Description #
In this video we will be going through the essentials of priming. Why is priming important, what are the roles of a primer, different types of primers, which primer to choose depending on your situation, and the risks of skipping priming a substrate. We will also take you through the range of RLA Primers and tips for a successful priming application.
Transcript #
0:00
[Music]
0:03
Hello and thanks for joining us for today's episode of Prep Set Go where we take a look at an
0:08
important primary step in any coating or flooring system and that is priming. We'll be going through
0:14
what it is, it's function and choosing the right primer for your project. So first up what is
0:20
priming? Priming is a foundational preparatory step that lays the groundwork for the successful
0:26
overlay of any finish or system to a surface. Whether for painting, waterproofing, installing
0:31
flooring, or any decorative or functional system that needs to be adhered to a surface, priming
0:37
plays a vital role to ensure strong adhesion and long-lasting durability of the system. In
0:42
this video we'll dive deep into the significance of substrate priming and the specific roles they
0:47
play, the different types of primers, and guidance on when and how to use them. Let's begin by
0:53
looking into the importance of substrate priming. Different surfaces and substrates you might come
0:57
across that require bonding either a coating or finish to can vary significantly in composition,
1:03
porosity, and condition. Priming ensures the effective adhesion of your chosen finish,
1:08
ultimately allowing that finish or coating to perform as intended. So what are some of the other
1:13
basic roles of a primer? They include enhancing adhesion of overlaid finishes, dust suppressing,
1:20
and surface stabilization, moisture retarding properties, protecting against debonding
1:26
and general moisture related damage to overlaid finishes, primers can prevent the rapid absorption
1:31
and drying of coatings and adhesives over highly porous surfaces, this helps promote even
1:36
drying and work time and also helps to prevent pin-holing in liquid coatings. Priming promotes
1:41
or facilitates adhesion to otherwise difficult to bond to surfaces or surfaces the applied finish
1:47
would not typically bond to. It improves coverage of liquid coatings and also can protect against
1:52
oxidation - for example with metal primers. So what are the risks of not priming a substrate when
1:58
advised to do so? It can result in weak adhesion properties of coatings and adhesives and finishes,
2:04
leading to premature delamination and adhesion failure. There's pin-holing of liquid coatings
2:09
over very porous surfaces, uneven drying and reduced workability of coatings and adhesives,
2:14
moisture related issues when dealing with damp substrates, including blistering of
2:18
liquid coatings, softening or re-emulsification of adhesives and or warping. So when should you use a
2:25
primer? Essentially, when it's recommended to do so. So always follow manufacturer's
2:31
recommendations as to the requirements for priming a surface. New, old, existing surfaces, porous,
2:37
or nonporous different substrate types, there is a suitable primer for each case. Most applications
2:43
of membranes, liquid coatings, and floor finishes will benefit from the use of a primer. And again
2:49
always follow manufacturer's recommendations. Now let's explore some of the various types of
2:54
primers available and the applications where each type is commonly used. Water-based and acrylic
3:00
or latex primers a versatile primer which is primarily used for absorbent substrates
3:05
including concrete and masonry plaster board and cement sheeting a quick drying and with excellent
3:11
adhesion and absorbing properties designed to support water-based systems and adhesives
3:15
applied over. Specialty bonding primers - used to enhance adhesion of finishes over challenging and
3:21
difficult to bond to surfaces. These primers rely on strong topical adhesion rather than absorbing
3:26
into the surface. Suitable surfaces including ceramic, metals, and PVC and dense concrete.
3:33
Solvent-based primers have good adhesion to porous and non-porous dense mineral surfaces
3:38
and are often used to support solvent-based finishes, coatings or adhesives, applied over,
3:43
often used for priming metal surfaces. Moisture barrier primers include water-based epoxy primers
3:47
used to prevent rising damp or residual moisture from damaging or debonding overlaid finishes and
3:53
coatings. RLA has a number of primers available in their range suitable for various applications,
3:58
and each with their own unique properties. So let's have a look at some of them. Okay here we
4:03
have RLA Universal primer which is a one component highly versatile primer suitable for both porous
4:09
and non-porous surfaces so things like ceramic tiles, PVC, dense concrete, and things like
4:14
that. And it's also used extensively with the RLA floor levelling range as well. Here we have Uni
4:20
Prime which is another water-based acrylic primer designed primarily for porous substrates so things
4:25
like plaster board, concrete, masonry, as well before the application of waterproof membranes
4:30
and tile adhesives. Here we have the PU primer which is used exclusively with PU based systems
4:36
including the Flex Pro sealant range and the PU850 UV waterproof membrane. We also have the
4:42
RLA Zinc primer which is a zinc rich epoxy primer designed for use over metal surfaces to protect
4:48
against rust and corrosion. So what are some of the key tips to applying and ensuring a successful
4:54
priming application surface preparation as we've discussed a number of times on this series proper
5:01
surface preparation is always the number one consideration surfaces must be thoroughly clean
5:06
and free of dirt, dust, loose or contaminating material. Primer selection - carefully choose
5:12
the appropriate primer based on your specific substrate and project requirements. Always read
5:17
manufacturer's recommendations with whatever system you're using for advice on the right
5:22
primer. Primer application - apply the primer evenly using brushes, rollers or sprayers. Again
5:28
carefully follow manufacturers instructions on how to apply, and what to use to apply. Coverage
5:34
rates, number of coats, drying times and other important usage instructions. So here we have
5:40
the RLA universal primer, suitable for both porous and nonporous substrates, here we've got a range
5:46
of nonporous substrates including dense concrete, ceramic tile, and PVC. When applying the universal
5:53
primer over nonporous substrates it's applied in its neat state. If applied to porous substrates it
6:02
can be diluted with water. It's also fast drying and has really good coverage. When applying to
6:12
highly burnished or highly glossed surfaces like glossy ceramic tiles it is advisable to firstly
6:17
lightly scuff that surface just to take off any excess glaze. Here we have our Uni Prime which is
6:25
specifically designed for priming porous surfaces before tiling and applying waterproof membranes.
6:32
It's a single part primer fast drying and serves to increase and improve the adhesion of overlayed
6:39
coatings as well as reducing pin holes associated with porous surfaces as we have here for example
6:44
some plaster board, some cement sheeting, and some concrete - so let's apply some. It's quite thin in
6:52
viscosity designed to obviously penetrate into the pore surfaces and create a temporary seal, so that
6:58
obviously stops the rapid absorption of adhesives and membranes into that, so helps regulate drying
7:06
as well. So to summarize, priming remains a critical step in the installation of coatings
7:13
and finishes and ensures the long-term performance and durability, allowing that system to perform
7:18
as intended and again when in doubt always refer to manufacturer's recommendations. Thank you for
7:24
joining us again for this episode - as always if you have any questions please feel free to reach
7:29
out via our socials or give our friendly customer service team a call. We'll see you next time.