Blog POST

8 Reasons to Use Primer in Residential Exterior Painting in 2024

Painting the exterior of your home is an all-out process. House painters in Atlanta, such as Southern Perfection Painting, Inc will tell you that it doesn’t matter if you are just touching up or if it’s a complete renovation. So many essential processes go into producing an amazing exterior painting, one of which is priming. Priming is one of the most crucial processes when it comes to residential exterior painting, yet it is one many homeowners overlook or ignore.

Many homeowners often ask, “What is the role of primer, and why do I need it for my residential exterior painting?” Primer plays a vital role in exterior painting, ensuring a successful and long-lasting finish. However, there are still many who maintain that forgoing the application of primer during exterior painting can lead to cost savings. The real question is whether this approach is truly worthwhile.

This article sheds light on the functions of primers in residential exterior painting, aiming to enhance understanding of the advantages they offer and the negative effects of not using them.

Why is Primer so Important to a Home Exterior Painting?

It is common knowledge that preparation is the first step before embarking on any exterior painting job. This includes cleaning, sanding, filling, and more. In many cases, after the preparation, the painting takes place immediately after, and the painting comes out well. However, there are many cases whereby the painting does not come out as desired or is not smooth after the preparation and the paint job. It is for this reason that primer paint is essential.

Therefore, primer is essential for exterior painting because it creates a base layer that is strong enough to hold the paint. It serves as a protective coating that ensures the paint job comes out smoothly.

Roles of a Primer Paint

Here are seven essential roles of a primer paint for an exterior painting:

1. Surface preparation

One of the primary roles of primer in residential exterior painting is to enhance the preparation of the surface. After completing the initial surface preparation, especially filling cracks and holes, using a primer effectively covers these flaws and creates a uniform base and a consistent surface for the paint job.

2. Improves adhesion

It is common knowledge that exterior surfaces are subjected to various weather conditions that can damage the paint. This is why primer is essential. Primer acts as an adhesive substance that binds the paint to the surface, ensuring it sticks properly. This prevents the paint from peeling, blistering, or flaking over time.

3. Acts as a Sealing and Protection Surface

Primer seals porous exterior surfaces and protects the substrate from water damage, rot, and decay. Because some primers contain additives, they offer protection from UV rays. These sealing and protection properties of primer paints contribute to the integrity of the paint and also increase its lifespan.

4. Acts as a Stain Blocker

There are certain stains that are difficult to cover up with just a paint coat. These include markers, crayons, water stains, and more. With the use of primer paint, these stains are covered and sealed. This is because primers contain chemicals that effectively block stubborn stains from showing through the paint.

Moreover, individuals seeking to transition from a darker color to a lighter one must recognize the essential role of using a primer. This is because attempting to paint directly over the existing dark paint can pose significant challenges. While the issue might not be immediately apparent, once the paint dries, either the stain or the original paint becomes visibly problematic.

5. Ensures an Even Finish

The ultimate goal of a house painter in Atlanta is to have a consistent, professional-looking finish, which is what primer helps to achieve. Primer paint ensures the paint job comes out with an even and uniform finish at the end of the day. Primer also guarantees consistent topcoat drying, preventing variations in shine and color.

Note: The uniformity a primer paint provides results in a uniform sheen and color distribution. This creates an exterior that is not only aesthetically appealing but is also a testimonial to having a well-done paint job.

6. Serves as a Color Enhancer

Another essential role of the primer for residential exterior painting is that it serves as a color enhancer. Although primer covers up cracks and stains, the final look of the paint is substantially enhanced by the primer. Since the first base of the surface has been primed, the main paint’s color can be enhanced.

Without primer, the color of the base could affect the hue and vitality of the paint. Additionally, priming improves the coverage of the finish, ensuring that the amount of paint required to create a consistent and rich color is reduced.

7. Ensure Optimal Compatibility and Durability

Primer is specifically designed to stick to a variety of surfaces, such as metal, stone, wood, and more. This makes its role in exterior painting essential. Primer ensures the base is consistent and the topcoat uniformly adheres. Its role in compatibility boosts the paint job’s overall durability.

In terms of durability, primer serves as an extra layer of protection for the topcoat, allowing it to withstand external pressure and harsh weather conditions and maintain its appearance for a long time.

8. Cost Saving

Primers might be seen as additional expenses, but their numerous roles in exterior painting say a lot. One of its roles is cost saving. Many might argue, but it is important to note that due to its ability to act as a stain blocker, enhance the paint color, and more, the amount spent on frequent maintenance and long-term costs associated with repainting is reduced.

Unlock Superior Results with Primer: Call on Experts Today!

Primer plays an essential role in any painting project. Whether it’s a small or big project, you can be sure to get the best of your paint job with a primer in the mix. Take the bold step today and hire the best house painters in Atlanta!