At first glance, hand priming looks affordable — brushes are cheap, primer is the same, and existing staff can do the work. But this calculation ignores the hidden costs that accumulate over every production hour: labour time, material waste, quality rework, drying space, and the opportunity cost of slower throughput.

When you account for all these factors, the cost per linear metre of hand-primed timber is often higher than vacuum coating — even before considering the consistency and quality advantages.