Painting on wood: Primer, Sealer or do I use both? (2024)

FAQs

Painting on wood: Primer, Sealer or do I use both? ›

The best rule to adhere to is to apply at least two coats of sealer directly onto the raw wood. This will protect the wood and create a barrier. Then apply primer to enhance adhesion, return tooth to the surface, and whiten the surface for optimising paint colours you plan to apply over it.

Timber will quickly soak up paint, and if the paint is of high-quality, you want your money spent to be on the wooden surface, and not inside it. For optimal results, apply a primer and allow it to dry. Primer usually dries quickly, allowing you to apply your topcoat soon after.

Although many painted finishes last for decades without a sealant, other surfaces require it to prevent chipping and fading. Be careful, though. If you need to seal a painted surface, you should use a product that is compatible with the paint used.

You will want to use 2-3 coats of primer to ensure there is a good bond between the new paint and the wall, and also to cover up any previous colors, especially if they are red, orange, or a strange outdated color. In short, you will typically need 2 coats of primer for most painting projects.

What might take three or four coats of paint can be accomplished with one coat of primer and maybe two coats of paint. Don't even think about painting wood paneling without a few coats of stain-blocking primer. Without a good primer, it could take upward of six coats of paint to cover the wood grain.

Sanding sealer should be applied after the wood has been sanded down to a bare finish, but before the topcoat (such as paint). Sanding sealer is not recommended on stained surfaces because the sanding process will scuff away the stain.

Sealing or sizing a piece of wood greatly reduces the chance of stains, warping and rotting wood from your paint. Yes, this can happen! You should apply two coats of sealer and let it dry thoroughly in-between each layer. Sealing also provides an easier surface to apply subsequent paint layers starting with a primer.

Any surface that doesn't have sound, clean, existing paint needs some sort of primer or sealer before the tops coats go on. Without the right primer or sealer the top coat will start to peel. Unfortunately cheap/bad painters often skip the priming stage because, hey its unseen! and the top coat just doesn't last.

In addition to movement, paining a sealant which has not fully cured may also cause cracking. Depending upon the exact type of sealant, the cracking can be caused by solvent evaporation or sealant shrinkage during cure. Because of this, painting should always be delayed until the sealant is completed cured.

Should I use primer and sealer? ›

In some cases, residential painters will use both a primer and a sealer. For example, when painting a brick house, applying a sealer first can help prevent the primer from being absorbed into the surface.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR PRIMER TO DRY? Most latex primers dry to the touch in 30 minutes to one hour. But for best results, don't paint until the primer completely dries—which can take up to 3 hours, depending on temperature and humidity. Once the primer is completely dry, it's prime time for painting.

It is not always necessary to sand primer before sealing, but it may improve adhesion and durability.

Wood – For bare wood that's never been painted, apply two coats of an oil- or water-based primer. Oil-based primers generally perform better on bare wood, but water-based primers can work well on smooth softwood surfaces. For painted wood, use an oil-based primer.

Paint and primer combination products do work in certain situations, but every paint job is different. Paint and primer have two different, distinct functions and many times work best as two separate products. Paint provides color, hiding, sheen, scrub resistance and protection against the elements.

Primer is not formulated to stand up to the elements and should be topcoated within several weeks to ensure proper bonding. If left uncovered for an extended period of time, primer will tend to deteriorate and chalk, which could prevent future coats of paint from adhering properly.

In general, you'll use a primer on new surfaces before applying paint. Sealers can be used on new or previously painted surfaces and porous materials. In some cases, residential painters will use both a primer and a sealer.

In light of that, we prefer sealing over coating. Sealing wood protects wood from moisture and brings out its natural beauty at the same time. Sealer also allows wood to age gracefully. So much so, that the aesthetic differences between sealing and coating are truly remarkable.

Primer serves as a base for your paint, helping it adhere better and providing a layer that prevents stains from showing through. Apply a coat of quality wood primer and allow it to dry completely. We recommend a quality wood primer from leading brands such as Farrow & Ball.

What happens if you don't prime bare wood is not pretty. Similar to new drywall, raw wood soaks up paint like a sponge. As a result, your surface will look blotchy since pores in the woodwork unevenly absorb the paint. More importantly, the painted wood will likely peel in two or three years without primer.