Wednesday, June 14, 2017

5 Surprising Functions of Primer and Sealer Paint



If you are planning to revitalize your home or business with a new coat of paint, you may be wondering if it’s at all possible to skip the primer. The answer is an unequivocal no! Not only are primers and sealers essential for a durable, professional-looking topcoat, they can protect your investment in ways you may not have even considered.

Primer is a coat of paint that is applied before the actual paint color. It works to prepare the timber, steel, drywall, or any surface that you might be painting, for a high-quality, long-lasting paint job. Here are five important ways that your primer can help you protect your investment.

1. No primer, no stick! Without primer, your paint would peel off with easily with the first force applied to it. Primer acts as an anchor to the paint system, and keeps the paint on the surface.

2. Primer keeps it dry. Primer acts as a barrier that stops moisture from damaging the drywall, wood, or whatever surface lies beneath it. This is important because should a painted surface be unknowingly compromised, the only thing protecting your surface from the elements would be the primer itself.

3. Primers make paint prettier. Without a primer, the topcoat can sink into the surface underneath, which results in a duller, less glossy appearance. Paint with a quality primer underneath appears more glossy and vibrant.

4. Primers prevent rust and corrosion. Many types of primers contain anti-corrosive pigments that will protect important steel surfaces, such as nails heads on your wood or drywall surfaces. This means your primer is actually protecting not just your exterior surfaces, but the infrastructure of your building.

5. Primers halt mold growth. Mold can do tremendous damage to a structure and should be prevented at all costs. Luckily, specialized primers for wood surfaces contain fungicides that will stop mold from growing in your walls.

Now let’s talk about sealers, which can perform just as impressively. Sealers are specialized primers that are used on surfaces that need extra preparation before they are painted. Sealers can be used in place of primer, or before primer. Here are three things that sealers do that go above and beyond what you get from a primer.

1. A sealer can actually recondition poor surfaces, such as crumbly old concrete. It is important to make the surface smooth and even before painting and a sealer can transform a rugged surface into a receptive one.

2. Sealers seal off porous surfaces, so that coats of paint will not sink in. If you are painting a porous surface, a sealer can provide the base you need get the uniform, glossy finish that you want.

3. Sealers block off stains, so they do not bleed through your new coat. A good sealer can also enhance the waxes in the surface being painted.

It is important to note that although primers and sealers have different functions, the lines between them blur. Many products labeled as primers are actually more like sealers. Although both products will provide adherence to substrate, and add a layer of protection to the surface you are painting, primers and sealers can have a variety of functions. Before you buy a primer or sealer, think about the needs of the surface you are painting, and make sure you are getting the right product for those needs. For more information about primers and sealers, contact Celtic Commercial Painting.