#1 Home Improvement Retailer

Internet # 312733045

Model # 43704

Store SKU # 1005204301

Exclusive

1 qt. White Acrylic Alkyd Interior/Exterior Enamel Undercoater Primer

$16.98
  • Interior/Exterior water-based primer
  • Outstanding flow & leveling helps create a smooth topcoat finish
  • Excellent tannin stain-blocking on wood surfaces
  • View More Details

Ask about this product

Get an answer now with AI

Magic Apron Assistant is an AI virtual assistant. By proceeding, you consent to the recording and use of your information by The Home Depot (and authorized third parties). More information

Product Details

About This Product

BEHR Acrylic-Alkyd Enamel Undercoater is a water-based alkyd primer specially designed to have outstanding flow and leveling, which helps create a smooth topcoat finish. This sandable primer is ideal under higher sheen paints, making it an excellent choice when you are painting doors, trims and cabinets. This stain-blocking formula is ready to topcoat in one hour and has easy water clean-up once you are done with your project.

Highlights

  • Low VOC
  • Can be used on interior and exterior surfaces
  • Works under alkyd, oil and water-based topcoats
  • Helps resist corrosion
  • Quick dry time
  • High hide
  • Easy application using a brush roller or sprayer
  • Online Price includes a PaintCare fee in the following states: CA, CO, CT, DC, IL, MD, ME, MN, NY, OR, RI, VT, WA
  • California residents
     see Prop 65 WARNINGS

Product Information

Internet # 312733045

Model # 43704

Store SKU # 1005204301

Additional Resources

Shop All BEHR
From the Manufacturer

Specifications

Container Size: 1 Quart

Dimensions

Container Size

1 Quart

Details

Application

General Purpose

Application Method

Brush, Paint Sprayer, Roller, Top Coat Required

Base Material

Acrylic

Coating Product Category

Primer

Color Family

White

Color/Finish

White

Coverage Area (sq. ft)

100

Dry to Touch (min.)

30 min

Interior/Exterior

Exterior, Interior

Number of coats recommended

1

Number per Package

1

Paint Product Form

Liquid

Paint/Stain Clean Up

Soap & Water

Paint/Stain Features

Fast Drying, Tintable

Primer Purpose

Sealant, Stain Blocking

Returnable

Non-Returnable

Sheen

Flat/Matte

Surface Material Use

Composite, Drywall, Metal, Vinyl, Wood

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

Lifetime Limited Warranty

Questions & Answers

I am painting my cabinets that I sanded the stain off of. How many coats should I apply of the acrylic alkyd primer? How long should I wait in between coats?
BySep 24, 2026
1 Answer | 
Answer This Question

Hi Phil74, thank you for your question. Typically, only 1 coat of the Acrylic Alkyd Enamel Undercoater is needed. However, 2 coats may be needed for stains or woods that contain tannins. You can recoat or topcoat the surface after 1 hour. Have a great day! -Adelina

By|Sep 24, 2026


    Can this urethane primer be used with an air spray gun?
    ByMay 15, 2026
    1 Answer | 
    Answer This Question

    Hi JBon, thanks for your question. You can use an airless sprayer, roller, or brush to apply our Acrylic Alkyd Undercoater. Have a great day! -Christina

    By|May 15, 2026


      Can this primer be used on interior cement fiber board
      ByJan 29, 2026
      1 Answer | 
      Answer This Question

      Hi Rwalker, thanks for the question. Yes, you can use our Acrylic Alkyd Undercoater for priming cement fiber board. If you have additional questions about your project, please reach out to us directly. Our customer care team is happy to help. -Ronald

      By|Jan 29, 2026


        Will cover stained cabinets without bleeding through?
        ByDec 21, 2025
        1 Answer | 
        Answer This Question

        Hi Jerome, thank you for your question. Our Behr White Acrylic Alkyd Interior/Exterior Enamel Undercoated Primer offers excellent stain-blocking capabilities. After priming, you can apply your topcoat of choice. Have a great day! -Alex

        By|Dec 22, 2025


          I have rusted galvanized gutters. I am treating the rust with Corroseal. Will this product work with galvanized gutters and Corroseal? Thanks!
          ByNov 15, 2025
          1 Answer | 
          Answer This Question

          Hi TheRustyGutter, thank you for your questions. Please reach out to us directly to learn more about your project, so we can assist you best; we are always happy to help. -Alex

