Short answer: National Tex Primer is a white, water-based, alkali-resistant primer made for National’s texture coatings. It also works as a general-purpose primer on interior and exterior concrete, plaster, gypsum and wood. Brush or roll one coat, thinned 15 to 20% with water depending on the surface. It covers about 9.5 m² per litre and is ready for the texture after 2 to 3 hours at 30°C.
Why textures need an alkali-resistant primer
National’s surface preparation guide notes that fresh concrete can reach pH 13 and that coatings over it must be alkali resistant. Textures are mostly used on exterior render and blockwork, so the primer under them has to cope with that alkalinity and give the heavy texture coat something sound to grip. Tex Primer is National’s purpose-made option. Its main alternatives in the texture data sheets:
| Primer | Colour | m² per litre | Recoat (30°C) | Thinning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tex Primer | White | About 9.5 | 2 to 3 h | 15 to 20% water |
| Acrylic Primer (W.B.) | White | 10 to 12 | 2 to 3 h | 10 to 15% water |
| PVA Primer Sealer | Clear | 10 to 15 | 2 to 3 h | 10 to 15% water |
| PVA Primer White | White | See its data sheet | See its data sheet | See its data sheet |
Which textures list Tex Primer
| Uses Tex Primer (as one option) | Uses Acrylic Primer (W.B.) only |
|---|---|
| Tex, Tex Without Marble Chips, Tex Glossy, Minitex, Swiss Sandtex, Super Finetex, Diffatex, Graffio Decor, Nutex, Marbert Finish | Shield Fine Silk, Shield Tex Silk, Shield Ultra Silk, Synplast |
Key facts
| Type | Water-based special copolymer primer |
| Uses | Alkali-resistant primer for textures; general primer for concrete, plaster, gypsum, wood |
| Where | Interior and exterior |
| Finish and colour | Matt, white |
| Volume solids | 42 ± 2% |
| Specific gravity | 1.60 ± 0.05 |
| Spreading rate | About 9.5 m² per litre, by surface |
| Film per coat | 45 microns dry (105 wet) |
| Drying at 30°C | Touch dry 1 hour; recoat 2 to 3 hours |
| Application | Brush or roller |
| Thinning | 15 to 20% with water, depending on surface |
| Shelf life | 18 months, sealed |
Step by step
- Prepare as National’s guide sets out: clean, dry and sound; high-pressure wash exteriors at 2200 psi or more; remove laitance, efflorescence, oil and dust.
- Thin 15 to 20% with water; the data sheet says the amount depends on the surface, so test a small area first.
- Apply one coat by brush or roller at about 45 microns dry.
- Wait 2 to 3 hours at 30°C, then apply the texture.
How much to buy
| Wall area | Tex Primer, 1 coat |
|---|---|
| 50 m² | about 5.3 L |
| 150 m² (boundary wall, both faces) | about 16 L |
| 400 m² (villa exterior) | about 42 L |
Frequently asked questions
Can I use it under emulsion?
Its data sheet calls it a general-purpose primer for concrete, plaster, gypsum and wood, followed by the recommended topcoat system. Check your topcoat’s own sheet for its specified primer.
How much water do I add?
15 to 20% by volume, which is more than National’s emulsions. For example, 3 to 3.6 litres of water per 18 litres of primer (our own arithmetic).
Buy in Sharjah and Dubai
Al Tashteb Al Saree is an authorised National Paints retailer in Bu-Tina, Sharjah. Message us on WhatsApp for Tex Primer and your texture.
Sources
- National Tex Primer data sheet (PDF)
- National Paints surface preparation guide, Sec. A-2 (PDF)
- National Paints systems specifier (PDF)
All via AEC Online, retrieved 4 November 2026. Quantities are our own calculations. The main image is illustrative.
