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Do You Prime Over Spackle? (Read This First!)

We use spackles to cover the minor damage over the drywall. It also works best on plaster. If you have any concerns about the spackle quality and are unsure how to make it durable, it is for you. You will know what you should do before and after applying the spackle from here.

We will also cover the procedure of the spackling and show you the best primer for that. If you have queries, keep them in mind, and follow the tips accordingly. 

Do you prime over spackle?

You need to prime over spackle. Mainly, spackle is a type of drywall mud that you can use to cover the holes and damage to the plaster and drywall. After using the spackle, you must apply the primer to cover that; otherwise, you will get spots and bubbles.

Several reasons are there why you need to prime over the spackles. Among them, the desired finish or the smooth finishing would be notable. You need to prime over the uneven spackles and close them accordingly.

Therefore, you must apply for the prime and get the job done within a while. There might be another reason you need to prime over the spackle, which is to cover the holes professionally so that they won’t come up and peep through the spackle.

Get the Desired Finish:

Most people don’t like the spackle finish; therefore, they use the primer over the spackle and turn the finish into a great one. It will help you cover the holes and damages to the drywall with perfection.  

The finish will be uneven if you don’t apply the primer. Here, you can use any regular water-based primer. You don’t need to have a high-quality primer in that case. 

Make the Spackle Durable:

Spackle will not stick to the paint or drywall firmly unless you apply the primer over it. So, it’s your best practice to use a prime over the spackle and make it durable. Mainly, the primer here will work as an adhesive ingredient. 

It will stick to the spackle and the drywall and make a protective layer on your spackle. Thus, it will strengthen the spackle and help it to last for a long time.

Decorate the Drywall:

It will be challenging to decorate the drywall with only a spackle. You must need a primer over the spackle to finely decorate the drywall. So, it’s another main concern to decorate the drywall.

Can you paint over spackle without priming?

You cannot paint over a spackle without priming. It is a porous material that tends to be more porous than the surrounding wall. It means that painting over spackle without first priming the surface will result in a dull patch on the wall that does not match the rest of the wall’s color. 

As a result, priming the spackle location before painting is critical to the project’s success.

How many coats of primer over spackle?

It may be necessary to apply two coats of primer, depending on how strong or vibrant the preceding color was. 

However, it is not required to apply many coats of primer to achieve the desired result. As long as the primer is applied consistently over the prior color, one or two coats should be sufficient.

Due to the fact that the wall will absorb the first primer coat, two coats are recommended. The second coat will replenish any primer that has been absorbed by the wall and will conceal any flaws in the first coat’s coverage.

What primer to use over spackle?

Using a specific primer is unnecessary; any water-based general-purpose or drywall primer will suffice

If the repairs are minor, you won’t need to purchase a separate primer; instead, you can use a tiny amount of your usual paint and lightly brush it on the affected areas to “Spot-prime” the wall, saving you money. 

Depending on the shape of the primer, it may be necessary to remove or clean it before applying another layer of primer to ensure that it adheres properly. 

Water-based primer is used for walls and ceilings when new work and preparation are necessary, whereas oil-based primer is typically utilized for doors and windows and metal and woodwork. 

Since enamel is more durable than paint, it is generally used to paint surfaces that will be subjected to a lot of traffic or exposure to the elements.

When can you paint after spackling?

You can paint after spackling within a day. Spackle compounds can dry rapidly and shrink minimally, allowing you to mend small damage without waiting 24 hours before repainting. You should make sure the drywall has dried completely. 

First, paint the repaired area with latex paint. Before pulling out the roller, use a small brush to apply a thin layer of ordinary paint to the extent that it has been mended with a spackle. 

If you do not complete this step, the impacted area will have a different texture from the rest of the wall.

How to prime over spackle?

You can prime over spackle through the following tips. They will be your ultimate guidelines on priming.

Clean & Sand: 

First, you need to clean the entire spackle walls or drywall. There should not be any leftovers or any dirt. Otherwise, they will damage the primer and won’t let it stick to the spackle.

You can use sandpaper and sand the area slightly. It will help you to remove the extra dirt and give you a fresh wall where you can apply the prime securely. Remember, sanding is a quick process.

Prepare the Primer: 

Now, the purchase primer needs to be prepared. You don’t need any high-end primer since you will apply the primer over the spackle. Only a water-based primer would do the job and cover the spackle perfectly. 

Apply The Primer & Dry: 

Once you prepare the prime, you need to use it evenly on the spackle. Before that, find out the spots and the uneven area of the drywall. You should cover them first and then go for the final coating. 

It will be a good practice to close the holes and other rough spackles.

When you finish using the primer, you must wait for 24 hours to dry it entirely. It will help you in many ways and will go through the spackle to dry from the inside. If it takes several days to dry, let it be. 

Why does spackle show through paint?

The spackle shows through the paint because of an inadequate preparation. They are not adequately prepped; spackle patches are notorious for bleeding through the layers of paint. It is referred to as “flashing” in some circles. 

It is possible to lessen the appearance of spackle spots on your wall and ensure that your wall retains a beautiful, spotless appearance by following the proper procedures. When you prepare the spackle, you need to mix it properly with the water.

Also, the spackle needs to be applied on a primer since it will not stick to the drywall only. So, if you don’t apply the primer and directly use the spackle and paint it, you will see the spackle through the paint, and it’s a common experience for people who deal with it regularly.

To get rid of the incident, you need to follow the tips I will show you in the following section. But the main thing is the primer and the inadequate preparation. 

What to do if you can see spackle through paint?

If you can see spackle through paint, you can do four things. You should sand the walls first, then apply the primer, paint the entire walls, and finally use the joint compounds. 

But the thing is, you may not require them since you can cover the spackle by following the first two or three tips.

Sand the Walls: 

You should sand the entire walls where you see spackle through paints. It will be an excellent thing to sand the other areas too. After the successful sanding, you must remove the dirt and clean the wall.

Apply Primer: 

Now, you need to apply the prime over the spackle or where you can see the sparkle through the paint. It will be an instant solution to cover the spackle and cover all the holes bubbles.

Paint Entire Wall: 

Another great way would be to use paint. You can paint the entire wall and get the best protection and seal over the spackle. You can also use the existing paint over the wall. It will create an extra layer over the paint and cover the spackle.

Final thoughts

Priming over the spackle would be an excellent practice for the drywall. If you use spackle on your paint or drywall, it might come off the surface and ruin the structure. In that situation, you should apply the prime over the spackle to make it durable and decorate the entire drywall.