olivia_moore•1d agoProlific Poster

I stopped buying expensive primer and started using cheap stuff for drywall

I used to swear by the $30 a gallon primer for my basement project in Denver, but after switching to a $12 can from the hardware store, the paint stuck just as well and I saved $60 total on the job. Has anyone else noticed no difference between cheap and pricey primer?

3 comments

3 Comments

lindag331d ago

Oh man, this is so true! I think we've all been tricked into believing expensive stuff is always better. It's like with store brand cereal vs name brand, or generic ibuprofen. Most of the time you're just paying for the label and fancy packaging. Primer is basically just glue and pigment, so once you got the basic chemistry right, the cheap stuff works exactly the same. I've started testing this with a lot of home improvement stuff and found the same thing. Paint, caulk, even sandpaper. The mid-tier stuff is usually the sweet spot for me. You're smart for experimenting and saving that money!

the_diana1d ago

Wait WHAT you just blew my mind with that primer is glue and pigment thing, @lindag33. I never thought about it that way but DUH that makes total sense. Now I'm going to be side-eyeing EVERY expensive makeup product I own.

miles_hall1d ago

$10 wet n wild primer saved my face in 90 degree humidity for a wedding and my expensive urban decay one couldn't even hold up at brunch. @the_diana you're spot on about side-eyeing the fancy stuff lol.