It’s common for people to seek a convenient solution when painting.
This can include skipping high-grade paints, ignoring certain steps, or slapping on one coat of paint and calling it a day.
These are mistakes that always come around to bite you later on.
On the same note, you might wonder, do you have to paint over primer?
It is important to paint over the primer. If left untouched, the primer will begin to show signs of degradation (i.e. chipping, chalking). It’s recommended to paint over the primer within 1-2 weeks to avoid significant deterioration.
Since you are applying the primer to the surface, it’s important to complete the task. Letting the primer sit for too long is going to cause it to break down rapidly.
Here is a detailed look at the benefits of painting over the primer right away.
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Benefits Of Painting Over Primer
1. Minimizes Deterioration
Can you leave the primer unpainted?
You cannot leave primer unpainted because the surface will deteriorate and chalk. This makes it difficult for the surface to look neat and aesthetically pleasing. You will also find it harder to re-paint the surface later on.
This is why leaving the primer unpainted is not a good idea.
Deterioration will start to make everything look chalky and unappealing. This is a common mistake that is made and people will often assume it looks okay at first.
Yes, it will look appealing for a few days but then the primer is going to give out. This happens as it interacts with the air within the area. The more it is impacted by these conditions, the worse the primer’s hold gets.
This is why you can’t use primer as paint.
It will not work out and the overall finishing is going to you leave thoroughly disappointed. It’s important to have a plan in mind, which includes painting a topcoat over the primer to complete the look.
If you do this right away, the chances of a good-looking finish will also skyrocket.
2. Aesthetically Pleasing
You should not leave the primer on the wall.
This is a common mistake that’s made and one of the reasons has to do with aesthetics. Isn’t the goal of painting or re-painting a wall to make it look clean?
You will want something that holds up well and ensures you don’t have to invest in the same project a few months later.
Keeping this in mind, the wall is only going to look good when you use multiple coats of paint. The goal is to maximize the primer’s value and that will only happen when you are taking the time to paint over it.
3. Strengthens The Surface
One of the advantages of painting over the primer is to strengthen the surface itself.
You have to create an additional layer of protection to ensure the wall doesn’t begin to break down. It is like a protective layer that goes in front of the most exposed part of the surface.
This also allows you to protect the inner workings of the wall or whatever you are painting. Just setting the primer in place isn’t going to cut it when protecting the surface.
You have to be diligent and make sure the surface is protected at all costs using another coat of paint.
4. Makes Re-Painting In The Future Easier
You have to think about the long-term when it comes to a surface.
It is okay to put the primer on the surface right now, but what is going to happen in the coming months or years?
Even if you are okay with a little deterioration, the re-painting process is going to be far more costly and difficult. This is the biggest issue people have and that is something to think about when it comes to planning a new paint job.
You will want to be methodical about the process and this only happens when you are thinking about painting right now and in the future.
Prep the surface, use a quality primer and then paint with a professional-grade solution. This is the only way to see good results and make re-painting a breeze.
Final Thoughts
Do you have to paint over primer?
You have to paint over the primer to avoid unwanted deterioration. The surface will begin to break down and look chalky if it is left untouched. It is highly recommended to paint over the top of the primer within 1-2 weeks for maximum efficiency. The faster you do it, the better.
Do not delay this as that is when things go wrong.
Plan everything and make sure the surface looks gorgeous.
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