Primer & Paint in One?

Paint and primer in one product sounds fantastic. In theory, to have both coatings in one bucket seems like a huge time and money saver, especially if you don’t like to paint. The reality is that paint and primer serve different functions. Both come in at different price levels. Does the marketing miracle of primer and paint in one makes sense for the project you are about to undertake?

Primer basically does four main things:

1)      creates a uniform film for the paint coating over new drywall, patches, or multiple surfaces

2)      hides previous colors to minimize paint coats, for example a deep red

3)      seals in and blocks stains like grease, pencil, ink, and smoke

4)      bonds to a slick or hard to stick surface, like PVC pipe, wood or metal

Primer function #1: If the room to be painted is new drywall, two coats are recommended to make the finish come out right. Here a primer and paint in one could be used, however, keep in mind that the first coat is going to use a lot of product and the second will use less. A basic drywall primer typically costs 1/2 of what a gallon of quality paint costs. Say you have 350 ft2 of wall space to cover. It will take one gallon of drywall primer at $22/gallon and one gallon of good paint at $45. This is a product cost of $67. If the primer and paint in one is used, two gallons at $45 will be needed at a cost of $90.

Primer function #2: If a dark color is on the walls to be painted over, using a hiding primer is going to save a lot of money, time, and frustration. Say there is a hunter green on the wall and it is to be painted white. A gallon of hiding primer is about half the cost of good quality paint. Two coats will be needed, regardless if it is a primer and paint or a primer and paint in one. With 350 ft2 to be covered, two gallons will be needed-either a primer and paint at $67 or primer and paint in one at $90.

Primer function #3: If there is a stain on the wall, it will bleed through the paint film even if a primer and paint in one product is used. A stain blocking primer--water based or solvent based--is required depending on the stain. A primer and paint in one product will have this on the label. Ask what primer is best for the stain to be blocked in order to be matched up with the correct coating for the job.

Primer function #4: If the surface to be painted is slick or hard to adhere to, a bonding primer is required. A primer and paint product will have this on the label. Ask what type of primer is best to ensure that the paint coating will stay on the surface.

Got a paint project you need help with? Call Oso Clean. We’d love to assist you!