Painting new Plaster

[Alleyrabbit]

I'm sure there is probably an answer to this already on here, but as i can't get hold of my plasterer at the moment (i'm sure i will soon as he hasn't been paid yet) could anybody tell me how long i should leave new plaster, a skim coat over exisitng hard wall and plaster board, before i paint it?

i'd like to get it done as soon as possible, as it's the whole upstairs and we're a bit cramped without it but i don't want to wreck it as it all looks so clean at the moment.

Also how do i get bits of plaster off that have been dropped on the finish, erm splatter, without damaging the finish?

Many Thanks

Ali

 

[Robbie uk]

The plasterer, like many other trades will give you all sorts of cock and bull answers about painting. If its only skim and not too deep a week would be fine before painting. You can see the colour change as it dries to a light pink. Give a mist coat, check for filling and a gentle rub down then finish with your top coats. Any splatter on the wall you can get off with a broad scraper which will stay flat to the wall when you scrape it off.

 

[Richard C]

Here’s some cock & bull answers.

It may be OK after 7 days but personally I’d advise you leave it another 3 days, 10-14 days is the norm. By hard wall I assume you mean dot & dab boards over a block wall & not a “Hardwall” plaster base? A skim will look dry (light pink or grey depending) probably the day after it was put on but both the plaster & the plasterboard behind it will still have a higher residual moisture content which could cause blistering in the finish of ordinary, non breathable emulsion paints. A couple of mist coats (thinned 25-30% water) of matt white to prime the surface, fill any blemishes but if your plasterer is any good then you shouldn’t need to. Splatter should come off with a scraper as suggested by Robbie or sometimes it will come off with nothing more than a wet sponge but your spread should really have done that as he finished up.