How to Prime a Wall _ The Home Depot

Adding primer before painting allows the paint to adhere with a uniform finish .

It's a simple way to achieve professional results on your next paint project .

Here's what you'll need .

Latex primer is considered an all purpose primer and easily cleans up with water .

Oil based primer is better for blocking stains and covering wood surfaces .

A gallon of primer will cover 250 to 400 square feet of a surface .

Not only that primer is also typically less expensive than paint using primer instead of several coats of new paint may lower the cost of your paint job , make sure to move your furniture out of or to the center of the room .

Cover the floors and furniture with drop cloths use painters tat to mask molding , trim windows and the ceiling to prepare the wall , remove outlets H V AC registers nails and other hardware use caulk or lightweight spackling compound to fill and repair holes .

Remove excess back with a putty knife , let it dry and smooth it out with a sanding block , then wipe the walls clean with a damp towel .

It's difficult for dry brushes and rollers to absorb primer .

If using latex primer , use water to dampen rollers and brushes for oil based primers use paint thinner or mineral spirits , squeeze or roll out excess .

Next .

Prepare your primer start and pour primer into the paint tray .

Begin priming by cutting in .

Cutting in is outlining the wall with a 2 to 3 inch band around the edges .

Use a two inch angled brush to apply primer in all corners or places where walls molding and ceilings meet .

Now you're ready to prime the wall .

Start with a single vertical strip at the cut in the corner .

Apply in three by three ft sections , working top to bottom in a series of V or W patterns until covered , move from one side to the other and always overlap wet areas .

If a second coat is needed , wait until the first coat is completely dry .

After the primer dries lightly sand away bumps and ridges , using a fine grit , sandpaper or sanding block , wipe the wall clean with a damp towel .

Priming a wall is the first step to getting great results for your next paint project .

Good luck .

And thanks for shopping at the Home Depot .