10 Best Drywall Primer Reviews 2020
Introduction
Painting up drywalls can be a time consuming and tiring task. But when it is done, they look fresh and smooth. But just after a month or so, you’ll start seeing paints peeling in some areas on the wall. Why did this happen? Because you forgot an important thing before painting them- applying drywall primer! Without a good drywall primer, your paint will not adhere to the wall for a long time. And there are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to primers. We have come up with a list for you so that you can get the best drywall primer the next time you paint them.
KILZ 2 All Purpose Multi-Surface PrimerProduct Description
First on the list is the KILZ 2 Multi-Surface primer. This is an excellent product for both interior and exterior jobs. It has a very light odor, and can be used on surfaces like drywall, wood, plaster, stucco, brick, and even galvanized and painted metal. If you are looking for a primer that adheres to all the surfaces extremely well, and also prevents mild stains caused by water, ink, or grease, then this is it. KILZ Multi-Surface primer does a great job when it comes to hiding previous paint and spots. It dries in under 30 minutes, and is absolutely ready for a second coat, if required, in an hour. KILZ is a reputed brand, and has won the Paint Brand of the Year in 2015. It is highly recommended as the best drywall primer by professionals.
Pros
- Can be used on different surfaces like wood, stucco, plaster, and galvanized metals
- Dries quickly and is ready to be painted over in an hour
- Thick enough and does not require a second coat many of the times
- Works well on interior as well as exterior surfaces
- Blocks stains like water, ink, marker, or grease
Cons
- Needs to be smoothened quickly as it dries out very fast
- Glidden ONE COAT Interior Paint + Primer
Product Description
Glidden ONE COAT is not exactly a primer, but a paint with primer combined. It is 100% acrylic in nature. Just as the name suggests, it does the job well in just one single coat most of the time. The washability of this product is amazing. You can clean the painted surface frequently without having to worry about peel off or smudges. It comes in multiple shades of white color, and along with that, there are 300 other premium paint colors available. Each paint is claimed to be carefully picked out by professional experts.
Every shade of paint color that ONE COAT comes in three different finishes- flat, eggshell, and semi-gloss. This makes it usable anywhere in the house. All the paints are also low-VOC and low-odor. It makes it easier to paint and does not leave a strong smell after the job is done. It is also great in terms of stain blocking and hiding. Which means you do not need to worry about stains and spots on your wall. It can be used on multiple surfaces, including metal.
Pros
- 100% acrylic paint + primer
- One coat of paint is enough in most of the cases
- Low-VOC and low-odour which means less chemicals and low after-smell
Comes in multiple shades of white plus 300 other paint colors to
- choose from
- Seamlessly hide and blocks stains
Cons
- Thin in consistency
- May peel off easily after drying
- Not suitable for outside jobs
- Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer and Sealer
Product Description
Zinsser produces some of the best painting supplies. One of them is the Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3. This is a primer and sealer which is suitable for both inside and outside surfaces. Just like the Glidden ONE COAT, the Bulls Eye also comes with low-VOC and low-odor, which provides less chemicals, and a low odor. The water-based primer is easy to apply and adheres to surfaces very well. And it also makes the surface breathable, which means you do not have to worry about blisters and peeling. On top of that, it is also mold and mildew resistant. So that you can use it in areas with higher humidity.
The Bulls Eye primer is applicable to multiple surfaces, including drywall, masonry, wood, hardboard, and even galvanized metal. With a 1 gallon tub, it can cover an area of up to 400 square feet and provide a matte finished surface. You can also use it to hide stains and to seal tannin bleeds. It is rust inhibitive which means you can paint over new metal surfaces and glossy surfaces, and get a smooth finish. It can be cleaned with soap and water without worrying about peeling.
Pros
- Can be used on both inside and outside surfaces
- Easily hides stains and seals tannin bleeds as well
- Resistant to blistering and peeling
- Mold and mildew resistant and can be used in humid areas
- Adheres to glossy surfaces perfectly
Cons
- Needs more product usage on painted surfaces to cover them entirely
- Quantity may not be sufficient if multiple coats are required on a larger surface
- KILZ L211101 Adhesion High-Bonding Latex Primer and Sealer
Product Description
Another excellent product from KILZ is the L211101 Adhesion High-Bonding Latex Primer and Sealer. It is made for both interiors as well as exterior surfaces. Painting on porous surfaces require a primer that has great adhesion, and this product successfully fulfills the expectations. It is an all-rounder when it comes to priming. You can use this over a lot of normal surfaces like drywall, wood, and stucco. But you can also use it on many unusual surfaces like PVC, vinyl, glass, tile, chalky paints, fiberglass, and many others.
