The Prelude to the Review
I have never paid so much for a primer as I have never used a primer before but due to the dark color and the area I am painting, I figured it was time to invest in a good primer. Although I do not have another primer to compare to the Zinsser Bullseye what I can do is break down the company’s claims to see how honest they are.
Before I can talk about the website claims it is important to know what I am using the primer for as people’s experiences could be different depending on what they are painting. For my project, I am definitely putting the primer to the test as instead of priming a wall I am priming cabinets that have their own paint for a reason as cabinets need to withstand much more abuse than walls. I am not entirely sure what type of paint was used for the cabinets previously but the primer did not like the paint which brings us to the company’s claims.
Claim Number One: Ultra High Hiding – Hides Dark Colors
Does the paint hide dark colors such as my black cabinets? Yes, it does, however, I need approximately three to four coats to achieve a complete covering of the product. This is not a failing on my part either as I have done the necessary prep work of sanding the cabinets and even doing so between coats which I might add does help hide the color.
Although I was not asking for a miracle from the primer, the three to four coats seem to be a lot of paint. For example, I was able to paint a dark gray wall with only three coats of paint and no primer. Overall I would say the claim is true but also any paint or primer can hide dark colors with enough coats.
Claim Number Two: Bonds to All Surfaces without Sanding
This is a toss-up as on one hand it certainly does bond well to the rather glossy black cabinets. On the other hand, sanding will result in a more complete coverage and does seem to improve the overall appearance. So while the claim is technically true I would say that sanding is still a necessary step
Claim Number Three: Seals Uniformly
The paint does seal uniformly with enough coats of the primer but I would not trust the seal of the primer with just one or two coats because at one or two coats the primer is not uniform and lacks an adequate amount of coverage. What I would trust is three coats of primer which does appear to be fully sealed.
The Lack of Time
Unfortunately, I can not test more of the claims of the primer as I am already behind on this post. Testing took longer than I would have liked because painting takes a lot of prep work such as sanding and masking off areas. One of the things I would have liked to test is the durability of the product. It does withstand sanding more than the black paint but as far as long-term durability I will have to monitor the primer for some time.
Additionally, I have not tested how paint adheres to the primer which is an important aspect of primer. Perhaps I will test a cabinet paint and then I could write a review on the paint as well as a follow-up on the primer. I know I would like to include in the follow-up my thoughts on how the paint adhered to the primer and if the primer improved any aspect of the painting process.
Final Thoughts
Overall the primer is okay but as I got it from Walmart it was a full gallon and not a quart and thus it was more expensive at 32 dollars. I think if a person is cautious of the amount of primer used a quart will suffice and save you money. I will link the quart from Amazon if it is something you would like to buy but I would also recommend shopping around just in case a better alternative pops up.
One Can Buy the Primer Here: https://amzn.to/4et6QYT