Rant: A customer called me out for skipping the primer step on drywall

I used to think primer was optional if you used high quality paint. Then a homeowner in Phoenix showed me the back of a cabinet I painted 6 months earlier. The paint was peeling off in sheets because the drywall had never been sealed. She was right, I was cutting corners to save 30 minutes per room. Now I prime everything even if nobody is watching. Has anyone else had a customer point out a flaw that made you totally change your process?

2 comments

2 Comments

rosel8314d ago

You said primer is "cheap insurance" but I see it totally different. I think the real problem is people buy crappy paint and then blame the primer for not fixing bad coverage. I've painted brand new drywall with high end Behr or Sherwin Williams paint and got perfect one coat coverage without any primer. The paint itself is thick enough to seal the drywall if you buy the good stuff. It's way more expensive upfront but saves you from buying both primer and paint. I learned that primer is mostly for old stained walls or drastic color changes, not virgin drywall.

richardh4414d ago

My brother learned this the hard way painting his own house. Skipped primer on new drywall and the texture sucked up the paint like a sponge. Had to do three coats just to get even coverage. Primer is cheap insurance.