What Do You Do After Applying Acrylic Primer?

About Acrylic Primer

• Primer is a layer of paint that is applied to a surface before the top-coat layers are applied. Primer is usually white. Primer is used on surfaces that have never been painted before, surfaces to which a top coat may not stick very well, surfaces that were previously painted a dark color, and surfaces that are stained, cracked or damaged. Primer can be used to fill in cracks on a surface, making the surface smooth and even. Acrylic primer is a type of primer usually used before applying coats of acrylic paint.

Putty in Cracks

• Over time, exterior wood structures like siding and exterior doors may crack from freeze-thaw cycles and exposure to other temperature extremes. To repair cracks in the wood, wood putty is spread in the cracks and then sanded once it is dry. Although wood putty can be applied before the primer is applied, if the wood underneath is very dry the wood putty may adhere better to a primed surface. After priming the wood, scrape wood putty into the cracks and then sand the putty smooth. If you choose to place wood putty over primer, a second coat of primer must be applied after the putty has been sanded.

Preparing to Paint

• Wait for the acrylic primer to dry according to the instructions on the can. Acrylic paints will dry relatively quickly, especially on hot days. If painting an exterior structure like siding, check the weather forecast to make sure it will not rain before applying the top coat of paint. Check the can of top-coat paint for ideal temperature and humidity conditions before applying the top coat.

Painting

• If painting a wall or a large, flat surface, use a roller to paint the larger areas with your top-coat paint. Apply paint to the corners and to smaller or uneven surfaces with a paintbrush. When painting walls, use an angled sash brush to "cut in" the edges. Cutting in is a term used for painting straight lines of paint along the edge of a plane. You can cut in an edge by holding the brush at the bristle with the tips of your fingers. Fan out the bristles with your fingers and hold the edge of the paintbrush against the edge you're trying to cut in. Slowly drag the brush along the edge of the wall until the edge becomes jagged from lack of paint. Dip the paintbrush into the paint can one-third of the way, then wipe the excess paint off on the edge of the paint bucket. As you practice, cutting in will get faster and you'll become better at it.

Second Coat

• Wait for the paint to dry according to the instructions on the can, then view the surface you painted in full daylight. Look for patches of white visible beneath the paint. If your topcoat is especially dark, you'll likely need two, three or more coats to cover up the primer. Repeat the painting process for each coat you paint, then wait for the paint to dry and apply more coats if needed.