Bare surfaces must be prepared with the appropriate primer. (See the Primer Selector below.)
Brush application of primer is preferable as this helps to work it into the surface
Read the manufacturer’s instructions (as with all materials) as they differ slightly and may require thinning to ensure they are properly absorbed into the surface.
When sanding paintwork, you may find that you go through to bare wood in places. This should be ‘spot primed’.
| Primer Selector | |||||
| Material | Primer | ||||
| Stone & concrete | General purpose | Stabilising solution | | ||
| Render | General purpose | Stabilising solution | PVA sealer | Alkali resisting | |
| Plaster | General purpose | Stabilising solution | PVA sealer | Alkali resisting | |
| Distemper | Stabilising solution | PVA sealer | Alkali resisting | ||
| Bitumen paint | Aluminium sealer | ||||
| Wood | General purpose | Wood primer | Acrylic primer | Aluminium primer | PVA sealer |
| Oily wood | Aluminium primer | ||||
| Creosote | Aluminium primer | Aluminium sealer | |||
| Ferrous metal | Zinc phosphate | Quick dry metal primer | |||
| Non-ferrous metal | Zinc phosphate |