May 12, 2023, 10:27 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Stains, peeling paint, or tiles falling off the wall are usually signs of a missing primer. But be careful, as there are different types of primers suitable for various applications. myHOMEBOOK explains when you should use bonding primer, deep primer, and others.
Painting, wallpapering, plastering, or laying tiles: When it comes to maintenance, renovation, or refurbishment work, a primer is often needed beforehand. Otherwise, unpleasant surprises can occur quickly. But why is treating a surface so important? What types of primers are there, and for which applications are they suitable? myHOMEBOOK author and interior designer Odett Schumann has the answers.
When is a primer needed?
A primer is always useful when a surface needs to be prepared for a new material. The specific type of primer ensures the necessary adhesion between the two components. This way, a coating gains improved load-bearing capacity on walls, floors, or ceilings.
The various surfaces can be weak, strong, or not absorbent at all. Especially with problematic surfaces, skipping a primer can quickly lead to tiles falling off the wall. This happens because the surface absorbs all the water from the tile adhesive. However, the adhesive itself needs enough moisture to set, and without it, full adhesive function is not achieved.
When painting walls, skipping a primer can mean the paint needs to be applied up to three times. An undesirable effect that can be costly! Uneven or streaky results are also unwanted, as it is the primer that ensures a covering, even finish.
What types of primers are there?
Bonding Primer
If a surface is not absorbent at all and also very smooth, a bonding primer is needed. This is often the case with mineral surfaces like asphalt or concrete. When treated with bonding primer, new coatings like paints, varnishes, tiles, or plaster adhere securely.
Deep Primer
Similar to bonding primer, deep primer is used on mineral surfaces. It is mainly used on highly absorbent surfaces like cement, gypsum boards, aerated concrete, or plaster. This type of primer penetrates deeply into the wall, gradually solidifying dry, brittle surfaces. This ensures that new coatings, such as a tile backsplash, adhere reliably.
Sealing Primer
Sealing primer is perhaps less well-known. This primer is primarily used before painting, wallpapering, or plastering walls. Due to its covering effect, sealing primer prevents stains, streaks, or discolorations (such as from nicotine or soot) from showing through fresh coatings.
Even if a paint is very bold or a wallpaper is heavily patterned, applying a sealing primer or alternatively a wallpaper primer is recommended. This type of primer can be used on all structural surfaces. If a new plaster coating is to be applied to the wall, a treatment with plaster primer is needed beforehand.
Anti-Mold Primer
Mold issues are not uncommon in households. To prevent this or to adequately protect the surface after an infestation, treatment with an anti-mold primer is advisable. This type of primer is particularly helpful in bathrooms and showers for sealing. Hardware stores usually offer several models to choose from, tailored to different surface types.
Also interesting: How to effectively prevent and combat mold in the home
Facade Primer
It’s time for a facade primer when the plaster starts to crumble or the facade absorbs an extraordinary amount of moisture. In both cases, applying a facade primer is recommended. This type of primer binds dust and solidifies chalky or sandy mineral surfaces, ensuring the facade paint adheres better to the house wall in the end.