Step 2 - Part 2 - Primer

To get a great-looking finish coat and beautiful, long-lasting results, be sure to properly apply primer to surfaces prior to painting. There are many different characteristics when it comes to primer. It can be confusing; however the main job of primer is to:

·         Achieve a smooth, professional finish

·         Block stains, marks and odors

·         Assure adhesion

·         Speed topcoating

·         Prevent peeling

·         Attain the truest paint colour in the least amount of coats

·         Improve touch-up performance of the topcoat

Here are a few examples of the primers out there

Premium Wall & Wood Primer

·         Premium quality primer for the smoothest finish

Multi-Purpose Latex Primer

·         General purpose whole-house primer for multiple surfaces

Drywall Primer

·         Seals new drywall and previously painted walls for a consistent finish

Pre-Wallcovering Primer

·         Primes, seals and sizes in one coat

Multi-Purpose Oil-Based Primer

·         Versatile sealer and stain blocker, assures a uniform finish

Adhesion Primer

·         Tightly bonds to slick and glossy surfaces

White Pigmented Shallac Primer

·         Highest performing primer for sealing out the toughest stains and odors in one coat

Concrete and Masonry Primer

·         Seals and adheres to concrete, brick, stucco and plaster

We understand choosing the best primer can be confusing and we’re more than happy to help. Join the conversation on Facebook, shoot us and email or contact us at 778-887-8763

Do you have any pictures of your do it yourself projects? Don’t be shy, be proud of your work and share your creation on Facebook.

Step 2 - Part 1 - Preparation

Preparation is the most important step in the whole painting process. It’s important to take your time and to thoroughly prepare any surface you are going to be working with. Preparation is the key to good-looking, long-lasting results. A properly prepared surface is clean, solid and dry, without cracks and imperfections.

Here’s how to prepare several different surfaces:

Bare Wood

·         Fill nail holes, joints and cracks with patching mud

·         Sand smooth and remove access dust with tack cloth

·         Prime all bare wood and patch areas with a primer

·         Easy-to-clean latex semi-gloss or gloss would be the best choice for the finished coach

New Plaster Walls

·         New plaster walls must be clean and completely cured

·         Textured or swirl types and soft, porous or powdery plaster must be treated with a solution, repeated until surface is hard, rinse with water, allowed to dry and apply primer

·         Latex is a great topcoat since it’s so easy to work with

New Drywall

·         Panels must be secured

·         All panel joints must be taped and filled before painting

·         Once joint cement is dry, sand smooth, and make sure to clean any dust away

·         Latex is the best choice for drywall

Wallpaper

·         Always remove wallpaper! To remove wallpaper you can either use a chemical remover or a steamer, depends on the condition of the wallpaper

·         Make sure to clean off all adhesive, wash and allow walls to dry

·         Previously Painted Surfaces

·         Make sure all remnants of build up are washed off, use appropriate cleaner, rinse and allow walls to dry

·         Remove all loose paint and dust

·         Patch holes and cracks with patching mud, allow mud to dry, sand smooth

·         Glossy or nonporous surfaces required you to lightly sand to a dull finish or use an abrasive cleanser

·         Remove dust and cleaner residue

·         Ensure you prime all bare areas prior to applying the topcoat. Try to avoid “spot-priming” this will hinder your end result

Masonry, Concrete, Cement or Block

·         New surfaces must be cured, allow approximately 30 days. If painting cannot wait 30 days, allow the surface to cure 7 days and prime surface with masonry primer

·         Remove all form release and curing agents

·         Rough surfaces can be filled to provide smooth finish

The basics of preparation apply to every surface, for the best results make sure the surface is clean, solid and dry before starting. If you have any questions regarding a surface don’t hesitation to give us a call, or send us an email we’d be happy to assist you.

The Painting Process

The next several posts will be in relation to the painting process. In order to have the best results there is a 4 step process to follow; planning, prepping, painting and clean up. Over the next few blog enteries we will go indepth on each step so that you can have a full understanding of what goes in to those beautiful paint jobs you've admired from time to time.

Step 1 - Plan

Step 2 - Prep

Step 3 - Paint

Step 4 - Clean

Here's an example of some of the things we are faced with. In order to provide the best results we always stick to these 4 steps.

How many of these steps do you follow faithfully?

Stay tuned for the first installment of the Painting Process Series - Step 1 - Plan