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Yes, you can paint stone on the exterior of a house. It’s important to properly prep the stone by cleaning off dirt and debris. You’ll want to apply at least two coats of paint to get the most even and complete coverage. Any pinholes or missed spots, however small, can allow moisture to get into the masonry and potentially cause the paint to blister and peel from the stone.

Yes, cinder blocks must be primed before painting. Without primer, your paint won't stick to the surface of the blocks. You should use a bonding and filling primer which fills all of the small pores of your blocks. Once the primer dries, you'll have a smoother surface to work with and your paint will stick easily to the blocks.

Patchy paint can be caused by not using enough paint on the roller, applying the paint thicker in some areas than others, or repeatedly rolling over the same spot before a previous layer has dried. To ensure an even finish, use enough paint on the roller for full coverage, apply paint evenly without overlapping, and let each coat dry before applying the next one.

In most cases, paint primer is necessary before painting over wood paneling. A hardy primer formula covers up stains and leaves a grippy surface for the new paint to hold onto. If you don’t use a primer first, you risk poor adhesion, visible blemishes, and a paint top coat that could flake away later. 

There are two primer choices: oil-based or latex-based. Choose an oil-based primer for durability and adhesion, but prepare for extra dry time and more VOC (volatile organic compounds) fumes. Or, pick a stain-blocking latex primer. They’re easy to apply, clean up, and affordable.