5 Reasons Why You Should Use Paint Primer Before You Paint

Paint primer is the unsung hero of every great paint job. If you've ever admired how professionals achieve smooth, even coverage—even when going from a dark wall to a light one—you might be surprised to learn their secret: primer. Yes, priming adds an extra step. But this step saves you time, money, and frustration in the long run. Let's break down the many benefits of primer and why it's worth working into your painting process.

Primer is essentially the "foundation" for your paint. It prepares your walls, ceilings, or furniture for a flawless coat of color, creates a uniform surface, seals porous materials, helps paint stick better, and often hides imperfections you'd rather not see again.

Think of it as insurance for your paint job—it ensures that your hard work pays off with lasting results.

One of the biggest reasons to prime before painting is its ability to cover up stains and odors. Walls collect a lot of history—crayon art, water stains, scuff marks, or even that lingering smell from a previous homeowner's pets or smoking habits.

Primers like Kilz® and Zinsser® can cover those smells up with ease. Specialized primers can even kill mold, mildew and destroy odor causing bacteria, which is especially helpful in bathrooms, basements, or older homes.

Have you ever painted something only to have issues with the paint chipping, peeling or falling off? Many surfaces, such as metal, enamel, high-gloss paint and plastic, can be a real challenge to paint as the paint simply doesn't have anything to hold on to.

Primer provides a textured base coat that allows paint to grip firmly. By priming first, you avoid headaches like flaking or bubbling later. This is especially important when refinishing cabinets, painting furniture, or giving older doors and trim a fresh look.

Did you know you're wasting paint if you are painting new drywall or unfinished wood without primer? Because these surfaces are porous, they absorb paint. This means you have to use more coats of paint to get the color right. Primer solves this problem by sealing the surface. Once sealed, your topcoat of paint sits on top instead of soaking in, giving you vibrant, accurate color in fewer coats. This not only saves you money but also ensures your paint job looks more professional.

Fixing a hole in your drywall is the first step to making your wall look like new. If you don't prime that drywall patch first, though, it doesn't matter how many coats of paint you use – you'll still be able to see where the patch is. By overlapping primer on the patch and surrounding wall, you are giving the paint an even and consistent surface to cover. Now nobody will ever know that your kids accidentally wrestled into the wall!

Arguably, the most important function of primer is the longevity and performance that it brings the paint. Primer allows paint to cover a larger surface area and use fewer coats – even if you are painting a bold navy blue wall back to a calming light tan. Since the primer gives the paint an ideal surface to stick to, it enhances the durability of the paint, resulting in fewer cracks and less peeling over time.

Here are a few common types and when you might use them:

• Stain-blocking primers – Perfect for covering up water stains, smoke damage, or ink and crayon marks.
• Bonding primers – Best for glossy surfaces, tiles, laminates, or other tricky materials.
• Mold- and mildew-resistant primers – Great for damp or humid areas like bathrooms or basements.
• Multi-surface primers – A good all-purpose option for most walls, ceilings, and wood.

• Prep your surface – Clean walls to remove dust, dirt, or grease. Repair any holes or cracks with spackle.
• Protect your space – Lay down drop cloths and tape off edges.
• Apply primer – Use a brush for edges and a roller for larger areas. Work in even strokes.
• Let it dry – Follow manufacturer instructions, but most primers dry within 1-4 hours.
• Sand lightly if needed – For an ultra-smooth finish, sand lightly after primer dries.
• Topcoat with paint – Once dry, your surface is ready for its fresh coat of color.

While priming may feel like an extra step, it's the secret that makes paint look better and last longer. Knowing how to prime properly means fewer coats, stronger adhesion, and coverage that hides imperfections. With the right paint primer, your DIY project can achieve a polished, professional-quality finish every time–and McCoy's Building Supply has the primers, paints, and expert advice to help you get started.