Funny. I read about the product too, but figured it was going to be pricier than I want to spend. Primer is primer is primer, no? I've used the deep base primer to paint cabinets, and that worked well. Speaking of deep base primer, Paintguy, should I use this to prime my bare wood beams in my (unheated, detached)garage, or would just a white primer suffice? I remember the paint store recommended it for my previously stained bathroom cabinets, but I can't remember exactly why...better coverage?

Richard First let me say that Aura paint is far and away the most durable paint in the industry but if you want to look at it in terms of only savings which is kind silly since the labor is by far the most expensive part of the job I will show you how Aura s better. Example: Aura paint any color any finish: around $50 per gallon Regular paint varies on color between $30 to $40 a gallon depending on depth of color high quality Primer around $30 if you prime with a light color you can get away with 1 coat over primer, but always best to use 2 coats of paint since paint looks lke swiss cheese under a microspoe and the second coat of paint gives you a more durable finish. Therefore you should use 1 coat primer and 2 coats finish coat. cost for this roughly gallon per coat gallon primer $30 2 Gallons medium tan color $70 (35 each) This job would be a good 3 coat job for $100, not to mention if you dont wash rollers out and the time it takes you to do the other coat the price would rise. IF THIS WERE A DARK RED you would need a tinted primer and 3 coats on top of that costing around $150 since the darker colors are around $40 a gallon and you would need an extra gallon Cost of job with Aura 2 coats guaranteed $50 or $55 each gallon TOTAL $100 or $110 every time with either a white or the deepest red. The paint itself as I show in the link is durable enough to wash off black sharpie magic marker and cover it in 1 coat. Popular science rated it as one of the best new products of 2007 and if you were to use any other paint it would end up costing you more in time, paint, environment, supplies and in short you paint wont hold up nearly as well. Now I proved how Aura is not more expensive in fact is can be less money to use. I would think if you are going through the effort to to paint you might as well be prepared to pay a few more dollars if you had too to ensure the best job with the longest lasting finish. Richard watch the video below. The reason why Aura is better is the re-invented the pigment process. traditional paint with all companies use universal pigments to work with oil and water base paints. The is a problem y with dark colors that require more pigment. The universal pigment does not have good hiding and durable properties to it. the old universal pigments are great for manufacturers since they only need 1 expensive mixing machine to do all paints and the pigment does not clog the machines up since it does not dry. AURA PAINT partnered with the machine makers to have water injection mixers to keep wet to enable to create a water-born acrylic resin pigment only made for AURA. The result is you can actually use the pigment to paint with it's the same durable and coverage as the paint it self. Therefore, it covers 3 to 4 times better and holds onto the surface way better since it's formula is 100% bonding. it is even stronger then primer. Also the pigments allow it to be a true LOW VOC "green" paint. I hope this help richard Here is a link that might be useful: AURA NO PRIMER DEMONSTRATION *SUPERIOR

been paint contracting for 33 years....I will take the old -timers anyday over a fresh-faced kid salesman at benny moore or sherwin.....YOU NEED TO ALWAYS USE AN OIL BASE PRIMER OUTSIDE. ...except for masonry......the oil base freezes the wood and makes it durable.......Yes, i like the v.o.c. laws, but there is no substitute for an oil- based primer.....for a deck I would use oil stain as a primer, not alkyd on walking areas. Its too soft......that old painter was right...good luck with your deck, and listen to us pro's and old timey painters, we've been there.

The traditional answer is that an oil based primer should be used because tannin is water soluble. However, some of the new acrylic, water based primers, such as Kilz Premium, will stop tannin bleed, provided that 18 hours of cure time is given before top coating with a water based paint. Some of the new "paint and primer" paints are also stain blocking. Two coats of the paint itself will stop tannin bleed, but again, only after an overnight cure time before applying the finish coat. And yes, water based paints can be applied over a thoroughly dried oil based primer.