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Paint Primers

Shop primers from Benjamin Moore, INSL-X, Zinsser, KILZ, XIM and Envirolak for new drywall, stains, glossy surfaces, bare wood, metal and masonry. Pick by the job below, then topcoat with your paint. We tint Benjamin Moore paint to any of their colours and match colours from other brands too.

Which primer is right for you?

Your project or need Best choice Why
New drywall and plaster Benjamin Moore Drywall Primer K265 Interior acrylic primer that seals new drywall, hides well and dries in 30 minutes. Recoat in 2 hours
Big colour changes, inside or out Fresh Start High-Hiding All Purpose 100% acrylic, interior and exterior, high hide, dries in 30 minutes
Glossy or slick surfaces: tile, laminate, PVC, vinyl, cabinets INSL-X Stix or XIM UMA Waterborne bonding primers made for hard-to-coat surfaces, including glass and fiberglass
Water, smoke or crayon stains, and wallpaper prep INSL-X Aqua Lock Plus 100% acrylic, blocks common stains, recoat in 1 hour, can go under wallcoverings
Severe stains and odours indoors KILZ Restoration or Zinsser B-I-N Block heavy water, smoke and nicotine stains and seal odours. KILZ is water-based, B-I-N is shellac-based
Stains indoors when oil-based performance is needed with less odour Zinsser Odorless Oil-Based Interior-only oil primer for water, smoke, tannin, nicotine and fire stains
Bare wood and cedar or redwood tannin bleed INSL-X Prime Lock Plus Alkyd primer that doesn't raise the grain and takes latex or oil topcoats
Exterior wood, hardboard and metal Zinsser Cover-Stain Oil-based, interior and exterior, recoat in 1 hour
All-purpose primer for wood, drywall, masonry and metal Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Water-based, bonds to glossy surfaces without sanding, topcoat in 1 hour
Stucco, brick, T1-11 siding and rough surfaces XIM Peel Bond High-build, flexible primer that bridges hairline cracks
Cabinets, furniture and millwork Envirolak T9000 One-part water-based primer for stain and tannin blocking on interior wood finishing
Painting around glass in doors and windows Masking Liquid H2O Peel-off film instead of taping every pane

Prep: clean off dirt and grease, scrape loose paint and lightly sand glossy areas before priming. Spot-prime stains first, and test heavy stains on a small area.

Not sure which primer your surface needs? Contact us and we'll help you choose.

14 Products

Paint Primer FAQ

1Do I need to prime before painting?

Prime bare drywall, patches, stains, glossy surfaces and big colour changes. Over sound paint in a similar colour, a paint-and-primer in one is usually enough.

2Which primer blocks water, smoke and tannin stains?

Aqua Lock Plus blocks water stains, tannin, smoke and crayon. For severe stains and odours, use KILZ Restoration or B-I-N. Test heavy stains on a small area and apply a second coat if they show through.

3Water-based, oil-based or shellac primer: what's the difference?

Water-based primers like Fresh Start, Aqua Lock Plus and Stix clean up with soap and water and have less odour. Oil-based and alkyd primers like Cover-Stain and Prime Lock Plus clean up with mineral spirits. B-I-N is shellac-based and cleans up with denatured alcohol.

4What primer sticks to glossy surfaces, tile and laminate?

INSL-X Stix and XIM UMA are bonding primers for slick surfaces. Clean and degrease first, and scuff glossy areas lightly for the best grip. Neither is for tubs, showers or continuous water contact.

5How much primer do I need?

Fresh Start and Bulls Eye 1-2-3 cover about 400–450 sq ft per 3.79 L, and Aqua Lock Plus about 300–400 sq ft. A 12 × 12 ft room with 8 ft ceilings has about 380 sq ft of wall, so one coat takes roughly one 3.79 L can.

6Can I tint primer?

Yes, some of them. Fresh Start comes Tinted in 946 mL and 3.79 L. Stix, Aqua Lock Plus and Bulls Eye 1-2-3 can be lightly tinted with universal colorants. Contact us to ask about a colour.

7When can I prime in Canadian weather?

Check the can. Stix and Bulls Eye 1-2-3 go down to about 2 °C, Fresh Start and Cover-Stain to 4 °C, and Aqua Lock Plus and Odorless Oil-Based need 10 °C or more. All top out near 32 °C. Cool, damp spring and fall days slow drying.