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Primers are important to professional painting companies, interior painters, exterior painting.

What is the Purpose of Primers?

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If you have ever been into a paint store you probably heard something about primers.  Whether you were asking about how to paint something or reading informational pamphlets, you learned that primers are important.  When talking to clients, I realize that “normal” people don’t know the exact definition of primers.  This article will help correct that.

What does a primer do?

Prepares a substrate to accept a top coat.

This is a short but vague answer.  A better answer is extrapolated when another question is asked.

What do you need the primer to do?

Answering this question will better define for what primers are used.  There are many different types of primers, each having a different purpose.  Here are some common applications for primers.

  • Promoting adhesion – This is important when painting hard, glossy surfaces like glass, plastic, metal, or porcelain.  If you painted directly on these surfaces, the paint would scrape off.  Bonding primers make these surfaces paintable.
  • Sealing stains – Painting over water, smoke or oil stains requires priming to prevent the stains from bleeding through the paint.
  • Sealing wood – In order to prevent tannin and knots to bleed through paint, you must prime raw wood.
  • Changing colors – When making drastic color changes, priming can save a coat or two of paint.
  • Smoothing substrates – Extremely rough and porous surfaces, like cinder blocks, are primed with a very thick coating so that the paint has an even surface.
  • Equalizing porosity – Primers are used to create a uniform porosity so that paints will have a uniform finish.  An example of this new drywall.  The drywall, tape, and finishing compound all have different porosity and require  priming if using a non-flat paint.
  • Preventing/Re-mediating rust  – There are primers that prevent rust on ferrous metals and others that reform rust into an inert metal.
  • Industrial applications – There are numerous specialty primers used for industrial painting applications.  These uses are too specific and technical for the purposes of this article.  If you have questions using these primers, you need to read the manufacturer specifications.

This concludes primers 101.  If you have more questions, email us using our contact form.

By

President of GreenWave Solutions, Atlanta’s painting company and house painters.  GreenWave Solutions offers the best painter services in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Brookhaven, Duluth, Grant Park, Inman Park, Buckhead, Midtown, and many more!  We offer house painting in Johns Creek.

We are the best painters in Atlanta.

Atlanta Faux Painting & Finishing

Faux Finishes

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Atlanta Faux Painting &amp FinishingFaux finishes in painting allow the person to create textures or effects that resemble surfaces such as stone, suede, crackled paint, etc., that enhance the appearance of the room. There are hundreds of faux finishes that can be selected from, depending on the design style that you want to achieve in your home.

Some of the most popular faux finishes include rag rolling, stippling, and stone finishes. Each of these faux finish techniques can be accomplished with your imagination and just a few materials.

For stone faux finishes start by making sure that the surface you are applying the faux finish technique to is clean, dry and free of any debris. It is a good idea to get a picture of the type of stone, (including colors and patterns) that you want in advance so that you have a reference while you work. Next you will need to apply a base coat in an off white color for the foundation of the faux finish . Once this dries, mix together the primary color of your stones, using a latex paint, with two parts of a latex glaze. This faux finish will now need you to use a rag or paper as an applicator to dab on the mixture to create the texture of your “stone”. Then, using cardboard or heavy paper, create a stencil for your “stones” and trace them onto the surface, taking care with placement of the “stone” so that they seem natural to the eye. Finally, your faux finish will need you to follow the lines of the outside of the stones with a natural color paint, creating the appearance of a mortar on the surface. While this faux finish technique may take some time, depending on the area to be covered, the results will create a beautiful faux stone finish that enhances any decor.

As with any faux finish technique it is advisable to first practice the technique process on a spare board or surface that can be discarded when you are done. Not only will the practice time make sure that you are comfortable with the real application of the faux finish , it will allow you to make any adjustments in color if necessary before you begin the work.

 


Atlanta Popcorn Ceiling Removal

Paint Your Ceiling to Give Your Room a Brand New Look!

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Ceiling Painter AtlantaWhen you decide to paint the interior of your house the first things that come to mind are the colors you want to paint your walls and how will you can make the walls look decorative and make the rooms in your house look more attractive BUT, do you ever give any thought to painting the ceiling?  Well, painting your ceiling may sound odd, but by doing so you can make the room look and feel different and stylish.  Painting your ceiling can change the entire look of your house.

Ceiling painting can magically transform the room and tie together the color palette, plus it makes decorating even easier.  For example:  If a room has high ceilings then a darker color paint can make the room look warm and cozy, because,  if you want the room look larger you can paint the ceiling with a lighter color.  Remember, it is not necessary that you paint your ceiling according to the color of the walls, though it can definitely make a room feel larger or smaller and add an element of style and flow to the entire house.

As you decorate and paint each room of your house, you should really pay attention to your ceilings. Remember to follow these important rules when you decide to paint your ceilings:

  • Before beginning to paint the ceiling, it is very important to clean it with soap and warm water.  Dust in your house can accumulate on your ceiling, especially if you have ceiling fans or AC ducts con the ceiling.  Ceiling tiles should be cleaned with a mixture of bleach and water.  Properly cleaning your ceiling prior to painting is imperative so that the paint can be coated smoothly and evenly.

 

  • Before using paint on the ceiling it is important, as with painting any surface, to properly apply a coat of primer to the ceiling. Applying a coat of primer to your ceiling will make sure that your coating of paint will dry properly, smoothly, and evenly.

 

  • It is always better to stay consistent while you are painting. For the best results always brush or roll in the same direction so the paint will coat evenly on the ceiling.

 

  • Before you actually begin painting the ceiling it is very important to have these important items handy:  Latex primer, paint, a bucket and/or roller tray, paint roller, bleach, spray bottle, water, rags, newspapers and/or a drop cloth.  These are the essential tools to have when beginning to paint. It is also a good idea to have a drop cloth that can cover the entire surface area of the floor in the room whose ceiling you wish to paint.

 

  • With regards to the color you should use to paint the ceiling take into account the color of the walls, furniture and decorations, check out a variety of color palettes and do some “test runs” by painting small areas of the ceiling where it adjoins the wall.  Most of all USE YOUR IMAGINATION to make your room look unique!

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