We’re often asked “what is the difference between paint and primer?” and it’s quite simple. In short, a primer prepares a surface for painting, while paint provides the finished coloured coat.
Primer is where you get your anti-corrosive protection and adhesion properties from This makes it great for providing a smooth base, but not ideal for aesthetics. You’ll need a lick of paint to achieve your desired finished look, including the colour and a gloss or matt finish.
Although it takes a little longer to apply a coat of primer, we seriously recommend you don’t skip this step. Especially if you’re working with specific materials or surfaces.
When You Shouldn’t Skip Primer
Certain surfaces need a coat of primer before you can paint them. It’s not just to make them look good, it’s essential to seal the substrate and allow the paint to adhere to it. Primers are particularly important for surfaces like metal and porous materials, such as wood and concrete.
A coat of primer seals the surface, offering an extra layer of protection and providing a smooth base for paint application. If you skip a primer on porous materials, you risk microscopic air pockets forming, leading to the paint cracking and peeling before long.
Then you’ve got smooth surfaces, like glass and tiles, that need a coat of primer to allow the paint to bond. If you try to paint directly onto the surface, the paint won’t stick, even after applying several coats.
Primer is cheaper than paint, so it’s better to use this and only need one coat of the more expensive paint. This is particularly true if you want to extend the lifespan of your paint in areas where it takes a lot of wear and tear, like on floors.
When Should You Use Floor Paint and Primer?
Applying a floor primer before you paint helps to make the surface stronger, as well as making paint application much easier. It provides a smooth base, so paint goes on better and requires fewer coats.
We strongly suggest you use a primer on any floors with high volumes of foot traffic, such as warehouses, garages and any other industrial setting.
It’s also a good idea to follow up with a quality paint for best results. Epoxy floor paint is extremely durable and has the added benefit of filling in small cracks and holes. It helps to rejuvenate older floors that are starting to look a little tired.
Along with a quality primer, kitchens will benefit from industrial kitchen paint on their floors. The mixture of high foot traffic and spills and splashes can wear the floor quickly, so you want to protect it as best as you can.
In Summary
We hope you’ve got a better understanding of the difference between paint and primer after reading this. If you’ve got any questions or want to discuss your paint and primer needs, contact us today.
