Fall,
a Prime Time for Exterior Painting!
Primer and Sealer Tips from the Rohm and Haas
Paint Quality Institute
 Falls sun-filled days and clear, cool nights
set the stage for great outdoor painting conditions.
But before you brush on that first coat of
paint, review these tips from the Rohm and
Haas Paint Quality Institute. Just like quality
paint, primers and sealers help to improve
the appearance, performance and longevity of
a finished paint job. The necessity of using
either a primer or sealer varies from job to
job and surface to surface.
Happy Painting,
Debbie
Zimmer, Editor
dzimmer@rohmhaas.com
 Primers perform several
valuable functions.
They help the topcoat
adhere better to
the surface that’s
being painted. They
do this by making
the surface more
uniform and accepting
for the top coat,
so that when the
paint is applied,
it can get a better “grip” than
it would on a bare
surface. In addition,
primers help give
the finished paint
job a more uniform
appearance in terms
of color and sheen,
thereby making it
more attractive.
This is especially
true when the surface
being painted is
porous or uneven.
Finally, some primers
help prevent stains
from coming through
the paint from the
surface below.
 While primers
are generally pigmented,
sealers are not.
The role of a sealer
is to seal a porous
surface like weathered
concrete or stucco
so that a finish
coat can develop
a uniform sheen
or gloss. Sealers
also help protect
the finish coat
on masonry from
efflorescence which
is a white, salt-like
residue and to
help seal out moisture.
No matter what
your painting project
this fall might
be, remember to
use a primer or
sealer in these
circumstances:
1.
When painting
new wood or any
other surface
that
has
never been
painted before.
2. When repainting
a surface that
is uneven or
badly
deteriorated.
3. When repainting
a surface that
has been stripped
or is
worn down
to the original
surface material.
 Just like paints,
primers and sealers
perform best when
the surface is
properly prepared.
Regardless of the
application, the
surface to be primed
or sealed should
always be clean
and free of dirt,
loose or flaking
paint and other
contaminants before
the primer or sealer
is applied.
The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute
P.O. Box 1348
Philadelphia, PA 19109
215.592.3000
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