          By|Nov 17, 2025


            How much should you dilute this for a paint sprayer?
            ByOct 29, 2025
            1 Answer | 
            Answer This Question

            Hi Joseph, thanks for your question. You do not need to dilute this primer if used with an airless sprayer that has a .015- .019 tip; however, if it still seems too thick, you can add up to 8 oz. of water per gallon to thin it out. Enjoy the rest of your day. -Christina

            By|Oct 29, 2025


              I have interior wood stairs that I sanded the paint down but not completely. Do I have to ise the primer 437 before coating with the Behr premium semi-gloss urethane alkyd enamal?
              ByOct 23, 2025
              1 Answer | 
              Answer This Question

              Hi James, thanks for the question. Bare wood does need to be primed before applying our Urethane Alkyd Enamel. I did want to point out that our Urethane Alkyd Enamel isn't recommended for areas that are walked on such as stairs. A better option would be our Porch & Patio Floor Paint. If you have additional questions about your project, please reach out to us directly. Our customer care team is happy to help. -Ronald

              By|Oct 23, 2025


                My husband thinned down this primer quite a bit for paint sprayer, but decided to use a brush, but still applied the primer. It has been two weeks. I tried lightly sanding today and it gummed up. Please tell me what to do now.
                ByAug 20, 2025
                2 Answers | 
                Answer This Question

                Hi Karen, thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that the primer is gumming up as you're sanding it. Please reach out to us directly so that we can gather more details about your project and find the best way to help. Our Customer Care team is happy to assist! -Giovanna

                By|Aug 21, 2025

                  I'm having the same problem I did the whole kitchen and it peels right off. Did you ever get a answer

