Primer calculator
Primer covers less per gallon than topcoat paint — typically 300–400 sq ft/gal depending on surface — and almost always wants only one coat. Use the calculator below to size up the right Kompozit PRIME quantity.
The five cases that always need primer
- Bare drywall. The paper face soaks topcoat unevenly without primer.
- Bare wood. Tannins (cedar, redwood, oak) bleed through without a sealing primer.
- Anything glossy. Bonding primer is the only way new paint sticks to old gloss.
- Stains. Water rings, smoke damage, tannin bleed — stain-blocking primer locks them down.
- Dramatic color shifts. Especially light over dark, or dark over light.
Tinted primer is a real shortcut
Most stores can tint primer ~50% toward your topcoat color. Tinted primer means the first coat of topcoat looks much closer to final, which often saves you a coat. This is the difference between three coats and two coats on a deep color change.
FAQ
Yes for previously-painted surfaces in good condition (Kompozit ONE handles those). No for the five cases above — bare substrate, gloss, stains, dramatic color shifts. For those, a dedicated primer like PRIME is a real different product, not marketing.
Most acrylic primers recoat in 1–4 hours depending on temperature and humidity. PRIME recoats in ~2 hours at 70°F.