How to prime wood before painting: why to prime and how

Wood is one of the most used materials for building houses and making furniture. Over time, it began to be used even more, and processing methods improved. But before applying the varnish it must be processed. How to prime wood before painting? You can find out about this in this article.

Do you need a primer? Certainly. Priming wood before painting makes finishing simple and economical, and also extends the life of the material.

The tree is exposed to external influences. This may change the appearance or, over time, the material will begin to deteriorate, and it may also negatively affect human health.

The most common of these impacts are:

1. Ambient humidity. A wooden structure can become deformed, rot, and mold will begin to appear on it. Cheap wood is especially susceptible to rotting.
2. Sun rays. Because of them, the tree becomes dry and its strength may decrease.
3. Insects can damage the structure of the tree.

To protect the material from such influences, wood is treated, varnished or painted. But first you need to prime.

Why do you need a primer?

All cracks and pores are filled with the composition. Thanks to this, mold and mildew will not appear in them. In addition, some compounds protect the tree from insects.

However, primer is not only intended for this. Special substances that impregnate the wood can also cope with this. And thanks to priming, the surface of the wood becomes strong and smooth, and not very permeable. Thanks to this, the paint lies evenly and the structure does not absorb it. This allows you to use it sparingly and reduce costs. In addition, the primer penetrates deep into the base of the wooden structure, making it very durable.

In addition to this, the finishing composition adheres better to the structure. It will last longer, not peel or crumble. Primer is more cost-effective than painting because it costs less.

Average cost of material (RUB)

Important! Work on priming and finishing wooden surfaces must be carried out in a protective respirator and in a ventilated area.

Wood that is intended for priming

If a wooden structure is located outdoors, it will be subject to temperature changes, attacks by pests, rot, and is also negatively affected by moist air.

List of things that should be primed first:

1. window;
2. entrance doors;
3. fence;
4. house siding;
5. balcony, veranda or terrace.

If the wood is to be coated with paint or varnish, then a primer becomes mandatory.

What should wood be protected from?

It is known that wood cannot withstand the influence of natural factors for long. And in order for the structure to last longer, it is necessary to provide protection from various types of damage. These include:

• Various types of natural precipitation act on the tree itself, destroying it and causing the wood to swell. All this leads to a reduction in the service life of structures;
• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation leads to loss of color of the applied coloring composition, as a result the wood dries out. Cracks appear;
• Biological effects, moisture causes mold and mildew to form on the surface, and various insects also like to inhabit the tree.

All these negative factors can be avoided by painting the surface with special means, but what is the best way to paint wood outdoors in order to get protection that will not peel off? This will be discussed below.

A tree cannot withstand the influence of natural factors for long.

What exactly can you prime wood with?

There are several primer solutions for wood before painting.

Alkyd primer

Used if the tree has not been treated. With its help you can get a smooth and even surface, and it is suitable for any finishing work. If you choose a pigment primer, a dense matte film will appear on the surface of the wood. Dries in approximately 12-16 hours. It is not advisable to use it in residential areas due to the presence of organic solvents in it.

Polyurethane primer

Quite expensive. It is used if the wood will be coated with parquet varnish. It is based on polyurethane synthetic resins. It contains a fairly large amount of solvent, and there are no tonic additives.

Silicone acrylic primer

After its application, the moisture content of the wood becomes stable. It will not change when the ambient humidity fluctuates. Naturally, in order to ensure complete protection of the structure from moisture, an acrylic primer should be applied over the entire surface in several layers.

Shellac primer. It is necessary if it is necessary to smooth the surface or remove resin. Suitable for coniferous trees.

Emulsified primer

Can be used for any material, not just wood. It dries quickly (up to 4 hours), it can be diluted with water, it has no unpleasant odor, and it is also safe for humans. Due to so many advantages, this priming method is the most ideal and used.

Epoxy primer. Most often it is paint that is diluted with a solvent. Not a good priming option as there are different recipes and formulations.

Aerosol

It differs from other types of primer in the way it is applied. If in all previous compositions you need to use a roller and a brush to apply paint to the surface of the wood, then here the structure needs to be sprayed. There are advantages and disadvantages to this method. The advantages are that the primer will penetrate well into all crevices and hard-to-reach places, and it also dries quite quickly. The disadvantages are that the aerosol is consumed quite quickly and it is very difficult to determine how many layers of primer have been applied.

