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# Is primer necessary? | Time Paints

Primer is a preparatory coating applied before the topcoat of paint. It serves several functions that directly affect the quality and longevity of the final finish. First, primer seals porous surfaces — new plaster, bare concrete, or raw wood — so that the topcoat is absorbed evenly rather than unevenly, which causes colour variation. Second, it improves adhesion: primer bonds mechanically to the substrate and provides a surface to which the topcoat can grip, reducing the risk of peeling and delamination. Third, stain-blocking primers seal tannin bleed from wood, nicotine, water stains, and other discolourations that would otherwise migrate through emulsion paints. For new unpainted surfaces, primer is always necessary. For repainting over an existing sound coat of paint in good condition, a full primer coat can sometimes be omitted — but any bare patches, repairs, or stains must be spot-primed before proceeding.

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