Getting tired of your wooden furniture or wooden floors? Before you break out the paint, you should get the best primer for painting over stained wood first! Skipping this step might lead you to a fruitless project as the new paint you put on might not adhere properly to the wood.
Not to worry as there are many primers available in the market, such as latex and shellac. You just need to use the right one so that your new paint will stick to the wood properly. we’ve listed some of the best primers that you can use over stained wood below:
Best Primer for Stained Wood: Zinsser Odorless Primer
When it comes to stained woods, most people prefer oil-based primers. However, the drawback is oil-based primers smell really bad. It’s a good thing Zinsser has formulated the odorless primer.
This oil-based primer is ideal for interior use and has a low VOC. It boasts a solid formula for maximum coverage on wood surfaces. It has a white finish that is flat and bright, making it ideal for painting over. If you decide not to paint over it, it’s okay too as the white color will not yellow over time. Zinsser’s Odorless Primer can dry in as fast as 30 minutes.
Runner Up: INSL-X Prime Lock Plus
Alkyds are polyester resins that are akin to oil but somehow offer more advantages. INSL-X Prime Lock Plus uses an alkyd formula that is deeply penetrating onto different types of surfaces. It blocks stains and has an excellent enamel holdout.
INSL-X Prime Lock Plus is more than just a primer it can be used for sealing too. This fast-drying primer offers super adhesion even on glossy surfaces. If you need another coat of primer, you just need to wait for a little over an hour after the first coat before doing another. This primer can seal tough stains and prevent bleeding of finishing paint coats.
Best Primer for Varnished Wood: Zinsser Cover Stain
Zinsser Cover Stain is an all-purpose primer that also functions as a stain blocker and a bond coat. It can seal all types of stains from water stains to smoke stains. It dries flat quite quickly so you can get on with your painting project in little time.
One of the best things about the Zinsser Cover Stain is you don’t need a brush to spread it. All you need is this product to do the priming. Just make sure to follow the instructions for the best results. Hold the spray can upright, about 20 inches away from the wood. You’ll then do a back-and-forth spraying motion that overlaps for full coverage.
Best Water-Based Primer for Stained Wood:
Kilz Restoration’s Primer gives you the best of both worlds. It is a water-based primer and yet it functions just like a shellac or oil primer. Its formula allows you to block a wide range of stains, including fire damages, tannin, nictoine, and water. This is a good option for wood restoration purposes.
If you plan on sanding the wood after priming, you don’t have to worry. The Kilz Restoration Primer sands easily. What’s more, you can start painting over it one hour after application. The amazing formulation of this primer also allows you to seal smells like pet odor, fire, and smoke.
Best Spray Primer for Stained Wood: Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Primer
A good spray primer does the job and also offers more advantages. Rust-Oleum’s Flat White Primer offers a tight bond so your topcoat will have a long-lasting finish. This spray primer can be sanded whether wet or dry. But you wouldn’t have to wait too long as this primer is also fast-drying, around 20 minutes.
The oil-based Rust-Oleumprimer offers ultra cover and can be used for interior or exterior projects. Aside from providing long-lasting protection it can also prevent chipping. Furthermore, this primer has a low odor. When this primer dries, it offers a flat white finish.
Before You Prime
Now that you have options, it’ll be easy to get the best primer for painting over stained wood. However, before you start spraying or priming, you need to take note of the following:
Prepping is a must
Before you use your primer, you have to make sure the wood surface is actually ready for it. For starters, you need to clean the area that you will prime and paint. Make sure that it is free from peeling paint, mold, chalk, dust, or grease.
Take note of the fine print
Another thing you need to do is to read the label and guide of the primer you bought. You have to follow the instructions provided or else, you won’t be able to get the desired results. This can be anything such as using the right tool for spreading the primer, how long to wait before sanding or painting over it, and more.
Primer type matters
You can’t use just any type of primer on your wood. Again, there are many types of primers available, and choosing the right one can make or break your project. You have to decide if you will use an oil-based or a water-based one. Apart from that, do take note if the primer is intended for interior or exterior use only. There are of course primers that can be used for either.
Don’t forget the actual paint
Finally, make sure the paint you will use on the wood is actually compatible with the primer of your choice. Just imagine spending hours over hours on paint swatches to get the right color (Not to mention the time spent on getting the best primer for painting over stained wood). And then find out the paint won’t dry or adhere completely to your primed wood surface.
Aside from the actual paint, do consider getting a top coat too. Although, there are some paints that no longer require a topcoat. Just check the label or instructions on the paint that you have to see if it is required or not.
Done priming? Check out the best paint for wood crafts