduces the overall durability and life of the paint job.
Painting Over Primer: Final Tips for a Flawless Finish
Before painting over the primer, make sure the surface is completely dry; touch it to confirm.
- Using a compatible topcoat is important; match emulsion, enamel, or acrylic paint with the primer used and the room’s conditions.
- Always allow enough drying time before painting to avoid issues like bubbling or peeling.
- For the best finish, apply two coats of paint. In some cases, especially on uneven or darker surfaces, a third coat may be needed.
- To maintain the look, clean gently with a soft cloth and avoid harsh scrubbers. Keep some leftover paint for quick touch-ups when required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Painting your home is fun and hassle-free when planned well. For that, you must know all about various aspects of the painting process. Find answers to all your paint questions here!
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August 2023
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GRASIM INDUSTRIES LIMITED, Birla Paints division
9th floor, Birla Centurion, Century Mills Compound, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai– 400030, Maharashtra, India.
Registered Office:
Birlagram, Nagda- 456 331 (M.P.) Tel: (07366) 246760-66, Fax: (07366) 244114, 246024, CIN: L17124MP1947PLC000410
Allwood Contractor App Helpdesk
Call: 1800 120 1234, Monday to Saturday, 09:30 am – 6:30 pm (Except Public Holidays).
Product Warranty
Terms and Conditions for product warranty registration of Birla Opus products
The Warranty shall be effective from the date of purchase of the Product as per the tax invoice (“Warranty Start Date”), provided that painting work is fully complete, and the Consumer registers the Product for warranty.
The Product must be registered within 15 days from the date of purchase by calling customer care at 18001201234 or registering on www.birlaopus.com and furnishing purchase details as required during the Warranty registration.
The Warranty shall be valid for parameters and period as defined in the respective product warranty document (‘Warranty Period’) from the Warranty Start Date.
Upon settlement of any claim, Warranty of replaced Product will not start afresh, and will continue for the remainder of the Warranty Period from the Warranty Start Date.
If there is a break/ lag in completing the painting work, the registration of the Warranty and Warranty Start Date will be determined by the Company at its sole discretion.
The Company may appoint a person to examine and confirm the application of the Product as per the directions specified prior to registering the Warranty.
For registering of Warranty, where quantity of Product purchase is equal to or more than 200 litres, please call our Helpline on 1800 120 1234 with requisite details. The registration of Warranty in such cases is subject to a satisfactory pre‐inspection at site by Company’s representative.
- For the warranty to be applicable:
- Minimum volume of the product required to be purchased needs to be met
- Birla Opus recommended system needs to be used
- Product coverage and application guidelines need to be adhered
For more details, please refer to respective product specific warranty document and product information sheet.
Consumer may raise a claim within 30 days of discovering issue(s) noticed on the affected areas based on Warranty Parameters/ scope
The Consumer is required to notify the Company of the issue(s) noticed along with the invoice details, sample pictures and basis for Warranty invocation by contacting the customer care at 1800 120 1234. The Consumer shall provide such additional details as required by the Company and/or allow the Company to visit/inspect the painting site either in portion or entirety at the Company’s discretion.
In case where the Company decides that the Warranty is applicable on the issue(s) noticed on the affected areas, the Company shall bear the Replacements Costs as detailed in respective product warranty document to repair/ repaint the affected areas.
Replacement Costs shall mean the cost of material and labour required to correct the affected portions, as determined by the Company.
In case where the Company decides that Warranty is not applicable, the same shall be communicated to the Consumer.
Warranty is applicable only to the affected area where the Product is used in accordance with application guidelines and not to the rest of the areas.
In case the Consumer carries out repair works on the areas covered under the Warranty, the same shall be at their own risk and the Company’s Warranty on the Product shall not be valid on such repaired areas.
The Warranty will cover only manufacturing defects of the Product and will not cover any defects arising out of factors not in control of the Company. For more details of exclusions, please refer to the warranty document of respective product.
Except expressly stated, the Company disclaims any liabilities whether in contract, tort or otherwise. The Company makes no warranty regarding merchantability or fitness of products for any particular purpose.
The Company shall not be held liable towards loss or damages of incidental, indirect or consequential nature or for any value more than the tax invoice value.
In case of any disputes, exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Mumbai shall apply. Governing laws shall be Laws of India.
The facts and all matters concerning any Warranty/ claim/ dispute will always be kept confidential by both the Consumer and the Company.