Primer before puttying the walls – is it necessary

Putty is often applied as the first step in wall preparation for painting or wallpapering. However, there’s a crucial thing to think about before you grab that putty knife: should you prime the walls first? Although this step may seem like an extra task, it is essential to guaranteeing the durability and quality of your finish.

By priming the walls first, putty will adhere to the surface more readily because it will have a solid base. In addition, it seals the wall, delaying the drying time of the putty and avoiding uneven or cracked surfaces. You may save time by skipping this step now, but you may end up with more work in the future.

This post will discuss the benefits of priming before puttying, why it’s necessary, and when it might be okay to forego it. Knowing the purpose of primer will help you prepare a large space or take on a small DIY project with a smooth, polished finish.

Priming your walls before puttying them is an important step that’s sometimes forgotten but can make a big difference in the longevity and quality of your wall finish. By ensuring proper putty adhesion, primer lowers the possibility of cracks and uneven texture. Additionally, it seals the wall to keep moisture from penetrating and causing damage over time. Although skipping primer could save time in the short term, it could cause problems later on that cost more money to fix.

The need for priming

For the finishing to appear flawless, remain intact, exhibit no deformation, and resist mold growth, the leveling putty beneath it needs to have outstanding bonding power to the substrate. This is what the layer of primer offers. Generally speaking, it serves multiple purposes:

  • Brick, concrete, plasterboard, wood – all these materials have varying degrees of porosity, can have large and small cracks on the surface. Priming the walls before puttying fills them, turning the base into a monolith, strengthening it;
  • It increases the adhesive properties of the base, its adhesion to the leveling solution, due to which it does not crumble or crumble over time;
  • Filling the pores with a primer also reduces the consumption of the mixture, the price of which is higher than the cost of the primer. Saving is an important aspect for large volumes of finishing;
  • A thin but durable film created on the surface “seals” all color spots that can show through the putty and paint (wallpaper), negatively affecting the finish coating;
  • It is much easier to apply putty with your own hands on primed walls, it lays down easily and spreads in an even layer;
  • Special primers with moisture-protective and antiseptic properties protect external walls or walls in damp rooms from exposure to moisture and the spread of harmful microorganisms – mold, fungi, moss.

The answer to the question of whether priming the walls before puttying is required is provided by all of these points. Of course, if producing high-quality work is important to you, then it is imperative. Furthermore, you frequently need to repeat this process. For instance, one layer of soil won’t produce any noticeable effects if the surface is loose, highly porous, and well-suited to absorbing moisture; instead, the soil will be fully absorbed into the base. Additionally, when finishing drywall, primer is applied to the joints and fastening points first, followed by sealing and priming the remaining surface.

Kindly take note. Regarding whether drywall needs to be primed before puttying, builders aren’t always in agreement. Since this material’s top layer is made of regular multilayer paper and these layers need to be secured together, we think it is essential.

Work technology

Proper product selection and surface preparation are essential when priming walls for putty application. The procedure is straightforward and involves applying the composition to the surface manually, mechanically, with a sprayer, or with a brush, roller, or brush.

Choosing a primer

The primer composition should be selected in accordance with the type of base and its properties. There are a variety of primers on sale, including concentrated ones, with various additives, ready-to-use or in the form of dry mixes that require dilution with water or solvent.
But, when deciding what to prime the walls with before puttying, first of all you need to pay attention to the composition of the product. There are universal acrylic primers suitable for processing most types of bases. These include drywall, wood, plaster, foam concrete, gypsum tongue-and-groove blocks.
For improving the adhesion of smooth concrete surfaces, Betonokontakt is best suited (see. Betonokontakt – primer for surface preparation). This primer contains quartz sand, which gives the walls a roughness that improves the adhesion of putty to them.

Wall primer beneath putty Almost all producers of building mixtures use betonokontakt.

