What is the Best Exterior Primer for My House?

It’s common knowledge that without the right prep work, a project is almost certainly doomed.  That goes for nearly any type of project, but is especially true of exterior house painting.  Proper prep work is critically important, and that includes selecting the right primer coating.  A good primer enables paint to adhere more strongly to the surface, smooths into cracks and soaks into pores in the substrate, and improves the paint’s ability to resist surface moisture.  In short, a good primer is key to the success of any paint job.  

So how do you find the best primer for your home?  The main idea is to find a primer that will adhere to the specific surface you’ll be painting.  Our tips can help!

• Acrylic Primer: Acrylic primer, or latex primer, has become the standard and is used much more frequently than its oil-based alternative.  Acrylic primer is water-based, and is used to prime most wood siding and trim, galvanized metal, and T-111 and Hardie board siding.
• Alkyd Primer: Alkyd primer, or oil-based primer, has become less common, but does still have its place.  For example, if you’re painting steel or wrought iron, you may want to find an alkyd primer that inhibits rust.  Also, if you plan to use an oil-based topcoat, you’ll want to use an oil-based primer, as well, in order for the topcoat to adhere best.
• Primer Formulated for Masonry: For brick, concrete, stucco, and other masonry surfaces, it’s often best to find a primer specifically formulated for masonry.  Such primers are more permeable than others, which allows any moisture within the masonry to escape without damaging the paint.
• Primer Formulated for Problem Areas: Many primers are specially formulated to combat specific issues.  For example, the surface you’re painting may be in the shade, and is susceptible to mildew.  In this case, you may want to find a primer with a mildewcide included.  Or, the surface you’re painting may be in constant sunlight, in which case you may look for a primer that is formulated to block UV rays and prevent fading.  If you’re painting bare, unpainted wood, you may want to find a primer that is formulated to block stains, as the tannins in the wood will try to bleed through the paint as time goes by.

Whatever primer you decide on, we recommend investing in a high-quality version.  A high-quality primer is the foundation for a high-quality paint job and a finished product that will stand the test of time!  

Of course, you can always call on a great painting contractor to give your home a beautiful, professional paint job!  Your home deserves the best, and when it comes to interior and exterior painting projects, that means calling on a highly rated painting contractor like The Painting Craftsmen.  We believe in treating every home as if it were our own, from the prep work and primer coat all the way to the final topcoat.  It’s easy to see why homeowners in downtown Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, and throughout the region choose us for their painting projects.  The Painting Craftsmen is the best Jacksonville FL painting company, and the evidence is in the quality of our work.  Let us get started on your house painting project!