Do You Need To Use a Primer for Interior Painting?

March 16, 2022

Do You Need To Use a Primer for Interior Painting?

If you follow home improvement trends and products at all, you’ve probably seen the super popular “paint and primer in one!” options. The appeal is strong: knock your project out quicker while skipping the need for that boring initial priming step. It’s way more fun to jump right to the snazzy new topcoat, right?

In some cases, these products do fit the bill, especially if it’s a good quality paint (we won’t name any names, but you get what you pay for).

They’re really only a viable option for the best-case scenario, though. For example, if you’re making an easy color transition on a wall that’s in great shape, like a darker paint over light.

As alluring as these paints can be, it’s important to remember two things:

Preparation is 80% of a paint job
Primer isn’t JUST for color transitions: it aids in very key, specific ways depending on the nature of the surface you’re painting

Painting Case Study: Picking a Primer That Blocks Stains and Varnishes

Hold onto your hat. For this recent project we actually used four different primers, each for a strategic purpose.

When we began painting old, varnished baseboards for this particular client, we knew we’d need a high-bond primer that would stick to the surface. So, we applied a coat of Stix primer to build a strong foundation.

Unfortunately, Stix is NOT designed to block the bleed-through of stains and varnishes. This means that over time those base colors would seep back through. No good.

So, as a solution, we applied a second primer that delivers the kind of long-term “hide” that we want. Caulking and paint completed the transformation, and we could rest easy knowing it was done right and would last.

Using the Right Primer After Wallpaper Removal

Let’s move on to a different part of this same job.

Next, we needed to remove wallpaper, and after we did we found spots of surface black mold. Not all that uncommon, especially since this wallpaper was in a bathroom where there are naturally higher levels of moisture.

As a first step, we used a mold-killing primer to ensure that the mold would never grow back. After that, we needed to use a primer that would totally lock down the remnants of wall glue left behind to prevent possible bubbling (if you’re curious, we used Roman 99 primer).

We could then finish minor repairs and move on to the topcoat.

What’s the Takeaway?

First, we’d encourage you to not see primer as a necessary evil, or a step to be skimmed over or minimized. Painting is a lot of work, and it’s worth doing every stage correctly to yield the best result possible.

Secondly, remember that different primers are designed to solve unique problems. They’re an asset, whether you’re covering something as simple as a spackled nail hole, or you need to make sure no more black mold pops up in that downstairs bathroom.

Have more questions about your next interior or exterior painting project? Contact us at Jondec Painting! We’re here to help: no mess, no stress.

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Do’s and Don’ts of Painted Kitchen Cabinets: Tips from the Pros

September 24, 2025

Your kitchen cabinets take up a huge amount of visual space. And you know what that means? It means a fresh coat of paint can do more than just make them look brand new. It can transform your kitchen’s style and save you thousands compared to a full remodel. But here’s the catch: painted cabinets can be stunning…or they can be a DIY disaster. Before you grab a paintbrush and start slapping on color, there are a few golden rules you’ll want to follow. Here’s our list of do’s and don’ts to keep your cabinets looking polished instead of patchy. The Cabinet Painting Do’s Do Clean Thoroughly: Grease, dust, and kitchen grime are sneaky. If you don’t clean your cabinets properly before painting, all that gunk will show through the new paint, or worse, prevent it from sticking. A little elbow grease goes a long way. Do Remove the Doors and Hardware: It’s tempting to cut corners, but trust us: painting around hinges and handles never looks neat. Take the doors off, label them, and store hardware in a baggie so you don’t end up with the world’s hardest jigsaw puzzle later. Do Sand (Yes, Really): Sanding is the unglamorous step nobody wants to do, but it’s the secret to a smooth, professional finish. Even if your cabinets don’t look glossy, a light sanding helps paint adhere and prevents chipping. Do Use the Right Paint: Cabinets need durable paint that can handle daily wear. Satin, semi-gloss, or specialty cabinet paints are designed for the job. Flat wall paint? Not invited to this party. Do Test a Sample First: Colors can look completely different under your kitchen lighting than they do on a tiny paint chip at the store. Paint a test section before committing to “soft sage” that mysteriously turns into “swamp green” under your pendant lights.

Do You Need To Use a Primer for Interior Painting?