new plastered walls

[jimjoachim]

Hello

Ive recently had a loft conversion done. Got a few quotes for getting it painted but was shocked by the price and decided to give it a go myself.

So the plasterers finished a good 10 days before we started painting and the plaster looks like its dry (light pinkish colour).

I read that it would take at least 3 coats and the first one would need watered down. I didnt think it necessary (??) to waste money on good paint for the first coat so got B&Q own brand (£2 per litre). put the first coat on at the weekend and the paint took to the wall well in parts and not so well in others. It looks a little patchy but i assumed that the second and third coat will sort that out??

Anyway, the builders called past today to collect some stuff theyd left and seemed annoyed that i tried to start painting already. Said that it needed alot more time to dry and that we should have got professionals in (ie the ones they recommended..)

Now im not sure what to do. My father was there helping me today and he is now aggreeing with the builders.

Im thinking a painter wont want to touch it now we've added the first coat (without sanding it down, at a cost obv..).

So, questions are
1. is 10 days generally long enough to dry out (warm room)
2. is it normal that the walls are patchy with the first coat?
3. could the above be due to the cheap paint and will i have more luck with the better paint?
4. Would a reputable painter consider coming in now to finish/fix?

Cheers

 

[misterhelpful]

Assuming it is just a skim over plasterboard then 10 days should just about be enough time for it to dry.

B&Q paint isn't the best but I've used it for mist coating in the past and never had any comeback (a good quality Contract Matt is better).

Patchiness in the first coat isn't uncommon. Providing the mist coat is allowed to dry thoroughly, the subsequent coats should cover better (using a better quality paint).

Unless you have done something drastically wrong which will need excessive remedial work, (hard to know without seeing it first hand) there is no reason why a decorator should refuse to continue/finish the job (I wouldn't have any problem with it).
Theoretically, the plaster shouldn't need sanding before applying any paint but in a loft conversion there are often awkward corners that can be hard for the plasterers to finish perfectly. You should only need to lightly sand any nibs between coats.

 

[jimjoachim]

Assuming it is just a skim over plasterboard then 10 days should just about be enough time for it to dry.

B&Q paint isn't the best but I've used it for mist coating in the past and never had any comeback (a good quality Contract Matt is better).

Patchiness in the first coat isn't uncommon. Providing the mist coat is allowed to dry thoroughly, the subsequent coats should cover better (using a better quality paint).

Unless you have done something drastically wrong which will need excessive remedial work, (hard to know without seeing it first hand) there is no reason why a decorator should refuse to continue/finish the job (I wouldn't have any problem with it).
Theoretically, the plaster shouldn't need sanding before applying any paint but in a loft conversion there are often awkward corners that can be hard for the plasterers to finish perfectly. You should only need to lightly sand any nibs between coats.

My plan for the second coat was similar to the first. Cheap paint and hope it covers more. Then move to quality paint for the last coat or two..

Would i be better using a better paint for the second coat? Should i use my "end game" paint or just a better brand matt white emulsion? Thanks..

 

[misterhelpful]

When I've used the B&Q paint as a mist coat I've always used the finishing paint for the next 2 coats so can't really say how well a second coat of it would cover.
My recommendation would be for you to go the same way but you could try the paint you have on a patchy area first to see if it covers and decide from there.

EDIT: A good even base coat will reduce the number of topcoats required so you may need to but a better quality white matt if the B&Q stuff is still patchy.

 

[TheDec]

Mist coats are not intended to offer good covering power they are applied only to seal the skim, to be honest as far as the finish coats go I would forget the B&Q paint, it does not offer good covering power and you would be far better off with a trade quality emulsion.

Dec