Do you need Paint Primer for white to yellow

zod96

Platinum Member
May 28, 2007
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Going to be painting my kids bedroom this weekend. We are going to paint it a very light shade of yellow. White is currently on the wall, just plain white. Would I need a paint primer first or would it be ok just to paint of the white with the yellow...


Thanks
 

imported_weadjust

Golden Member
Apr 23, 2004
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I would have lowe's (paint store) tint the primer the yellow color your are going to be using for the first coat. Then top coat with yellow color of paint you are using. I would use semi-gloss in a bathroom where there is lots of moisture.
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: nickbits
you only need primer if you are painting on virgin walls or over a dark color.

disagree. A good priming job will make a coat of paint really last.
 

Kreon

Golden Member
Oct 22, 2006
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Originally posted by: BeauJangles
Originally posted by: nickbits
you only need primer if you are painting on virgin walls or over a dark color.

disagree. A good priming job will make a coat of paint really last.

Yup

Paint will adhere to the primer much better, especially if the undercoat is gloss or semigloss.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
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Primer is more about having the new paint adhere than covering stuff up. People rather do two coats of primer and one coat of final coat as the primer is usually much cheaper. I do two coats of both sometimes.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
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If it's a flat white you can just paint right over it. If it's a gloss or semi-gloss you should use a primer.
 

seemingly random

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2007
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It depends on the existing paint. If it's "old", a coat of primer will make life easier. Primer is really a sealer - mostly transparent. If it's needed but not applied, the new coat may not end up the expected color. It could also require much more paint since the drywall will absorb more.

If the existing is "fairly new", the new paint could be applied and if not satisfactory, applied again. This would be appropriate only if the new paint doesn't cost much more per gallon that the primer.

If this is fairly new construction with the original paint, consider it "old". Contractors always skimp on paint.
 

zod96

Platinum Member
May 28, 2007
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I would say the paint on the wall now is about 10 years old...
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
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Just paint, you'll have to probably go with 2-3 coats.

A tinted primer, you may only need to do one coat of paint.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
61,124
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Originally posted by: seemingly random
It depends on the existing paint. If it's "old", a coat of primer will make life easier. Primer is really a sealer - mostly transparent. If it's needed but not applied, the new coat may not end up the expected color. It could also require much more paint since the drywall will absorb more.

If the existing is "fairly new", the new paint could be applied and if not satisfactory, applied again. This would be appropriate only if the new paint doesn't cost much more per gallon that the primer.

If this is fairly new construction with the original paint, consider it "old". Contractors always skimp on paint.

Yeah, my buddy was painting his old house before he sold it, and was just painting right over the old stuff at first. He said things went a lot better once he started putting down a coat of primer before doing a coat of paint.
 

Chunkee

Lifer
Jul 28, 2002
10,391
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81
primer helps...i would do a very light sanding, primer then paint...if you want a nice job...
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
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Depends on how long you'll stay in the house and how cheap you are.

Primer has two uses:
#1) Primer is very "sticky". Meaning that primer adheres to existing walls very well and it adheres to your new paint very well. Thus primer prevents problems with the new paint coming off the wall as years pass. Latex paint is notorious for peeling off as it perfers to stick to itself in a thin layer and not to the wall (especially if you are painting over glossy finishes). If you aren't going to be there very long, then you can skip the primer and let the next owners have paint problems.

#2) Primer is very cheap. Meaning that instead of buying two gallons of expensive paint for a room, you can buy one gallon of primer and one gallon of expensive paint. This is especially true if you are painting over something that absorbs a lot of paint (new drywall, unpainted ceilings, etc). If you like wasting money then you can skip the primer.

I always tint my primer just so that I can get away with fewer coats of my real paint. But going from white to very light yellow is such a minor change, that tinting it won't help much.
 

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
white is ghetto primer. In other words, the wall is already primed.

What age are the kids? Semi-gloss is shiny and shows wall imperfections, but it is easy to clean.
 

zod96

Platinum Member
May 28, 2007
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When you mean Tint your primer, do you mean put a few drops of the paint you are going to use in the primer?
 

SphinxnihpS

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
8,368
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If you wash the walls with TSP or vinegar and water you will not need a primer to change subtle colors, but going to a different color you will need to apply more than one coat of paint. I have the best luck with three coats of paint. Primer is required on bare drywall/plaster/paneling, or if you need to do any sanding of the walls. In the latter case you would prime then sand the primer. Primer is nice because it bonds better, drys faster, covers better (higher solid pigment content), and is sandable. If you do not need these features, you do not need primer.

BIG TIP: Do not use cheap paint. The colors aren't as nice, the surface will not be as even, and cheap paint is much harder to work with. You will cost yourself 2x the headaches to save a little cash. Benjamin Moore, or Pratt & Lambert are my ONLY recommendations.
 

SphinxnihpS

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
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Originally posted by: zod96
When you mean Tint your primer, do you mean put a few drops of the paint you are going to use in the primer?

No. They will tint it at the paint store. Tell them what you are doing.
 

DrVos

Golden Member
Jan 31, 2002
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You probably don't have to prime, but make sure you clean your walls before you paint. Soap and and water will do, but spraying on a TSP solution would be best. Alot of residue can build up on walls over the years.