Painting pine and mdf (at the same time!)

[MrVander]

I have MDF door frames, and pine skirting and architrave.

I'm confused over what primer and undercoat I need.

I see Ronseal sell multi surface primer, which is ok for wood and mdf, but then what undercoat do I need?

I'm confused as lots of products don't mention if they are ok for mdf, and some products are a combination of primer/undercoat/knotting solution etc.

Please help me,

Thanks,

Mr Vander

 

[footprints]

Once you have primed any undercoat will do. It's the primer that gives the "grip" to the surface, the undercoat helps to level the surface and give a good base to improve the colour on the top coat.

Primer undercoats like all compromises do several things fairly well. A dedicated primer will be good at sticking to and sealing the surface for that it needs to be fairly thin, undercoat needs to be opaque to cover the colour of the wood / MDF and thick enough to flow into a level coat so really needs to be thicker than primer.

My personal choice for undercoat and topcoat is oil based but many people swear by water based ones, me I just swear at them