Painting
Primer Is Not Watered-Down Paint
Primer is formulated to stick and seal, not to cover. Using an extra coat of colour instead usually costs more paint than the primer would have.
Paint chemistry splits the work in two. Primer carries a high proportion of binder and adhesion promoters so it bonds to chalky, glossy, or porous substrates and evens out how much the surface drinks. Topcoat carries pigment and a durable film former, which is what gives colour and washability.
On bare drywall, fresh filler, or a patchy repaint, an unprimed surface absorbs unevenly. The result is flashing — dull and shiny patches that only disappear after a third coat. One gallon of primer routinely saves a gallon and a half of finish paint on a whole-room repaint.
Put this into practice
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