Atlanta Painting

As a college student in the early 1970’s and later as a homeowner and landlord of several properties, I have painted many houses.  I became very familiar with all types of paints, stains and varnishes.  I was thrilled when water based paints were introduced because I hated the smell and clean up involved with the oil based paints, and the new latex paints were easier to deal with on both counts.  I did worry about the durability of the “new” paints but found that not to be an issue.

Now I am in the process of repainting some properties and my painting contractor and son, who is big into the environmental movement, has been pushing the low VOC paints that Sherwin Williams has on the market.  He claims they are just as good as the old paints and are more eco-friendly. I let him talk me into using the Duration product to re-paint the interior of a rental unit a year ago, and there have been no problems.  In fact, I was most impressed with the fact that the paint was almost odorless.  My concern is the use of the VOC paints on the outside.  Will the weather and sunlight be detrimental to the paint?  Will paints that are rated low in VOC’s be as durable as the regular latex or oil based paints?  Any opinions?

By:  Bobby Macris

This Eco-article is brought to you by GreenWave Solutions.  We are Atlanta’s First “Green” Contractor.  We specialize in Atlanta painting, Alpharetta Painting, Buckhead Painting, Cumming painting, Dunwoody painting, Marietta painting, Roswell Painting, Sandy Springs painting.  Our Atlanta painters are skilled in applying all of the new “Green” coatings.  We offer Atlanta solar systems and Atlanta Roofing, including cool roofs, cool roofing systems, and green roofs.  We also offer Atlanta rain water collection systems, LEED consulting, and LEED certification optimization.

Q.  What is the difference between paints and primers?

A.  Primers are applied to a substrate prior to painting in order to prepare the surface for painting.  There are many different kinds of primers and they all have different applications.  The purpose of all primers is to give the paint a sound surface to adhere.  One commonality of primers is that they have no durability and MUST be topcoated with the appropriate coating.

Most primers on the market now are “universal” primers.  A universal primer can be topcoated with any kind of paint regardless of the base.  For instance, a universal alkyd primer can be topcoated with an acrylic water-based paint.

What are some different kinds of primers?

• Bonding Primers - Are used when adhesion is an issue, like on glass, plastic, or hard glossy surfaces.
• Sealing Primers - Are used to seal in water stains, oil stains, or odors caused by smoke.
• Rust-Inhibitive Primers - Are used to prime ferrous metals which are susceptible to rust.
• Alkyd Primers - Are used to promote adhesion and seal water-based stains.
• Acrylic Primers - Are used to promote adhesion and seal oil-based stains.
• New Drywall Primers - Are used to seal new drywall and even out the porosity of the tape, drywall, and joint compound.

There are many more kinds of primers than this and they can get really complicated and application specific.  They use words like “zinc-modified aliphatic”, which you need a degree in chemical engineering to really understand.  so I’m going to keep it simple since this website in for normal people.

Paints, unlike primers, are meant to protect and beautify a surface.  Paints protect things from UV light, abrasion, water, chemicals, etc.

So the short answer is:

Primers prepare surfaces for painting.  Paints cover the primers and protect whatever it is they are on.

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