We often get asked – “I’m painting new plaster and want to achieve the best professional finish. What’s the best paint to use for new plaster”?
A. Painting new plaster is a decorating dilemma that many homeowners face when a room has been re-plastered or a new internal wall built. It’s important to note that painting new plaster is different to painting an ordinary wall. It requires a lot more preparation – and patience! There are extra steps you need to take, including the application of a mist coat paint, before you can add a top coat of your chosen colour. The good news, you’ll find everything you need to know below.
How to paint new plaster? – 4 key steps to follow
1. Leave the plaster to dry
First things first, let your plaster dry properly! Plaster is extremely permeable, which means it’ll soak up any moisture quick. That’s why, allowing it to dry out will help you achieve a more even finish. There are different factors that influence how soon can you paint on new plaster, such as the type of material and weather. As a rule of thumb, plaster takes up to 4 weeks to dry completely. You can speed things up with a heater or by opening a window.
Top tip: If you don’t let the plaster dry and apply emulsion paint to wet plaster, it’s likely to crack and peel off.
2. Mix your mist coat paint
Painting new plaster that’s completely dry can also leave you with uneven brush strokes. So, the next course of action is to create your own mist coat paint. Mist coat paint is simply watered-down emulsion paint, which acts as your primer. All you need to do is get some white emulsion paint and thin it out with water – it’s that easy! Three parts paint to one part water should work. Please read the manufacturers instructions on the paint container, as some do differ.
3. Apply your mist coat paint
Next, apply your mist coat paint to your newly plastered wall. Make sure you’ve prepped the area properly. Some sanding may be required just to smooth off any imperfections. Lay down dust sheets, cover furniture and get your brushes and rollers together.
The mixture will soak into the wall and seal the plaster. It’s this extra layer of moisture that will help your top coat stick, so you can achieve a professional finish. If you spot any flaws in the wall, you can sand or fill them before adding your colour. Don’t forget to let your mist coat paint dry.
Top tip: Watch out for drips! Mist coat paint is really runny, so make sure you roll over drips before they dry.
4. Paint your walls with a top coat
The final step for painting new plaster is the most exciting – adding your top coat and that all important splash of colour. With all the prep work done, you can now paint your wall and decorate your room as you would normally.
“We Can Yabba DABBER Dooo It”
