We offer 3 different levels of wood priming to suit a wide variety of exterior and interior trim & siding projects. Different wood species will absorb more or less finish and may require more surface preparation to mitigate grain raising while keeping moulded details crisp. Primed wood trim for exterior applications should have a fungicide additive for additional protection, and it is common for many quality exterior wood species to absorb a great deal of finish. A coat or primer will even out the painted finish on these open grained and even oily exterior woods. Sanding or buffing the surface after priming will knock back any grain raising and leave a smooth surface for the top coat of paint. Not to mention that you can save time on the job site by not having to deal with the cumbersome sanding of each piece of wood trim. Not sure what is best for you? Give us a call or drop us a line via the contact form below, and we can gladly help you with the specific details of your job.
Good
Prime – Buff
- First coat to make additional topcoats go on easier
- Works best when topcoat is white or a light color
- Raised grain is sanded away for a smooth surface and crisp, moulded details
- May require sanding between topcoats to ensure the smoothest feel and look
Better
Prime – Buff- Prime
- Creates a more consistent, opaque base coat
- Buffing knocks back the initial grain raising for a smooth second coat.
- Necessary when using darker woods or when the top coat is a darker color
- Prevents the splotchy look that appears when top coat is applied to a dark wood or open grained species
Best
Prime – Buff- Prime – Buff
- Completely levels the surface of the wood and preserves the crisp details of the moulded profile
- Opaque look and feel; completely ready for final top coat
- Great choice for any type of topcoat or wood species substrate providing a flawless finish
How Many coats of Paint on primed trim?
Certain open grained woods will soak up more paint than others. With a single coat of primer on something like a Poplar baseboard moulding, only one top coat of paint will be necessary. But switch to an Oak or Sapele trim board and 2 or even 3 coats of paint will be necessary to get an even color. Also some sanding between the coats will be necessary in order to level the surface and maintain crisp moulded details. For our higher end priming options we add a second coat of primer and sometimes even sand/buff that second coat to allow for a single top coat of paint with no need for sanding on the job site.
