Type of paint for new plaster

[BonfireGirl]

Please can someone advise if I need to use a special paint for the first coat on new plaster. Thanks!

 

[Richard C]

New plaster skim must be left 10 days before you paint, base plaster/render & skim up to 28 days. You don’t need to use special paint to prime new plaster; ordinary matt emulsion thinned 25-30%, apply 2/3coats in quick succession, leave overnight to dry then apply your chosen paint finish; do not use PVA. For finish coats, I always thin emulsion around 5%, it gives a better finish.

 

[joe-90]

I always thin emulsion around 5%, it gives a better finish.

Ditto. No more roller stipple.

 

[BonfireGirl]

New plaster skim must be left 10 days before you paint, base plaster/render & skim up to 28 days.

28 days? Blimey - thanks for telling me (I thought that once it changed colour it would be okay to paint). Thanks again!

 

[Richard C]

28 days? Blimey - thanks for telling me (I thought that once it changed colour it would be okay to paint). Thanks again!

Just to clarify; the 28 days is only if you’ve had a new render/plaster base with finish plaster skim over the top where the total thickness can up to 15mm. If it’s just a finish plaster skim over existing plaster (2-4mm) then 10 days is all you need.

Even though plaster may look dry (the change of colour) there will be a still be a high residual moisture content, if you don’t wait until it’s dried out sufficiently the paint won’t adhere properly, will bubble/blister as the moisture tries to escape & may crack & fall off. You can get breathable plaster primer but you won’t be able to finish paint that anyway so you might as well stick with standard matt emulsion, it’s a lot cheaper.