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Primer & Undercoat

You will never have a perfect coat of paint on the wall without a good primer or undercoat on there first. They’re the difference between a job done OK and one done perfectly. At The Paint Shed, we have an unrivalled selection of primers and undercoats for any paint job inside and outside, with top brands like Johnstone’s Trade, Zinsser & Dulux Trade in stock.

Find your ideal primer or undercoat now, and if you need it in a hurry, we have a click & collect service available from your nearest Paint Shed location.

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  1. Farrow and Ball Metal Primer and Undercoat
    Farrow and Ball Metal Primer And Undercoat
    From £27.46 £22.88 Was £30.50
    -10%
  2. Recommended

    Benjamin Moore Multi Purpose Primer White
    Benjamin Moore Multi Purpose Primer White
    Special Price £43.20 £36.00 Was £48.00
    Saving: £4.00
    -10%
  3. Crown Trade Full Undercoat (White)
    Crown Trade Full Undercoat White
    From £25.91 £21.59
  4. Teamac High Build Rapidry Zinc Phosphate Primer
    Teamac High Build Rapidry Zinc Phosphate Primer
    From £20.87 £17.39
  5. Teamac Quick Dry Zinc Phosphate Primer P219
    Teamac Quick Dry Zinc Phosphate Primer P219
    From £52.22 £43.52
  6. Dulux Trade Super Grip Primer White
    Dulux Trade Super Grip Primer White
    From £33.17 £27.64
  7. Johnstone's Trade Aqua Undercoat Dark Grey
    Johnstone's Trade Aqua Undercoat Dark Grey
    From £25.19 £20.99
  8. Craig and Rose 1829 All Purpose Undercoat
    Craig and Rose 1829 All Purpose Undercoat
    From £15.00 £12.50
  9. Dulux Trade Metalshield Quick Dry Primer White
    Dulux Trade Metalshield Quick Dry Primer White
    From £56.59 £47.16
  10. Colour Match

    Johnstone's Trade Stormshield Flexible Primer Undercoat Tinted Colour Match
    Johnstone's Trade Stormshield Flexible Primer Undercoat Tinted Colour Match
    From £66.24 £55.20 Was £82.80
    -20%
  11. Dulux Trade Metalshield Zinc Phosphate Primer
    Dulux Trade Metalshield Zinc Phosphate Primer
    From £56.57 £47.14
  12. Crown Trade All Purpose Primer PX4 White
    Crown Trade All Purpose Primer Px4 White
    From £17.78 £14.82
  13. Teamac Rapidry Primer Red Oxide
    Teamac Rapidry Primer Red Oxide
    From £40.27 £33.56
  14. Coo-Var Red Oxide Metal Primer
    Coo-Var Red Oxide Metal Primer
    From £34.49 £28.74
  15. Crown Trade All Purpose Primer PX3
    Crown Trade All Purpose Primer Px3
    From £17.71 £14.76
  16. Colour Match

    Tikkurila Otex Akva
    Tikkurila Otex Akva
    From £25.40 £21.17
  17. Dulux Trade All Purpose Primer Grey
    Dulux Trade All Purpose Primer Grey
    From £31.16 £25.97
  18. New

    Paint and Paper Library Architects ASP
    Paint and Paper Library Architects Asp
    From £23.40 £19.50 Was £26.00
    -10%
  19. Coo-Var All Metal Primer
    Coo-Var All Metal Primer
    From £26.40 £22.00
  20. Colour Match

    Tikkurila Everal Aqua Primer
    Tikkurila Everal Aqua Primer
    From £20.96 £17.47
  21. New

    Bedec Aqua Advanced Enamel Primer Undercoat
    Bedec Aqua Advanced Enamel Primer Undercoat
    From £43.81 £36.51
  22. New

    Bradite One Can Matt White
    Bradite One Can Matt White
    From £31.52 £26.27
  23. Colour Match

    Macpherson Trade High Opacity Undercoat Tinted Colour Match
    Macpherson Trade High Opacity Undercoat Tinted Colour Match
    From £19.15 £15.96
  24. Colour Match

    Armstead Trade Undercoat Tinted Colour Match
    Armstead Trade Undercoat Tinted Colour Match
    From £29.57 £24.64
  25. New

    Bradite One Can Eggshell Black
    Bradite One Can Eggshell Black
    From £31.52 £26.27
  26. New

    Bradite One Can Matt Anthracite Grey
    Bradite One Can Matt Anthracite Grey
    From £31.52 £26.27
  27. New

    Colour Match

    Johnstone's Trade Stormshield Aqua Guard Exterior Undercoat Tinted Colour Match
    Johnstone's Trade Stormshield Aqua Guard Exterior Undercoat Tinted Colour Match
    From £76.20 £63.50
  28. Tikkurila Rostex Super Metal Primer Red Oxide
    Tikkurila Rostex Super Metal Primer Red Oxide
    From £29.54 £24.62
  29. Colour Match

    Tikkurila Luja Universal Primer
    Tikkurila Luja Universal Primer
    From £22.61 £18.84
  30. Bradite One Can Eggshell White
    Bradite One Can Eggshell White
    From £31.52 £26.27

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FAQs

Primer is a type of paint product which creates an initial coating on a surface. This surface allows for the paint you want to use to adhere as best as possible. To avoid any confusion, if you’re looking to paint a bare surface for the first time, you’ll want to use a primer. Some of our most recommended primers include Zinsser BIN AquaZinsser Cover Stain and Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer.

An undercoat is a chance to give your surface a natural base before you apply new paint, i.e. it is a preparation product to go on already painted surfaces. You want to use an undercoat when you are looking to avoid existing colours from bleeding through.
Yes and no at the same time. An old turn of phrase is “undercoat is always primer, primer isn’t always undercoat”. They have the same function of helping a wall take a fresh coat of paint, but primers are only to be used when you’re painting a surface for the first time.

We tend to think of primers and undercoats as something you place over existing paint or a sanded surface to ensure that the first coat gets the best chance possible to stay on. If you’re working with a new surface, be that a re-plastered wall or exterior wall which hasn’t seen a lick of paint before, you’ll want to get a product specifically formulated to help create a strong bond. One of the best products we have available is Crown Trade Stronghold Undercoat White.

You may know the phrase “the floor is lava”. You’ll want to remember “the wall is water” when deciding whether to choose water or oil-based primer/undercoat. Water-based undercoats are great for larger surfaces like your wall and ceiling, as they’ll also tend to use water-based paints. Conversely, with doors and skirting boards needing oil-based paint, an oil-based primer/undercoat is your best option.

We have over 50 types of metal primer in stock. We would recommend you look at some of the differences in products before deciding on one. For example, Zinsser Allcoat Exterior Satin can be used on most exterior metals without having to sand, while Coo-Var Red Oxide Metal Primer is a good primer for ferrous metal.

Most primers and undercoats should give you good coverage with just one coating. When you’re working with a bumpy/porous surface for the first time (wood/masonry), you may need two coats of primers. If you’re using an undercoat and you can clearly see colours peeking through after the initial coat has dried, it will need a second coat.

Double-check you have everything you need before using a primer by visiting our tools & accessories section. It has everything you need to get the job done right. 

Don’t forget that The Paint Shed also has a price promise in place to show that our customers get the best deals possible when shopping for paint primers and undercoats, be that online for delivery or click & collect from your nearest Paint Shed location.