If you're painting over an off-white wall, why should you use primer?

I guess I just don't see the value in priming--even when painting over raw wood. Isn't it just basically like adding another coat of paint? Someone! Save me from my ignorance! :-)If you're painting over an off-white wall, why should you use primer?
You shouldn't need a primer for your off-white wall unless there are stains (crayon, watermarks, etc.) that will show through regular paint. A stainblocking primer will be needed to cover those first. The same if there is raw wood or metal...regular paint will peel much faster if applied directly with no primer coat. Otherwise, paint away, brother.





PS...you can paint over oil-based with acrylic paint (latex paint in the states) with no problems as long as the oil-based coat is dry.If you're painting over an off-white wall, why should you use primer?
The first reason you should prime if you are painting raw wood, is that the wood will absorb too much paint if you don't prime first. If you are painging an off-white wall you don't really have to prime unless the wall was painted with an oil based paint before and you are using acrylic paint now


You can paint over acrylic paint with oil but you can not paint over oil with acrylic.
It helps the paint stick to whatever you are painting over. E.g. wood, drywall, or old paint. It also saves you from having to apply several coats of paint and prevents any existing stains from showing through.





If you are painting with a similar color as the existing paint, you might be able to get away without the primer. You definitely need it if you are painting over wood or new drywall.
I don't ever use a primer, but I purchase really good paint. I haven't ever had a problem by not using primer.
You use primer for a few reasons. #1: If anything other than paint is on walls (such as crayon, ink, dirt), it will help keep it from bleeding through. #2: If your using a flat paint over a gloss it will help to keep it from showing through - even if you only use one coat of paint. Primer is used to seal the wall that you are painting, then you do not have to use so much paint. When primer is not used and you only paint - when the paint is dry you will see thin spots that look like you haven't put paint all over and it will look spotty.
PRIMER IS FOR NEW SHEET ROCK AND PATCH JOB'S


IT KEEP'S PAINT FROM ABSORB INTO IT AND WOOD


HOPE THIS HELPS
Painting over raw wood is a no-no, the primer will save you a bunch of money later. Just slap in on, don't try to smooth it out.


Paint is not a good primer; paint forms a thin cover, primer seals the wood to help prevent the paint from peeling off.
You should prime any wall your painting otherwise you'll use twice the amount of paint if you don't. Esspecially a raw wood wall because the wood will just suck up all the paint and you'll need tons of paint!!!