Are two coats of primer necessary?

Question

I am painting a room with dark purple paint, the first coat of primer covered everything, but some of the purple still shows through.

Does the primer need to make the walls look brand new, or is one coat enough?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

You did not have to use any primer for it's priming quality as the walls are already painted and walls that are already painted don't need priming and walls that aren't painted are primed with a very thin coat of ordinary emulsion.

It is a myth perpetuated by DIYers and self-taught decorators that primer is in someway needed on painted walls.

As your walls were purple, it isn't a bad idea to mute the colour first. The standard way to do this is with a pale or mid grey ordinary emulsion. But you can use primer, not for its priming qualities, but for its blocking qualities. You do not need to completely obliterate the purple, especially with the primer. If you have muted it, toned it down, then carry on with two coats of your finish wall emulsion.

Source(s):

Qualified House Painter & Decorator - 30 yrs

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks for the help! My baby (and wife) will be pleased. :)

Answer 2

It's not nessessary. Its just a judgement call on your part.
You can put on another primer coat to cover the purple but then you may still need two finish coats to cover the primer. If the first primer coat covered most of the purple then two finish coats may be all that is needed.

Answer 3

Use a primer&sealer like zinnser and its ok.

its faster and easier to apply two fast thin coats, than one heavy coat, or two heavy coats.

Answer 4

to eliminate such a strong background i would say yes ..you will save on topcoats