Preparation is the key to any decorating job. You may be the best painter or decorator in the country, but if you do not prepare your surfaces well, the result will often be less than perfect. Different surfaces require different preparation, with many surfaces needing sealing or priming before you can apply a topcoat of paint. Here we will take a look at the different types of primers and sealers you may need to use.
Stabilizing Primer
This is used to bind flaky or powdery materials such as plaster or render. It is usually a clear or milky white liquid and must be allowed to dry completely before any topcoat is applied.
Wood Primer
Most virgin wood will require a primer to stop any paint coats from soaking into the grain. Standard pink or white primer will be fine for most wood types.
Aluminium Wood Primer
This is a bit more specialist, used for sealing oily hardwoods. Aluminium wood primer can also be used to cover creosote and will help to stop it leeching through any paint applied over the top.
General-Purpose Primer
Most often used for sealing porous building materials such as concrete or brick, as well as patchy plaster on walls and ceilings.
Metal Primer
As the name suggests, this is used to seal most metals. Using a good primer will both provide a better key for the paint topcoat, and also help to prolong the life of the metal and inhibit rust.
PVA Bonding Agent
This is a multi-purpose liquid adhesive, useful for many building materials. It can be added to cement to increase the strength of a mix. If diluted, PVA can be used to seal porous materials such as cement and brick.
Water Repellent
Helps to protect brickwork or masonry from water damage and penetration. Dries to a colourless finish.
Alkali-resistant Primer
Certain building materials may release alkali content which will attack oil paints and cause them to flake or discolour. Priming them with this primer will stop that.
Aluminium Spirit-based Sealer
This is specially formulated to seal materials where other substances are likely to bleed through any topcoat you apply. Things like bituminous paint, creosote and metallic paints should all be sealed effectively with this.
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