I'm not a big fan of the primer and paint in one. Hopefully I can make my point without writing a small novel. I'll use Valspar paint as an example.
My thoughts: Primer is primer. Paint is paint. Primer is less expensive than paint and has a completely different chemical composition and function than paint does. Mixing the two has it's disadvantages.
When you combine the two, I find that more paint has to be used verses using the products separately. For instance. Valspar has a tinted primer for $20. Great product, used it a million times. You tint it 10-20% to the desired color you need so less paint is required to complete the job.
Valspar has a paint, Signature , self priming at $32 a gallon. Here's the problem. Since you're using your paint as a primer, you actually wind up using twice as much paint needed to cover your walls and doing so, this obviously costs more.
Buy the tinted primer at $20 a gallon. Buy Ultra Premium Paint for $28 a gallon. Total cost? $48. If you use a tinted primer, you don't need the extra thickness of self primers. Besides, the first coat of "paint" gets soaked up anyway - that is why you need a primer! Don't use paint as a primer I say.
So, if you use your tinted primer you don't need their more expensive Signature paint. I used Signature in my small office and it barely covered 3 walls. I had to go out and get another gallon. It cost me $64 to buy 2 gallons of their self priming paint. If I had used a tinted primer, and went with their regular Ultra Premium paint, I would have spent just $48.
* prices will vary on the sheen that you are using. These prices are for an eggshell finish.
What are you thoughts?
What are you thoughts?
Wow, thanks for this info Donna! I've always wondered about paint + primer in one... kind of like Shampoo + Conditioner in one... doesn't work! (at least for me). I will be keeping this info in mind for future home painting projects : )
ReplyDeleteDarn! I should have mentioned that in the blog -excellent point about shampoo and conditioner in one. Each has a specific job and they just don't work well - together. I'll have to tweet that.
DeleteDonna,
ReplyDeleteSo glad I found this! Last week I went to Lowes picked up a few samples and placed them on several walls in the two rooms I planned to paint. I looked at them all week in all different lighting and decided on the perfect grey! Went to Lowes to have it mixed up, came home, began painting and loved the color...until it dried! Now I have purple walls! The sample was in base 1, they mixed the paint in Signature paint+ primer (I didn't realize until I began my investigation, just thought "Signature" meant fancy!). I had already primed with Bulls-eye 123, so didn't need the primer. Could my purple problem be from the primer in the Signature? I called Valspar and the only two colors in the mix are black and brown! Your knowledge would be appreciated!
Amber
Amber, I'm sorry you had a bad experience with your color. I first need to to know the name of the color you choose and what your current wall color is BEFORE you painted (priming was a great idea!)
DeleteTell me about the lighting you have in the room as well. The color of the bulb can really play havoc on wall color.
I'll be waiting!
Thanks Donna for your reply. I primed over a dark beige/brown Sherwin Williams color (cannot remember the name!). I have regular 40 Watt Bulbs in the ceiling fan (not the florescent HE bulbs). I do not believe that it is the light because it looks purple even without the lights on and only daylight in the room. The Valspar rep told me that the base I was given was Signature pastel base. I am assuming that the sample base must have been different AND without primer? The color I chose was Laura Ashley Gray Morning. Even Valspar told me that the sample was even the wrong mix, but I liked it! This morning I painted a spot next to the sample with the new paint, and the sample is still perfect,the Signature... Purple.
ReplyDeleteI'm headed back to Lowes to try and resolve this tonight. If not, Valspar told me they would refund!
I have so much to say I don't know where to start! Ok. Gray Morning is a pretty color. When you say it looks “purple” do you mean lavender? Sometimes when a color is so white/light is looks a bit blue - like snow does sometime.
DeleteYou were given the wrong base. You need Ultra White not Pastel. That may make a difference.
Also make sure you have two full coats of paint on the wall before you judge and the yellowness of your bulb will turn this light hue to look a bit lavender.
Just take it back to Lowe's - the customer is always right. I know one of the territory Managers of Lowe's - what state do you live in - just curious :-)
I'd love for you to send me pictures of this! Thanks Amber for the color fun :-)