KILZ High-Bonding Latex Primer is extremely versatile and can be used under a lot of different types of paints and topping materials like epoxy, lacquers, and even xylene and any other solvent-rich products. 1 gallon of the primer can cover surface areas of up to 300 square feet. It is also fade resistant, and can be cleaned with the use of soap and water. It allows strong adhesion to all the topcoats. As it dries to touch under 30 minutes, you can paint over the primer in just an hour.
Pros
- Works on a majority of surfaces that are tough to paint like PVC, glass, and tile
- Provides excellent adhesion to topcoats
- Covers a larger surfaces area with a 1-gallon tub
- Fade-resistant and can be cleaned with water
- Dries to touch in 30 minutes and can be painted over in an hour
Cons
- May requires some experience as it dries quickly and needs to be smoothened after application
- 3M SHR-3-AIO Patch Plus Primer
Product Description
This is a very unusual product to put in the list of best drywall primer. But it is definitely not less than any other product on the list. 3M Patch Plus Primer is a unique, all in one primer. It is a primer, a drywall spackle, a putty knife, and a sanding pad, all at the same time. Now that’s something everyone would like to own. It comes in a tube-like housing which is extremely handy and very easy to use. It is mostly used for priming up smaller damages and the entire drywall.
The tube holds a mix of spackling compound and primer. With a nozzle, it can easily be applied on damages like small holes and cracks on drywall. The tube has a putty knife attached to the back of it, which is very efficient and does not require you to get another knife. And lastly, the cap of the tube is also a sanding pad. It dries off quickly and can be painter over easily. It also hides well and does not flash any paint. It dries off in 30 minutes and does not crack or shrink after drying.
Pros
- Easy to use design
- All in one product includes spackling compound, primer, putty knife, and a sanding pad
- Does not shrink and crack
- Dries in 30 minutes and can be painted over
- Does not flash paint after painting
Cons
- Cannot be used as a primer for entire drywall
- Can be a health hazard as it causes irritation to nose and throat, and contains cancer-causing chemicals
- Zinsser Shieldz Universal Wallcovering Primer
Product Description
A second Zinsser product on the list of best drywall primer is the Shieldz Universal Wallcovering Primer. It is an excellent product for priming drywalls. A gallon of this primer can cover up to a whopping 500 square feet area. The water based formula makes it very easy to apply. It is applicable on a majority of the surfaces, both internal and external, and is a great primer for hanging wallpapers.
You can prime an entire drywall with applying just one coat of Shieldz. It covers the wall very well, and also allows easy adjustment and positioning of wallpaper. It is also designed for easy removal, which prevents tearing of drywall, seam separation, curling edges, and bubbles while removing. The coat dries to touch in under 30 minutes, and is ready for painting or wallpaper hanging right after. It also comes formulated with Zinsser’s Mold and Mildew Shield which prevents the build mold and mildew build up. You can clean it up easily with the use of soap and water.
Pros
- Covers an area of up to 500 square feet with 1-gallon tub
- Water-based product is easy to apply
- Adhesive enough for hanging wallpaper
- Ensure safe removal and prevents drywall damage
- Prevents mold and mildew build-up and can be used in humid places
Cons
- Can have a strong odor which can be uncomfortable when applying on interior surfaces
- Roman PRO-999 RX-35 Drywall Repair and Sealer Primer
Product Description
Just like the 3M Patch Plus Primer, this one is also an all in one product, but a little different. Roman Drywall Repair and Sealer Primer is an all-rounder when it comes to priming up a number of different surfaces. And not just that, it is also a great sealer. This can be used to prime and seal multiple surfaces like drywall, joint compounds, and residual wallpaper paste and can also be used to get smooth finishes on surfaces like skim coats, spackle, popcorn ceilings, and mud joints.
