Best Primer for Covering Dark Paint Reviews

The walls in your room painted in deep blue, red, or perhaps even black looked fascinating a few years ago. As they fade away or your tastes change, you may want to add fresh colors to your place. But, as it turns out, dark paint is not easy to eliminate. Therefore, you are now looking for the best primers to cover dark paint to redecorate your room or other objects. A good primer will cover up old dark paint and prepare your wall for a new layer of dye.

But it’s not just about coverage; a quality primer also provides a smooth, adhesive surface for paint, ensuring longevity and a flawless finish. The importance of selecting a high-quality product cannot be overstated. A subpar primer can lead to uneven paint application, visible old color patches, and a need for frequent touch-ups.

In this review, I am going to look at several primers that will be perfect for the job. I will also spare a few minutes to explain how to make the most of the reviewed products. Finally, you will learn what to consider when picking a primer for your painting project.

Our pick

INSL-X Aqua Lock Plus

Best primer for dark walls

Multipurpose, 100% acrylic primer sealer that provides excellent adhesion to a variety of interior & exterior surfaces. Read the full review.

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Primer for dark walls comparison table

What to look for when choosing a primer for dark paint?

When you want to hide dark paint with a primer, there are a few things to consider to ensure dark spots do not show through light paint. So, here are a few factors that will help you make the right choice when navigating through a vast selection of primers.

First, pay attention to the fact that there are different shades of primers. In our case, I recommend picking a white primer, not a grayish or transparent one, which is used for light walls. The white color will ensure the highest level of coverage and prevent dark spots from coming out.

Second, consider the type of primer. Use oil-based primers if you will paint wooden or steel objects or are going to use oil paint. However, latex primers will do better for prepping unfinished drywall for painting. They are a healthier alternative to oil-based primers because they come in low- or no-VOC formulas. At the same time, latex primers are thick, so they will ensure even coverage. However, they are not as effective at covering stains as oil-based primers.

Finally, consider the location. For example, if you want to dye the walls in the bathroom, it is better to pick a primer with mold-resistant properties. This ensures longevity in such environments and prevents potential health hazards.

How I tested primers for dark paint

To analyze various products, I applied each paint primer to cover dark colors on my walls, which were previously painted in a dark green shade and had undergone some repairs. To guarantee the effective sealing of the dark paint and avoid excessive layering, I used two coats of each primer on every wall.

Best primer for dark walls reviews

INSL-X Aqua Lock Plus – best overall

Coat over a dark paint with the INSL-X Aqua Lock Plus primer. This acrylic paint is thick and adheres to the surface well, making it a perfect choice for indoor and outdoor projects. You will especially love using it on exterior surfaces exposed to moisture, abrasions, UV light, and dirt. As it provides a mold-resistant coating, you can rest assured that the primer will work even in high-humidity areas. Also, you can use this primer with latex or oil-based coatings.

While Zinsser 260925, another entry from my list, comes only in a white color option, you can choose between white, black, and deep base variations when you get INSL-X Aqua Lock Plus. In addition, you are free to pick among two sizes: 1 gallon and 32 fl oz. Note that because of its thickness, you may need more product to cover the walls.

Zinsser 260925 – budget pick

With a Zinsser 260925 primer, you can cover up dark paint and seal worn surfaces for a smooth finish. This wall primer to cover dark paint is a low-VOC, water-based product that effectively locks down peeling and weathered surfaces, allowing you to apply a layer of any latex or alkyd paint for a uniform finish.

This primer by Zinsser is available in white color only, which perfectly works for covering dark paint. To meet your needs, you can go with quarts, 1-gallon, and 5-gallon sizes.

This product dries a bit slower than INSL-X Aqua Lock Plus. It will take 2 hours for the primer to be ready for recoating. It is easy to use and spread. However, you may need to coat the surface more than once to get better coverage and seal darker shades.

KILZ Adhesion Primer

When you want to repaint a dark-colored object with a lighter shade of paint, you will love the KILZ Adhesion Primer. Just like INSL-X Stix, this product is designed to bond to a variety of hard-to-paint surfaces like PVC, vinyl, glass, tile, glazed brick, chalky paint, glossy finish, and more. Also, I will recommend the Adhesion primer by KILZ if you need to seal porous areas.

This water-based, modified-acrylic primer is thick, so it reduces the need for sanding in most cases. However, it takes roughly an hour to dry before you can apply another layer of primer or paint, which is the average time required for a primer to do its job.

You can find this product in quarts and gallons. Only one color is available – white, and that’s just what you need to hide dark paint. However, this may not be a suitable option if you are looking for a primer for your kitchen or bathroom as it doesn’t have mold and moisture resistance.

INSL-X Stix

When you have to work on previously painted or challenging surfaces, pay attention to INSL-X Stix. It is similar to KILZ Adhesion Primer as they both are formulated to be applied on tile, PVC, glass, vinyl, chalky paint, galvanized metals, or other objects.

This acrylic urethane primer creates a hard film that covers even dark paint. By the way, it is available in white color, an optimal choice for projects that involve switching from darker to lighter shades. You can get this primer in quarts and gallons, so you can get the amount of product that is right for your needs.

The adhesion of the INSL-X Stix primer is nice. I applied two coats of it before painting to seal the dark green paint on the wall. The primer has a smooth matte finish, which makes an excellent base for the paint.

KILZ Original

If you’ve been looking for a primer that will let you cover up heavy stains and odors, KILZ Original is your go-to solution. Its stain-blocking formula seals ink, grease, and other stains as well as pet or smoke odors. Unlike a water-based KILZ Adhesion primer, the Original product is oil-based, so it delivers a tighter seal.

This product works on various surfaces, including drywall, wood, paneling, masonry, wallpaper, brick, and more. However, it’s better to avoid using the Original primer by KILZ on moldy or mildew-prone surfaces or floors.

You can buy KILZ Original in quarts, gallons, and fives. The color palette of this primer is very simple – you can go with the white color, which does a fantastic job of covering up darker paint.

I applied two coats of this primer to get complete coverage, but the first one looked fine. The only complaint is the odor that lasts for a couple of days.

How to prime dark walls?

To make a smooth shift from dark to light walls, I recommend following these steps.

First, clean the walls of dust. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathroom as they tend to collect more contaminants. After this, I will suggest you sand the walls with dark paint. Usually, they are glossy, and new paint may not stick smoothly. The most convenient way to do this is to use an extension pole and a pole sander head with a sheet of drywall sandpaper.

Your next step will be to repair the drywall and patch nail holes before priming the walls. This will ensure you seal the patches so that they do not flash through the paint.

When the repairs are done, cover the floor and tape the baseboard. Primers are messy, so some protective measures will do no harm and let you easily prime the walls without being afraid of spoiling the flooring.

Use a roller to prime the wall. Roll it from top to bottom, avoiding taking too much of the product. If the paint is too dark, use a second coat of primer to maximize paint coverage.

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