Tried skipping the primer coat once, never again

Thought I could save time by not priming before texture. Ended up with a blotchy mess that took hours to fix.

4 comments

4 Comments

Wait, oil-based primer on drywall? That's overkill for most jobs. A good latex primer seals drywall mud just fine and cleans up with water. Oil is better for wood or serious stains, but it's a pain to work with.

derek_green31mo ago

Ever try using a quick-dry primer? A good stain-blocking one made ALL the difference for my last patch job.

matthewdixon1mo ago

Yeah, @derek_green3 is totally right about that stain-blocking step. It's not just for patches, it's a lifesaver for old water marks on a ceiling or if you're painting over a wall with some nicotine stains. That stuff seals it in so the gross yellow or brown never bleeds through your fresh paint. I even use a quick-dry oil-based primer on wood knots to stop the sap from ruining the finish. Skipping that step is asking for trouble a few months down the line.

jade_jenkins1mo agoOG Member

Oh man, I used to think primer was just an extra step to sell more paint. Trying to texture directly over drywall mud without it taught me a hard lesson. After seeing @matthewdixon talk about stain-blocking, I get it now. A good primer seals everything and gives the texture something even to stick to, so you don't get that awful, blotchy finish.