Generally speaking, there are numerous additional, more specialized acrylic compounds available besides water-soluble ones:

  • Phenolic . Intended for processing metal and wooden surfaces, including OSB, chipboard, fiberboard. It is also suitable for plasterboard. But it is not suitable for plastered and already putty walls.
  • Alkyd. If you are wondering what primer to use before puttying wood, choose this one. It is also applied to wooden surfaces before coating them with alkyd paints.
  • Glyphthalic. This type of primer, intended for metal and wooden surfaces, should not be considered at all as a means of preparing them for leveling. In addition, it is very toxic and can only be used for outdoor work or in well-ventilated areas.
  • Perchlorovinyl. An excellent choice for brick and cement plaster, as well as for processing already puttied walls. But it is used only outside.

  • Polystyrene. Also belongs to the category of toxic agents, undesirable for indoor work. Ideal for wooden and plastered walls.

As a point of reference. Bitumen primers and polyvinyl acetate are also totally inappropriate for your use, in addition to glyphthalic. The first is exclusively used on surfaces that are going to be painted with polyvinyl acetate paint, while the second is primarily used when installing roll-on roofs.

Following the manufacturer’s recommendations is the simplest method to select the appropriate composition. Everything you need to know, from the application area to the consumption per square meter, is contained in the instructions on the packaging.

However, it’s already evident from the foregoing information that acrylic, phenolic, and perchlorovinyl compounds are the principal tools used for priming before puttying. In addition, a primer with moisture-proof and antifungal qualities must be chosen for work done outside and in damp areas.

Surface preparation

We are convinced of the need for a primer, we have chosen the composition, now we need to understand how to prime and putty the walls correctly. First, you need to prepare the surface: remove stuck particles of mortar, dirt, dust from it. If necessary, scrape off the old coating that is peeling off the base.
Degrease oil stains. If the wall is damp, it must be dried with fan heaters or simple ventilation, since you can only prime the walls before puttying dry.
Then prepare the primer itself. If it is already ready for use, then simply mix well or shake and pour into a convenient container.
Concentrated mixtures are diluted if necessary according to the instructions on the package, dry mixtures are diluted with clean water in specified proportions.

The primer is applied in a thin, even layer with a slight overlap so that there are no untreated areas left. It is most difficult to make mistakes if the composition is transparent, so it is more convenient to use white primer. If the surface itself is light, you can look for a pigmented primer.
After the first layer has dried, you need to decide whether the walls need to be primed again before puttying. If the surface has absorbed the first layer and continues to collect dust, if the pores remain open, then a second and sometimes a third layer is required. But each of them must dry before applying the next one.
A very important question – after what time after priming can the surface be puttyed. Do this no earlier than it dries (the time is specified by the manufacturer on the packaging), but do not delay it for too long. If dust settles on the walls, dirt gets in or it gets wet from precipitation, the quality of the putty will suffer.
Finally, another natural question arises: is it necessary to prime after puttying?
Yes, this also needs to be done. The leveling layer also needs to be strengthened and its suction capacity reduced so that the subsequent finishing adheres to it firmly. This is especially important when finishing with painting, as it allows you to save expensive paint.

Step Explanation
Assess the wall condition Check for cracks, moisture, or dust that could affect adhesion.
Apply primer Primer ensures better bonding of putty to the wall, making it last longer.
Choose the right primer Select a primer suited for your wall type, like drywall or concrete.
Let the primer dry Allow sufficient drying time before applying putty to ensure proper adhesion.
Cost-effectiveness Using primer reduces the amount of putty needed, saving you money in the long run.

It’s not just an optional step to prime the walls before applying putty; it’s necessary to guarantee a smooth and long-lasting finish. In the short run, skipping this step might save time, but it can cause issues later on, like poor adhesion, cracks, and uneven surfaces.

An excellent primer aids in sealing the wall and keeps the putty from absorbing excessive moisture. This lessens the possibility of imperfections by ensuring that the putty dries evenly and making application easier.

All things considered, spending a little extra time priming your walls before puttying pays off with a higher-quality finish. It’s an easy but important step that affects your walls’ long-term appearance and durability.

Video on the topic

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Veronica Gerasimova

Interior designer, author of books on the design of residential premises. I will help you make your home not only functional, but also beautiful.

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