Antiseptic primer. It comes in liquid or powder form and is diluted in water. It is used in this way: first, the solution is diluted in a certain amount of water. Then a roller is taken and the primer is applied to the surface. It is necessary to apply several layers so that the solution gets into all the pores and cracks.

putty

There are a large number of compositions for wood putty. It all depends on the type of wood and what it will be covered with. If this is varnishing, then a mixture made with your own hands from PVA glue and wood sawdust is best suited. Homemade putty, after the glue dries, is painted the same color as the wood. It is quite durable and easy to sand.

If the wood is to be painted, then the purchased putty should be applied with a steel spatula in two layers. At the same time, it constantly needs to be dried and polished. Putty paint is quite elastic. If the air humidity is high and the temperature is low, then this type of putty protects the structure from cracks.

Drying oil and enamel

If you need a good penetrating primer, you can use oil paints or alkyd enamels. The best primer for wood that will be coated with oil paint is drying oil. It must be applied in two layers. The second layer is applied only after the first has dried. This may take about a day. It is necessary to dry the surface of the wood on all sides, this will protect the wood from various damages.

In order to protect the wood from moisture, you need to apply hot impregnation with drying oil. There are 2 ways to heat it:

1. the drying oil is heated in a water bath and applied hot;
2. You can first apply cold drying oil and then heat the surface using a hair dryer.

Alkyd enamel

The structure can be primed with glyphthalic primer GF 021. You must first dilute it using turpentine or white alcohol. In this case, the primer will be able to penetrate to a greater depth and, therefore, will better adhere to the base.

There are a lot of priming solutions. Choose the one that suits you.

Painting a wooden floor

Wood is a natural material that can quickly deteriorate without special protection. It follows from this that the main function of the floor covering is to protect it from rot, high humidity, mildew and mold. But this may not be enough. The decor of the house, including the flooring, should please the owners so that they enjoy spending time in it.

There are many reasons to use paint:

• the paint does not allow the wood to absorb moisture or dry out;
• painted floors are not exposed to fungus or mold, and this increases their service life;
• painted floors do not require additional care - they are often simply enough to be washed;
• paint protects the material from temperature fluctuations;
• Thanks to paint and varnish products, you can easily create a beautiful and unique pattern.

Priming process

Everything is simple here. Anyone can cope with this task. Products are always purchased along with instructions. There you can familiarize yourself with the conditions and methods of application. The most important thing is to prepare the surface of the wood.

The first step is to get rid of traces of paint, dust or stains. It is worth removing unnecessary screws and nails.

If the surface is not smooth enough, the material should be sanded with sandpaper or special tools. If water was used during cleaning, it must be dried.

Now you can take a brush or roller and start priming.

Soil types

The range of primers for walls for painting is varied. Based on the type of base, they can all be divided into several groups:

• Acrylic. Universal, good for wood, concrete, chipboard, plaster, drywall, etc. Can be used for porous coatings, dries in about 5 hours, odorless. Not applicable to metals.
• Glyphthalic. Area of ​​application: metal and wood. It dries in about a day and loses its properties in conditions of high humidity.
• Alkyd. A good option for any wood. After treatment, the fibers swell slightly, which significantly improves adhesion. Dries in about 15 hours.
• Perchlorovinyl. A universal preparation that is used for plasters, metal, plywood, wood, etc. Dries quickly and takes about an hour. It is better to choose it for outdoor use due to its high toxicity.
• Epoxy. A two-component product that significantly increases the adhesion of the base. Used for metal and concrete.
• Mineral with gypsum, cement or lime. Use for concrete or brick. Dries from three hours to a day.
• Aluminum. Used for wood. Additionally protects it from fungal infection.

The optimal and most popular option can be considered universal primers, which are suitable for almost any material. They improve the adhesion of the base and strengthen it, but do not have special characteristics. However, in most cases the latter is not required.

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The primer must be chosen correctly based on the type of base

Degreasing the wood surface

For this, turpentine or acetone is used. Wet a rag with the solution. If there is too much resin on the tree, then these places are filled with solvent. This procedure should be repeated 4 times.

In order to remove the old coating, universal removers are used. First, they are applied to the paint and covered with polyethylene for half an hour. Then, using a spatula, remove the softened coating.

