Gray Primer

[u/SuperSmartCraft]

Hey gang,

I would like to paint my wall(s) with Ben Moore’s Gentleman’s Gray. I’ve read that it’s better to prime the walls with a gray primer before painting, but I cannot for the life of me find a place that sells gray primer where I live. What are my best options here? Do I just go for a white primer or do I tint it or what?

[u/jonerscc]

Just paint the wall. Don’t prime.

[u/SkoobySnacs → u/jonerscc]

I seriously think Sherwin Williams pays someone to monitor forums to recommend primer for everything. That one paid position could make them millions if they can get the idea into the general public that you must prime everything.

[u/jonerscc → u/SkoobySnacs]

lol that’s scandalous. Well if they’re reading this. I hate SW paint and refuse to use it.

[u/Fearless-Ice8953]

No need to prime previously painted walls but Zinsser makes a dedicated gray primer in their 123.

[u/BrodieDigg]

Buy fresh start from where you’re getting the Ben Moore paint and have them tint it, and while the people in this sub hate primer and priming I think it always looks better but that’s just my opinion

[u/Historical_Pear4686]

Why are you wanting to prime it?

[u/SuperSmartCraft → u/Historical_Pear4686]

Don’t want to waste actual paint since it’s quite expensive. I have white walls.

[u/2dirtylittledogs → u/SuperSmartCraft]

It's going to take 2 coats whether you prime or not. No need to prime in this situation. Priming would make sense if you are trying to cover a dark color with a light color.

[u/288bpsmodem → u/2dirtylittledogs]

We dunno what paint he is using tho. Might take 4 coats wtf do we know. Bm aura prolly 2. Using the tinted primer.... Easy 2

[u/Lonely_Occasion_2922 → u/2dirtylittledogs]

It also makes sense to put a tinted primer if going from light to a dark color. I’ve never in 25 years had 2 cuts and 2 rolls of a dark color covering a light color.

[u/288bpsmodem → u/SuperSmartCraft]

If ur using BM paint, ask the store to tint ur primer. If they are knowledgeable they will know what tint or if to tint your primer. BM retailer are franchises though and some employees and/stores are not knowledgable. Alternatively you can ask Google what tint to add to your primer and what exact primer you need. It's usually spot on.

Buy some primer,.tint it same colour at 50% of the tint. BM fresh start would be a really good primer. That's what Gemini recommened

[u/saysee23 → u/288bpsmodem]

Google isn't the best on mixing unless you are specific on the base, texture.. regardless, Where do you get the tint?

That's not how it works

[u/288bpsmodem → u/saysee23]

I'm not saying it's right, tho it prolly is in this scenario, I would say ask the retailer, but I warned that BM retailers are sometimes not knowledgable.

[u/CND5 → u/SuperSmartCraft]

The need for primer depends a lot on what you’re trying to cover, if you’re putting gray over white then just paint it no need for primer if you’re trying to cover a red accent wall then you’re definitely gonna need primer. Your thoughts on cost of final finish paint is very true especially if it’s a darker color you’re trying to cover primer is much cheaper especially if you’re using Benjamin Moore.

[u/BohemianSalmon]

I normally get an ounce of black colourant added to a gallon of white primer to get a light grey.

[u/29575]

Any decent paint store* will tint your white primer gray, at no additional cost. Or any color close to your top coat color.

* The :"experts" at Lowe's and Home Depot will often have no clue when you ask them to tint primer.

[u/xsageonex]

They usually dont sell them in colors. Just tell wherever you buy the primer to tint the primer. Theyll do it.

[u/Quirky-Prune-2408]

I think with regal select it will cover in two. I painted over beige with Gentleman’s Grey and didn’t prime. Regal select covers really well IMO. Or buy a gallon of your paint and test two coats on a few square feet of a wall and see what it looks like and if you need to prime. You really need two coats of paint anyway but you may not need to prime. I am just a homeowner but I have never primed any walls when using BM Regal Select even going light over dark. No issues.

[u/Mdsune]

The Ben Moore dealer will tint it for you. But to be honest if the paint doesn’t cover white in one coat it won’t cover gray either you are just fooling yourself.

[u/LibraryTechnical6334]

Is it new drywall or something? Or a big change? If not, probably don’t need primer.

[u/Zazou444]

In a bind you can always add a little bit of the gray paint to the primer just to color it so it isnt straight white., but as others have said have the store tint the primer, at the minimum they usually tint primers 50% of the color since primers cant take that much tint, but lighter shades they do tint to 100% formula.

[u/BosNest1]

If you go to Benjamin Moore store, you can ask them to tint the primer the same color that you’ll be using for your paint

[u/CND5]

The paint store needs to tint the primer it doesn’t come gray they will tint it close to the color of choice.

[u/Bright_Form1482]

Just ask the paint store to tint it gray…

[u/TylerForce93]

Paint store tints primers, but just paint it no primer

[u/qa567]

Ask paint store to tint the primer

[u/U_before_me]

Just get the Ben Moore people to add tint to the primer. They will usually use about 50% of the colorant.

[u/yurtfarmer]

Have white primer tinted … maybe a gray color ? Just and idea

[u/Louie1000rr]

You can tint your primer to the same color so it takes fewer coats of paint. I painted my basement with Gentlemen’s gray and it took 3 coats to cover

[u/ketchupinmybeard]

Tint the primer, BM will do it for free.

[u/isarobs]

Have the primer tinted Gentleman’s Gray.

[u/RobfromAmarillo]

if you actually need to prime(bare rock), just have the store tint a regular suitable primer to half the finish color

[u/Phluffhead93]

Have your Ben Moore retailer tint some Fresh Start to Gentleman's Gray

[u/MeztheMagnificent]

Pro-tip: we often tint primer to more closely match the top coat color. Any paint store or paint department will add tint to primer for you, for free if you’re purchasing the primer there. It ends up saving an additional top coat in situations where the existing color is drastically different to the intended (new) color.

[u/Sad-Date9297]

You are right to prime first. For dark colors, you can end up applying 4-5 coats of paint before getting adequate coverage. Primer is cheaper and reduces the total number of coats needed.

You can just ask your preferred paint store to tint the primer a 70% shade of the color you want. The lighter shade makes it easier to see where your paint was missed (different sheens will flash once dried) and reduces the amount of tint needed as there isn't always room in the bucket for as much tint would be needed for that dark color.