Invest in Top Quality
Primers For the Best Painting Results
To get the best results
with your exterior and interior painting, it's often necessary to use a
primer or sealer before applying the paint. These coatings are specially
formulated to provide many benefits that will enhance both the appearance
and performance of almost any paint job.
Primers, are typically
applied for three reasons, according to experts at the Paint Quality Institute,
a leading authority on paints, primers and other coatings.
First, primers help
improve the adhesion of the top coat of paint to the surface below. They
do this by providing a smooth, uniform surface, so that when the paint
is applied, it can get a better "grip" on the surface. This helps enhance
the durability of the paint job.
Second, specialty
primers help prevent stains and tannins from coming through the paint
and ruining its appearance. For example, top quality primers can block
out stains caused by water, rust, smoke, and other substances. They are
particularly helpful when applied to "staining woods" such as cedar, redwood
and mahogany, which contain tannins that can quickly bleed through the
paint.
A third reason for
applying primers is purely aesthetic. Primers have a tendency to render
the finished paint job more uniform in terms of color and sheen, and hence,
make it more attractive.
Closely allied with
primers are specialty. coatings known as sealers. Typically, these are
used on masonry surfaces like brick or stucco that have varying degrees
of porosity. If paint were to be applied directly to these types of surfaces,
it would be absorbed unevenly and the appearance of the job would suffer
greatly. Applying a sealer helps prevent this, making the finished job
look smooth and uniform.
Like paints, primers
and sealers are available in both latex and oil-based formulations. Latex
primers and sealers -- especially those with acrylic binder -- perform
at least as well as oil-based products in all but two instances: over
severely staining wood, and on heavily chalked surfaces. In those cases,
an oil-based or alkyd coating will provide the very best performance.
A final tip from the
experts at the Paint Quality Institute: When purchasing primers and sealers,
be sure to ask for a top quality product. Experience shows that investment
in the highest quality primers and sealers helps ensure the best performance.
For more information
on primers and sealers, talk to a knowledgeable salesperson,
or visit the Paint Quality Institute's extensive Web site
at www.paintquality.com.
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