Do I need to prime my walls before repainting or can the painter just go straight to the new colour?

It depends on the condition of your walls and what you are painting over. If the existing paint is in good shape, the same or similar colour, and there are no stains or repairs, a quality paint with built-in primer is usually sufficient and your painter can apply it directly over the old finish.

However, there are several situations where a separate primer coat is necessary. If you are covering a dark colour with a lighter one, primer prevents the old colour from bleeding through and reduces the number of topcoats needed. Any drywall patches or repairs absolutely need primer - unprimed spackle absorbs paint differently and creates visible blotchy spots called "flashing" that look obvious in Vancouver's natural light, especially in west-facing rooms.

New drywall always needs primer. If you have had any renovations done - a wall moved, a closet added, a patch from plumbing work - those areas need to be primed to match the surrounding surface. Stains from water leaks, smoke, or old marker and crayon require a stain-blocking primer, often shellac-based, to prevent them from seeping through your fresh paint.

In older Metro Vancouver homes, particularly pre-1990 builds, walls sometimes have a chalky or powdery surface from degraded old paint. A bonding primer helps the new paint grip properly in these cases.

Your painter should assess each room during the quoting visit and tell you which areas need primer and which do not. As a next step, point out any known stains, patches, or problem areas during the walkthrough so the estimate accounts for the right prep work from the start.

---

Find a Painting Contractor

Vancouver Paint Contractors connects you with experienced contractors through the https://vancouverconstructionnetwork.com:

• Luvipe Excavation Ltd. ✓
• SRS Roofing & Exteriors ✓
• Fraser Valley Line Marking LTD. ✓