Save me . . .
time & money
Paint plus primer — yay or nay?
Recent advances in paint production have made paint plus primer popular among weekend fix-it warriors.
But are these new house paints worth the hype?
Experts say “self-priming” paints can save money and time because they require fewer steps. But they aren’t suitable for every painting job.
“This marketing tactic is geared toward getting homeowners excited about doing their own painting work,” says Jeremiah Owen, president of Vivax Pro Painting in Littleton. “But you really want to make sure you are using the right products for the right surface because if you don’t, you will end up with peeling and fading.”
Behr is rolling out its new “paint + primer” product called Premium Plus Ultra Paint Interiors, which is available exclusively at The Home Depot. A version for exteriors came out last year.
This system uses nano-technology that makes paint molecules so small that they can get into wall cracks and crevices to cover up imperfections, said Bobby Baylis, a merchandising manager with The Home Depot’s paint division. New colorant technology also allows this new paint to “hide” other paints and stains so that fewer coats are needed.
“To be able to offer the consumer something that adheres and covers all in two coats with no primer is a pretty good trick these days,” Baylis said.
Lowe’s Valspar Duramax, Benjamin Moore’s low VOC “Aura” line and Sherwin- Williams’ Duration self-priming paint also make the same claims.
Some painting pros say self-priming products are a gimmick and don’t hold up well.
“Cleaning, sanding, patching and priming guarantee a great finished product that lasts,” says national home-improvement expert Lou Manfredini, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man.”
But others concede that self-primers can be preferable for certain surfaces. If you are simply painting over a nonglossy surface, such as an interior wall, a self-primer should seal and cover, says Robert Alispach at McGuckin Hardware in Boulder.
But if an interior wall has smoke or water damage, pet urine or nicks and scrapes, a separate coat of primer is the best solution, Alispach said.
Benjamin Moore’s self-priming Ironclad Alkyd Low Luster Metal & Wood Enamel works great on most surfaces, says Dan Felt, store manager of Belcaro Paint and Decorating. But if the Aura line (best suited for drywall, plaster and oil-based paint) is used on metal with no primer, it will peel.
Vivax Pro Painting often paints exteriors damaged by the elements.
Owen says primer is necessary to repair blisters and cracks and to help paint adhere to various porous surfaces such as brick or concrete.
“I wouldn’t use a self-primer outdoors,” Owen said, “but I think you could get away with using one indoors if it has a good sheen.”
Sheba R. Wheeler
