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BEHR® Acrylic Alkyd Enamel Undercoater

Starting at$16.98

For excellent performance under higher sheen paints, choose BEHR ® Acrylic-Alkyd Enamel Undercoater. It is specially formulated to have outstanding flow and leveling application similar to oil-based primers, but with easy soap and water clean-up. This product has a quick dry time and blocks medium to heavy tannin stains – making it an ideal primer choice for painting doors, trim, and cabinets.

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Features you'll love

  • Specially formulated to have outstanding flow and leveling application similar to oil-based primers, but with easy soap and water clean-up.
  • Ideal primer choice for painting doors, trim, and cabinets.

Finish & Color

Dries to a non-reflective finish which helps create a smooth topcoat appearance.

Best For Use In

Wood, Ferrous Metals, Drywall, Vinyl, and on Glossy Surfaces or Oil-Based Paint

Coverage

250-400 Sq. Ft. per Gallon

Find step-by-step instructions in our how-to articles and videos.

Reviews

Reviews

Rating Snapshot

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17 reviews with 5 stars.
1 review with 4 stars.
1 review with 3 stars.
0 reviews with 2 stars.
4 reviews with 1 star.

Overall Rating

4.2
17 out of 21 (81%) reviewers recommend this product

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9 to 23 of 23 Reviews .
9 – 23 of 23 Reviews
48189
Review 1
Votes 0
Skill LevelDIY - Intermediate

Looks great!

a year ago
It looks great and went on great! We get so many compliments!

Yes, I recommend this product.

Helpful?
13142
Review 1
Votes 0
Skill LevelDIY - Intermediate

Only name we will buy

a year ago
I have used behr products for years! Started with stain for homemade picnic tables and we were so impressed we tried under oats paints etc. we only had one issue with 1 coat paint but when I made a review they took care of us far above and beyond thank I imagined! Great products great service and great name!

Yes, I recommend this product.

Helpful?
90746
Reviews 3
Votes 0
Skill LevelDIY - Advanced

Outdoor landscaping

a year ago
Our 2 year project has made our dream come to life. A beautiful landscape and pool paint all by Behr we showed off on social media throughout each progress we couldn’t stop. We chose and kept using Behr bc of the quality and gloss look . We retouching pool in few months and thank you for being huge part in this amazing outcome loved by all our neighbors

Yes, I recommend this product.

Helpful?
35611
Review 1
Votes 0
Skill LevelDIY - Advanced

Great product

a year ago
I didn't think this would work. But it's great. I would definitely use it again and recommend it
Helpful?
21043
Review 1
Vote 1
Skill LevelDIY - Intermediate

Love this paint!

a year ago
I painted my kitchen cabinets with it. 6 years ago still looks great. I now use it on interior doors for bedrooms bathrooms base molding and trim because it holds up so well and easy to scrub clean

Yes, I recommend this product.

Helpful?
64501
Review 1
Votes 3
Skill LevelPRO

My go to primer.

2 years ago
I started using the 437 primer spring of 2023. I compared 4 different brand products on a large historic church project for odor, coverage, dry time, bonding, and price. Your product was exceptional in all areas including clean up. The congregation was very pleased that it it did not stink the church up. We finished coated with Marquee satin. Looks great. I next used the primer on some exterior work of a historic home and carriage house and some farm buildings. The 437 primer performed well with these applications and again I finished with Marquee satin. Customers were very pleased. Our home is finished inside and out with Behr paint products. Both my wife and I prefer Behr over any other brand.

Yes, I recommend this product.

Helpful?
Review 1
Vote 2
Skill LevelDIY - Intermediate

Nope.

2 years ago
I was talked into getting the Behr Acrylic Alkyd Enamel Undercoat by a Home Depot associate because I'm also getting the Behr Satin Cabinet Door and Trim enamel paint. He said the Behr cabinet paint is "more picky" with the primer used. He said do "a very light sanding" of the pre- stained cabinets (this primer paint is supposed to stick to glossy surfaces..) and I did. I actually hand sanded quite well. Not sure if it's my cabinets finish or what, but after testing a decent area after hand sanding/wiping down... I can still scratch this primer off. Light scratching is fine, but if you apply some force... you can scratch it right off. Not impressed. I think im going to try the Behr Bonding primer to ensure the primer is fully sticking to the cabinets. I'm returning this because from what I understood it's meant to adhere to glossy surfaces. Absolutely does not - even with decent sanding. I've now had a few bad experiences with Behr products.

No, I do not recommend this product.