                  By|Dec 26, 2025


                    Viewing 1-8 of 65

                    Customer Reviews

                    3.9 out of 5

                    • 3.9 out of 251 reviews
                    • 55% recommend this product
                    Filter by:
                    Showing 1-10 of 251 reviews
                    The covered well, dried quickly. We were very pleased with how everything turned out. We would definitely recommend this product and will certainly use we our future projects.
                    by
                    Great addition to my inventory.
                    This stuff sticks. Clean drips and tools promptly. This ain’t no regular behr latex paint. I am really impressed. I recommend thinning just a little more than recommended if spraying. I used an HTE spray gun. Had a little grain raise, but sanded right off. Great coverage.
                    by
                      • Recommended
                      1 found this review helpful
                      Horrible smoothing and sandability
                      Extremely disappointed with Behr Acrylic Alkyd Undercoat. While it applies quickly, the product flows terribly, drying too fast and leaving noticeable brush and roller marks. Worse, it sands horribly—clogging sandpaper and creating a gritty texture instead of sanding to dust. Achieving a smooth, professional finish is nearly impossible. All this after waiting over a week to dry. Overall, this product was a waste of money and fails to deliver on basic expectations for an undercoat.
                      by
                      Response from BehrDec 10, 2024
                      Hi David, thank you for your review. I'm sorry to hear that the primer was drying too fast leaving roller marks behind. I can understand your disappointment. You can add 4 oz. of water to the primer to slow down the dry time. Once dry, the primer can be sanded easily, so I apologize for the issues you experienced. We appreciate your feedback. Please reach out to us directly if you need further assistance. Our Customer Care team is happy to help! -Giovanna Behr
                        • Recommended
                        1 found this review helpful
                        Don't recommend for heavy stain coverage
                        Disappointed when after 2 coats stain color bled through the primer. I have used other primers that have worked much better.
                        by
                          Great coverage and sealing
                          This paint was used as a base coat on previously painted hollow core doors. As usual, the paint was yellowish rather than white. This undercoater went on smoothly and had good coverage. I toyed with just putting on a second coat and calling it done. But the Behr cabinet paint added a great final finish. With both, I’m confident the doors will look great for years to come.
                          by
                            • Recommended
                            3 found this review helpful
                            This product glides on very smoothly and easily. I am using it to do the baseboard in my garage t...
                            This product glides on very smoothly and easily. I am using it to do the baseboard in my garage that have become stained by exhaust and sediment. After cleaning the baseboard, the primer covered the parts completely and dried to touch after about an hour. It completely covered the areas with one coat leaving no bleed through. It was easy to clean the brush and roller used with soap and water. I would recommend the product for use as a primer.
                            by
                            • Recommended
                            1 found this review helpful
                            Great full-bodied primer with excellent penetration and adhesion properties. Stays in suspension,...
                            Great full-bodied primer with excellent penetration and adhesion properties. Stays in suspension, applies smoothly and evenly. Requires very little effort. Dries with attractive surface character. Amenable to re-coating. I had this workbench of hard maple. It wasn't beat up with scrapes and dings, but it did suffer a lot of staining from miscellaneous paint drops, epoxy and other adhesives, solder flux, ink stamps and years of dirt. (See photograph 1.) I thought this tight grained wood would be a rigorous test of the primer. I rough sanded the surface and dusted it well. Some of the glue and paint droppings had to be chipped off. The first coat went on smoothly, with reasonable coverage (hiding, of which I didn't expect much from a primer) and a good finish, considering I used a disposable brush. (See photograph 2.) I was very impressed with how little mixing and stirring was required. The film cured overnight. Conditions hovered around 60 degrees and 60% relative humidity. (See photograph 3.) So, the ambient conditions were about in the middle of the recommended temperature range and 14 degrees above the dewpoint (5 degrees minimum above recommended) for application. Reasoning that a high build finish would be beneficial for cleaning up future surface abuse, I re-coated the workbench top with the primer. The result was a superior finish with thorough coverage. (See photograph 4.) The next day, the workbench top had dried to a less glossy wearable condition. (See photograph 5.) Based on how well the inter-coats bonded, I'm sure the topcoats will adhere satisfactorily. Overall, I'm impressed with how the primer builds up a film without sacrificing penetration or flow and leveling characteristics. This product is easy to work with.
                            by
                            • Recommended
                            7 found this review helpful
                            I have used several different primers before, but this has to be up there at the top of my list. ...
                            I have used several different primers before, but this has to be up there at the top of my list. I have used this primer to prime bare wood and bare metal as well as to cover up previously painted surfaces like my house's front door. Each time I have used this primer it went on smoothly, did a great job of covering up the underlying material or paint and then helped the subsequent paint to adhere more solidly to the material. It took less than an hour for the primer to dry, making it ready for the paint. In some instances, when using outdoors on a nice warm/hot day with zero to low humidity, it took only about 30 minutes to dry. I especially appreciated using this primer on my exterior bay windows where I recently had some rotted planks replaced with vinyl "wood." Trying to apply paint directly to vinyl is not a good idea as it streaks a lot, and the paint tends to "bubble up." However, using this primer the paint applied quite nicely.
                            by
                            • Recommended
                            1 found this review helpful
                            Smooth and Easy to use. Behr Acrylic - Alkyd Enamel Undercoater is as Advertised. I'm going to pa...
                            Smooth and Easy to use. Behr Acrylic - Alkyd Enamel Undercoater is as Advertised. I'm going to paint my Kitchen Cabinets and could not get the first primer coat to cover as directed my the manufacturer of the cabinet paint kit I purchased. This Behr under coater did the job. Smooth Finish with no roller marks and my finish coat flowed out the same going on over this primer. Now I can start painting. Great Product.
                            by
                            • Recommended
                            3 found this review helpful
                            The BEHR 1 gal. White Acrylic Alkyd Interior/Exterior Enamel Undercoater Primer did excipionly we...
                            The BEHR 1 gal. White Acrylic Alkyd Interior/Exterior Enamel Undercoater Primer did excipionly well on my door. I had contractors in that gouged the door which will need another coat but the trim around the window turned out better than expected for a first coat. The primer is sandable which I really like because I have some places in my bathroom that will need sanding. It is also a leveling primer. I highly recommend the primer.
                            by
                            • Recommended
                            2 found this review helpful
                            Showing 1-10 of 251 reviews

                            Compare Key Features

                            current item

                            Product Snapshot

                            Ideal for interior/exterior projects needing a fast-drying, stain-blocking primer with easy water cleanup.
                            Ideal for heavy stain blocking and mildew resistance, ensuring a smooth, long-lasting finish for any project.
                            Ideal for drywall, plasterboard, wallboard, and wood, this primer seals bare wood with a high-hide white finish for quick recoats.
                            Ideal for stain blocking and mildew resistance, ensuring a smooth, uniform finish in high-humidity areas like bathrooms.

                            Coverage Area

                            100 sq. ft
                            100 sq. ft/gal
                            400 sq. ft
                            400 sq. ft

                            Drying Time

                            30 min
                            30 min
                            30 min
                            30 min

                            Stain Blocking

                            Mold and Mildew Resistance

                            High Humidity Suitability