HOME REPAIRS

DO YOU NEED TO PRIME NEW DRYWALL BEFORE PAINTING?

02/13/2023

HOME REPAIRS

DO YOU NEED TO PRIME NEW DRYWALL BEFORE PAINTING?

02/13/2023

There’s nothing more gratifying than getting projects completed on your own. Not only do you save money but you also had a part in creating your home ambiance just how you want it. But do you have the time and patience for the process? Today you’ll learn about what drywall is, what primer is, and why you need to prime your new drywall before painting. Hopefully, it’ll give you a better understanding of why these tasks are crucial each step of the way.

Once you know why primer is important for a successful home improvement project, it’ll make sense why painters and paint manufacturers recommend using a primer first. It’s an added step but it’s worth the time, energy, and expenses.

What is Drywall?

First things first, let’s uncover what drywall is before getting into the primer. Drywall is one type of material often used for interior walls and ceilings. Construction professionals favour drywall because of its affordability and versatility in residential and commercial sites. Drywall is your blank canvas. It often comes in various shades: off-white, gray, green, or blue.

It’s primarily made up of gypsum plaster, which is an exceptionally easy-to-install and durable material known for its:

Fire resistance
Sound insulation
Versatility in use

To explore the types of drywall, visit this page to learn more.

What is Primer?

After your drywall has been installed, the next step would be to paint 2-3 layers of primer.

Primer is the neutral-coloured base coat that is applied to the walls and ceilings. It helps paint bind to the porous drywall for durability, longevity, and enhanced paint aesthetic. It’s a relatively thin consistency that absorbs into the drywall easier and more smoothly.

Once the layers of primer soak into the porous drywall, it helps the paint bind to it. When you lay down the base coat, you’ll be certain that your walls will hold the colours better and have lasting durability and a longer lifespan.

If you have various markings on the wall or ceiling, primer helps hide the ugly blemishes. Essentially, you’re giving yourself a blank slate to allow your newly chosen colour to look as close to your paint swatch as possible. Additionally, if you’re looking to switch your room colour from dark to light, the primer will help you reset your walls.

After each layer of primer, you’ll have to wait up to 3 hours for it to completely dry. We say “up to” because the dry time can vary depending on the humidity levels and indoor temperature.

Why Do You Need to Prime New Drywall Before Painting?

Primer is crucial after drywall installation because it gives you a smooth surface to your chosen paint to adhere to. Since the drywall is very porous, the primer can be absorbed evenly through the small spaces in the gypsum plaster in the drywall panel. Primer also protects the drywall from retaining moisture. It’s an added bonus to avoid mold as well as other damage on your new drywall.

Benefits of Primer:

Hides blemishes: Primer hides the drywall seams, fastener holes, and colour.
Helps paint to adhere evenly: Primer is the smooth base coat for the paint to spread evenly. Without primer, the paint would soak into the drywall and expose drywall blemishes.
Improves paint durability: Your coats of paint will last longer by having a base coat to rest on.
Several options to choose from: You’ll find selections such as mold-resistant, soundproof, fire-resistant, and more.

Choosing a high-quality primer will ensure your paint looks better and last longer in years to come. If you want your indoor painting project to look spectacular and have durability, we highly advise primer to be used after your drywall installation.

For those of you who are curious about self-priming paint options, this article is very informative!

Can You Apply Primer on the Drywall Yourself?

When you look up anything to do with painting primer, you’ll often find countless DIY blog articles that walk you through a step-by-step process of laying down your primer foundation. Whether you choose to take on the project yourself or hire a professional to get it done for you is all up to you.

Here are some things to contemplate before priming new drywall:

Time and Energy: If you’re experienced in home improvement tasks, you may find this to be fun and save you some money. If you don’t have the patience or confidence, it may just be quicker and more efficient to hire a professional.
Equipment and Tools: Do you have everything you need to take this project on safely? Make sure you make a list of all of the tools you’ll need to complete the task.
Expenses: If the room you’re working with is small, you may find this manageable. But if you’re factoring in tools, equipment, and materials, it may be more cost-effective to hire a professional who already has all of the tools. You could always ask your friends and neighbour too!
Professional Completion: You know yourself best! Do what you feel comfortable with. If you just don’t have the time, energy, or patience to take it on, it may just be more efficient to hire a professional.

Our February 2023 Promotion: 15% OFF Drywall Repairs!

Take this opportunity to get your drywall repairs taken care of.

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In Conclusion

Now that you how important primer is after your drywall installation, we hope that you’ll do your research to gauge whether to take on this home improvement project on your own or hire a professional. In order to have professional-looking, durable, and long-lasting paint on your walls and ceiling, we highly suggest that you find a high-quality primer that suits your needs.

We hope this blog post was useful!

We’d love to hear from you:
Have you primed new drywall before?
Share your tips and tricks over on our Instagram or Facebook pages.
We’re looking forward to connecting with you on our social media!

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Bryan Reed

With 30 years of experience, Bryan has acquired quite the reputation in the industry. Holding a Masters in Painting and 30 years of general construction experience it is no wonder why customers keep coming back to use Bryan's services. A happy husband with 5 children and 4 grandchildren, when not with his family you can see Bryan fishing, though he will not tell us his secret fishing spot.