Helpful?
Response from Behr:
2 years ago
Christina, Behr Customer Care
Hi there, Thanks for reviewing our Acrylic-Alkyd Undercoater. I'm sorry to hear about the areas that scratched off on your cabinets, and I want to help get your project back on track. Primers are designed to be used as a base coat and do not provide the same durability as a topcoat. We do not recommend scratching at the primer coat, as it can be delicate until it is topcoated. To fix your cabinets, I recommend sanding the scratched-off areas and cleaning to remove any dust. Then, spot prime and allow those areas to dry for at least 1 hour before applying your paint. Once the paint has fully cured, it will not scratch off and should provide the durability you expected. I've also emailed you to get more info about your project and assist further. Thanks again for reaching out, and I hope to hear back from you soon! -Christina
Review 1
Votes 6
Skill LevelDIY - Advanced

Never chips

2 years ago
I have done three kitchens with this enamel on the cabinets and I have yet to see a chip. I will never try anything else!

Yes, I recommend this product.

Helpful?
Review 1
Votes 5
Skill LevelPRO

Never dries hard to the touch

3 years ago
You all need to go back to the drawing board with this product it definitely needs a better drying agent, after a week of applying still rolls when sanding very disappointed. A product should powder sand for the best results.

No, I do not recommend this product.

Helpful?
Response from Behr:
3 years ago
Christina, Behr Customer Care
Hi there, Thanks for taking the time to review our Acrylic Alkyd Undercoater. I'm sorry to hear the primer has not dried as you expected. While sanding is not required before applying your topcoat, you can certainly do this if you need to get a smoother finish. I can recommend increasing the ventilation in your space and allowing a little more dry time, if possible (12-24 hours), before trying to sand again with 200-grit sandpaper. I've also reached out to you via email to get more info about your project and assist further. Thanks again for providing your feedback, and I hope to hear from you soon! -Christina
Review 1
Votes 3
Skill LevelDIY - Intermediate

Cabinets - browns stains after 2 coats

3 years ago
I prepared cabinets thoroughly and then applied two coats. Browns stains continue to come through.
Helpful?
Review 1
Votes 2
Skill LevelDIY - Beginner

leveling is good

4 years ago
I used it on my very very old bathroom vanity. That was oak finish on uneven surface. Using two coats of acrylic-alkyd undercoater, surface became smooth.

Yes, I recommend this product.

Helpful?
28081
Review 1
Votes 5

Sticky

4 years ago
I painted some kitchen cabinets. It doesn't work, it was sticky never dries I messed up my cabinets. Not recommended

No, I do not recommend this product.

Helpful?
Response from Sara, Behr Customer Care:
4 years ago
Sara, Behr Customer Care
Hi Nena5 - Thank you for your review. I'm sorry to hear that your kitchen cabinets feel sticky! If our undercoater feels slightly sticky (like the back of a Post-It Note) after an hour of dry time, you can apply your paint on top. If the finish feels stickier than a Post-It, additional dry time is needed before you apply your topcoat. I've also reached out to you via email to assist you with this further. Thanks again for your review, and I hope to hear back from you. - Sara
Review 1
Vote 3
Skill LevelDIY - Intermediate

Tacky finish! Help!

4 years ago
It has been over 18 hours since I primed my cabinets with this product. They are still tacky. How long will they take to dry so I can put another coat on??!

No, I do not recommend this product.

Helpful?
Response from Sara, Behr Customer Care:
4 years ago
Sara, Behr Customer Care
Hi Ernij - Thank you for your review. I'm sorry to hear that your cabinets still feel tacky after 18 hours of dry time! Typically, this product should feel dry to the touch after 30 minutes and is ready to be recoated after an hour. If the primer still feels slightly sticky at this point (similar to the back of a Post-It-Note) you can go ahead and apply another coat. If the primer feels stickier than the back of a Post-It, it's best to allow some additional dry time before you recoat. I've also reached out to you via email to make sure your project is taken care of. Thanks again for submitted a review and I hope to hear back from you soon! - Sara
Review 1
Vote 1
Skill LevelDIY - Intermediate

Very easy to use with good results

5 years ago
This primer was used over sanded formica cabinets. It adhered well and was easy to apply. I used multiple coats as it was absorbed quickly but a little went a long way. It was also easy cleanup which was a plus. Would highly recommend!

Yes, I recommend this product.

Helpful?
Review 1
Vote 1
Skill LevelDIY - Intermediate

Holds up great!

5 years ago
I used this about two years ago when I re did my counter tops and painted them!! I did a lot of coats of a lot of paint (all behr) and there is only one or two spots that it chipped! It's held up great to extreme heavy use I would definitely recommend!

Yes, I recommend this product.

Helpful?
9 – 23 of 23 Reviews