The Super-fantastic Priming and Painting Poll

[pen_grunt]

Help me LJays. I'm painting my living room this weekend. I hate sanding to prime...is it necessary? I can't decide whether to make an accent wall in the living room going up the stairs (that would match the adjoining dining room). I should note that it's a neutral-toned wood-and-leather (though light wood-and-leather) living room/dining room. Halps!

[Poll #1085159]

Comments

[llythefaerye.livejournal.com]

Already gave you my opinion, I think . . . in this case, I like the accent-wall thingy 'cause it brings your eye upstairs. *nods*

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

I'm inclined to agree. After years of eggshell peach paint in the living room, I'm wondering if I'm not being too "radical" with the accent wall though. And sanding before priming?

*whines* Do I gotta?

[llythefaerye.livejournal.com]

I never have, but then - I don't own a house, either . . . so I dunno.

[purplesquirrel.livejournal.com]

If the wall's already painted, you probably don't need to prime it, especially if the current color is lighter than what you're putting on. The only times I've primed were when I was painting bare wood and new drywall.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

It is lighter, but it's also super-shiny (and probably lead-based...which gives me another excuse not to sand it...), so I'm a tad worried about adhesion. Then again, if we use good paint I'm not so sure it's an issue.

[purplesquirrel.livejournal.com]

I painted over lead paint in my bathroom and I haven't had any problems with adhesion. All I did prior to painting was to clean the surface.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

This piece of wisdom makes me ridiculously happy. I hate (I mean hate) priming things--either by sanding or with gooey primer.

[lisa-e-is-me.livejournal.com]

Just a bit of warning...we used the Ralph Lauren faux suede paint in our house. First, I honestly just wanted the color when I chose it, not the texture, but old Ralph is a tricky bastard, and his samples do not allow for an exact match to his colors in someone else's cheaper latex. Because this was not explained to my husband when I sent him to buy 2 gallons of the Ralph Lauren green in the Behr paint, he didn't know until it was time to pay that the guy had mixed it in the Ralph Lauren paint, which meant we were required to buy it. Cost? About a half million dollars. Also, 2 gallons of regular paint would have been plenty, if it was some other kind of paint, but the faux suede paint doesn't go far at all, and we ended up having to buy 5 gallons. Not. Happy. Seriously, it has been nearly 8 years now since we did it, so I'm fuzzy on the exact number, but I'm pretty sure it was around $40 per gallon. It was very painful, because we were on more of a $10 per gallon kind of budget.

Here's the other thing: there's fine sand in it for the texture, which means it's impossible to wipe down. Also, if someone wearing a sweater happens to lean against a wall coated in that paint, the sweater will catch on it slightly. Not a big deal unless they're wearing cashmere, but I thought I would mention it.

For us, the real rub has been that it was used in the kitchen, which is very much the wrong room for textured paint. But, we are too old, tired and lazy to sand it all off and start over, so it will remain until we move. I will say that the color has held up well over the years, but it has needed touching-up more than the Behr paint used all over the rest of our house has.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

I'm so conflicted. I used the faux-suede in the bathroom (also SO not the right place for it) and it's held up remarkably well.

I'm torn because: a) It IS hella-expensive. Like seriously, I should have been saving for it months ago; b) Then again, I think it would be really pretty with the leather couches in a sort of light tan; c) It's going to take a heck of a lot of paint to cover a living room...and it's expensive; d) But it will be so warm-looking...

I just don't know. The non-matching to other paints is a useful factor to know though...

[pointedthings.livejournal.com]

Also, if you want help on Sunday, I don't have to work, so give me a call.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

Will do. I'm hoping to have most of it done on Saturday (Derrick will be gone all day). I'm so sick of the stupid glossy peach walls.