Types of decorative coatings

How to paint a wooden porch to get a reliable coating? Paints and varnishes can have not only a decorative function, but also contain protective components

Before purchasing, it is important to study their properties, color, texture

Paints and varnishes can have not only a decorative function, but also contain protective components.

Paints

Colorful substances are produced in different ways, they can have hiding power, or, on the contrary, preserve the wood pattern, creating only a tint effect:

• So, outdoor wood preservative paint that creates a new color will be better suited to an old structure. It will help hide defects; I can use it to cover places where the finishing has peeled off;
• Option 2 is applicable only for the first painting of new structures.

Colorful substances are produced in different ways, they can have hiding power, or, on the contrary, preserve the wood pattern.

Varnishes and impregnations

Transparent varnishes will highlight the natural grain of the wood, creating a reliable protective film on the surface. But they are not suitable for the only means of covering stairs. They can be applied to steps only on top of the paint. A great option for painting outdoor railings.

If the dacha house itself is not painted or covered with facing material, then in order not to create a contrasting porch that will not look appropriate, you can resort to impregnation. Depending on the type, they give a glossy or matte finish. Preserving the natural grain of the wood, making dark fragments even darker.

Transparent varnishes will highlight the natural grain of the wood, creating a reliable protective film on the surface.

Comparative characteristics of dyes for external works

The choice of composition is influenced by cost, service life, and consumption. According to these criteria, the varnish has the highest cost, with the lowest consumption. Can last up to 8 years.

Enamels are cheaper than varnishes, about 2 times, but their consumption is much higher, with a service life of 6 years. Oil paints are even cheaper, consumption is approximately the same as enamels, and this coating will last 5-7 years. Acrylic products have the lowest price, average consumption, and the longest service life of up to ten years.

Acrylic products have the lowest price, average consumption, and the longest service life of up to ten years.

Which composition to choose

In order to make the right choice, you need to focus on the following criteria:

• Color, whether the property of hiding is necessary, or whether the texture needs to be preserved;
• Climate of the area, what maximum temperatures occur (lowest and highest);
• Humidity. General humidity, and frequency of precipitation.

In order to make the right choice, you need to focus on certain criteria.

Useful tips

Air humidity should be low. This will allow the material to dry faster. The air temperature should be from 5 to 30 degrees above zero. The higher it is, the faster the primer will dry. Therefore, you should do this in the morning or evening.

• The first coat of primer should be thin enough to fill all pores and cracks.
• If the wooden tiles are created by pressing chips, then 4 layers of primer should be applied.
• The quality of material impregnation depends on the number of primer layers.
• To apply a new layer, the old one must be completely dry.
• Soil doesn't have to be expensive.
• The primer must be water-repellent. This applies not only to the painting process. The shelf life of the tree itself and how precipitation will affect it will depend on this. It is worth noting that alkyd primer is not afraid of moisture.
• Time. A high-quality primer always dries quickly and is easy to apply.

Advantages of a primed ceiling

The quality of ceiling finishing depends on many factors: the skill of the finishers, the correctly selected finishing materials, and most importantly, the correct technology for the work. There are no small details in construction, and if even one technological operation is missed, or unreasonable savings are made on the building materials required by the technology, then you can forget about the quality and durability of the repairs performed.

The main evidence in favor of the advisability of priming during repairs is the clear and undeniable advantages of primed ceilings:

• Filling the porous surface of the base and binding the dust particles remaining after cleaning.
• Improving adhesion (adhesion) of finishing materials. A slight roughness of the treated surface has a positive effect on the connection of layers of putty, plaster, and paint.
• Creation of an antibacterial coating. If the primer contains antimicrobial components, then the applied primer will serve as a kind of shield against the penetration of fungal diseases, eliminating the appearance of mold and unpleasant corrosion phenomena.
• Increasing the fire resistance of the final finish. The use of special types of primers with fire retardant additives contributes to the non-flammability of the final finish.
• Reducing the actual consumption by 1.5 times of generally expensive ceiling paint, which leads to a cheaper budget for ceiling repairs. The thinnest transparent film of the base primer envelops the porous structure of the base and subsequent surface treatment will require much less putty or paint.

A primed ceiling increases such an important indicator as paint coverage, and after painting the surface will be perfectly flat and smooth.

Ceiling priming is an extremely important technological process that improves the technical and operational characteristics of the finishing coating.