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.
Estimates round up to the nearest quart and are based on Kompozit's published coverage. Buy slightly more for touch-ups and color changes.
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.