It has a thick consistency that allows it to spread evenly. The no drip formula keeps it from spattering. The coat dries out clear, with a residual tack, which can be smoothened easily. You can use it on both interior and exterior surfaces. It also has a very faint odour, which means it will not leave any smell lingering around after it dries. It takes about 4 to 5 hours to dry before a second coat of paint can be applied. Because of its consistency, it provides great adhesion to both paint and wallpaper.
Pros
- Can be used as a primer and a sealer
- Great for porous surfaces like drywall, joint compounds, and wallpaper paste
- Can be used for unusual surfaces like skim coat, spackle popcorn ceilings, and mud joints
- It comes with a no-drip formula which avoids splattering
- Does not leave odor after drying
Cons
- It takes a long time to dry
- May not protect walls on wallpaper removal
- KILZ KLEAR Multi-surface Primer and Sealer
Product Description
And one more from KILZ on the best drywall primer list is the KILZ KLEAR Multi-surface Primer and Sealer. KILZ seems to push limits when it comes to great quality paint supplies. This product is a primer and a sealer that can be used for both interior and exterior jobs. It is a clear primer and sealer, which is alkali-resistant. Which means it protects topcoats from hot alkali present in bricks, plaster, and cement. It can also be applied on fresh concrete.
1 gallon of KLEAR primer can cover an area of up to 300 to 400 square feet. This primes and seals multiple surfaces like drywall, plaster, wood, aluminum, architectural plastics, and brick and also bonds to chalky surfaces with a little change in color. It dries under 30 minutes and can be painted over or re-coated within an hour.
Pros
- Can be used on interior and exterior surfaces
- Alkali resistant and can be used on hot joint compounds, concrete, and stucco
- Can cover up to 400 square feet in 1-gallon
- Dries to touch in 30 minutes and can be re-coated or painted over in an hour
- Provides strong bonds to chalky surfaces
Cons
- May not deliver perfect finishes to considerably higher or lower temperatures
- Prone to change color when used for bonding chalky surfaces
- Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec High Build Latex Primer
Product Description
Ultra Spec Latex Primer from Benjamin Moore is one of the best drywall primer available in the market today. It is a high quality premium product and can be used as a preparatory coat which is essential to ensure smoother drywall finishes. It is very useful especially on joint lines and minor sanding grooves, but also provides a great quality finish on drywalls and on joint compounds. Ultra Spec Latex Primer also works extremely well on surface imperfections like paper fuzz, uneven sanding, nicks and pinholes.
It is easily dries off and can be sanded off easily if needed. A topcoat can be applied on the same day after it dries, and can be painted over with latex or solvent based paint. It provides a strong adhesion to all kinds of topcoats. Benjamin Moore primer is engineered with Gennex Color Technology, and provides and absolutely smooth finish to drywalls.
Pros
- High-quality premium latex primer
- Provides exceptionally smooth finishes on multiple surfaces
- Can be used on minor impurities such as paper fuzz, uneven sanding, nicks, and pinholes
- Dries off quickly and easy to sand is required
- Adheres strongly to all kinds of topcoats
Cons
- May leave an odor after drying
- Comparatively pricey than other primers on the list
- Valspar PVA Primer
Product Description
The last on the list of best drywall primer is Valspar PVA Primer. It is the first choice of a majority of professional painters. But unlike many other primers on the list, this one is meant for internal use only. You can use it on multiple surfaces efficiently to seal unpainted porous surfaces and make them ready for a topcoat. It also works great on bare drywall, previously painted walls, plaster, masonry, and wood. You can easily brush, roll, or spray it on the surface.
Valspar Primer provides smooth finishes for topcoats and paints that are latex or oil-based. One gallon of primer can cover up to 500 square feet of area.
Pros
- Highly recommended and preferred by professionals
- Applies to multiple surfaces seamlessly
- Can be used on bare and unpainted surfaces
- Can be easily brushed, rolled, or sprayed
Cons
- Cannot be used on exterior surfaces
- May leave an odor after drying
Final Verdict
There are many primers and sealers available in the market. But only a few of them provide the finish and the smoothness that can be called perfect. Out of the 10 primers in the list, KILZ 2 All Purpose Multi-Surface Primer is what we highly recommend.
Being an extremely versatile primer for interior as well as exterior jobs, it efficiently provides smooth finishes and block stains. The thick consistency ensures a great finish in just one coat. It dries fast and can be painted over on the same day. All of these reasons make the KILZ 2 Multi-Surface Primer the best drywall primer on the list.