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Ask your QuestionWhen painting on freshly layered plaster, how would be the best way for me to paint over the plaster without causing a mess or any problems to the paint/plaster later?
The plaster is dry, but it has only been a few days since it has been completed.
I’ve been advised that I could apply mist coats first to help seal the plaster – is this necessary, or should I just wait a little longer for the plaster to settle before painting?
Best Answer
"Hi, you definitely need to give it a mist coat, The watered down paint (50/50) with water absorbs into the plaster making sure you have a much better finish if not it can be patchy and won't cover properly at all and more importantly the paint can peel off if the plaster has been finished to a mirror finish. So yes, always apply a mist coat."
Answered on 9th Nov 2019 - Member since Jun 2019 - report"Paint with slightly watered down standard emulsion, a couple of mist (primer) coats will be fine for over coating on the same or next day as the first couple of mist coats will have been soaked up."
Answered on 9th Feb 2020 - Member since Nov 2019 - report"Hi, the best way to paint over a freshly plastered wall is to give it a mist coat 1st, a mixer of 60% water and 40% white emulsion paint."
Answered on 24th Jan 2020 - Member since Mar 2019 - report"Yes. Once the plaster is dry, apply a mist coat (50% water: 50% emulsion). A mist coat is made of watered down paint and applied in a thin layer. You should put a mist coat of paint on new plaster on your walls to seal it and prevent peeling. You can then apply a top coat over the mist coat without having to worry about creases or cracks in the paint due to the newly plastered walls drawing the moisture out of the paint too quickly."
Answered on 16th Feb 2020 - Member since Feb 2020 - report"Would definitely follow what you've been told regarding the mist coat."
Answered on 21st Nov 2019 - Member since Oct 2018 - report"You can repaint now. Add half a pint of water to a gallon of water based paint, stir well and apply, you may need about 3 coats."
Answered on 1st Mar 2020 - Member since Feb 2020 - report"Yes, you can, all decorators will give you different advice on this."
Answered on 14th Nov 2019 - Member since Jan 2018 - report"You should always put a mist coat on bare plaster no matter how long it’s been dry. Just water down some white Matt emulsion and apply it to the bare plaster. This prevents any future peeling of the paint."
Answered on 21st Jan 2020 - Member since Jan 2020 - report"With newly plastered ceilings you will need to give it a mist coat, this is a water mix coat of contract matt paint and water, normally a 40-60 mix. When that is cured, apply 1 coat of contract Matt, then spot fill any indentation and sand them down, spot in with the contract matt and re-coat the whole ceiling."
Answered on 26th Feb 2020 - Member since Dec 2015 - report"Wait for the plaster to dry properly then white wash the walls before you apply your main paint."
Answered on 5th Dec 2019 - Member since Nov 2019 - report"Plaster should be mist coated.
This can be done using either a watered down emulsion or better still, using a product like Super Laytex which is designed for this purpose.
I prefer to use Super Laytex as this allows the plaster to continue to breath and can be applied before the end of the 5-7 day drying time, normally required for new plaster.
Hope this helps.
Scott
FD-Decor"
"Yes absolutely, apply a mist coat first. I personally always do 2 mist coats.
If the plaster has changed from dark to light all over then it's good to go but if you aren't 100% sure then leaving it another day or 2 is advisable."
"First coat on fresh plaster should be watered down emulsion."
Answered on 14th Jan 2020 - Member since May 2019 - report"You could just dilute the paint with some water for the first coat just to help the top coats finish smoothly. As long as the plaster hasn't got dark patches it'll be fine."
Answered on 8th Jan 2020 - Member since Jan 2020 - report"You should probably wait a little longer until it is fully dry and sealed then apply a mist coat then paint it when that's dry."
Answered on 23rd Feb 2020 - Member since Jan 2019 - report"Apply 1 coat of matt emulsion watered down. 60% paint - 40% water.
Stir well.
Once dry apply another coat with slightly less water and the top coat the same.
You can paint new plaster as soon as it's dry.
Avoid paint with vinyl in for first two coats.
Use matt only."
"I would leave your new plastered wall a week before applying a mist coat of matt emulsion then 3 coats of your chosen paint to finish."
Answered on 3rd Feb 2020 - Member since Apr 2019 - report"Hi,
As long as the plaster is dry (no dark patches where it's still wet) then it's ready to paint. Yes, you must apply a mist coat to it first so it adheres to the wall. To apply a mist coat add around 20% water to some paint (it doesn't have to be expensive paint, anything will do, preferably white. Once misted, apply 2 top coats of decent paint."
"Hi Customer.
Very Good question.
My professional advice would be to mist coat any new plaster with a very thinned emulsion paint. Preferably the cheapest colour (usually white) matt emulsion.
The wall must be dry. "Must" be. The crystals in the gypsum are forming a skin surface. They need to be fully set and air dryed. To hand touch. So hold your good spirit.
Dryang times, are varied to the whole surface loosing all. "All" the moisture necessary for longevity in the expense you have already achieved.
Paint is also a wet trade applying more wet moisture will confuse the two processes.
Good luck Customer"
"Just mist coat it as soon as it is dry. Dilute your paint about 30% with water depending on the thickness of paint, you want it to stir easily when using a stick but not like water. Apply the first coat, leave to dry. Quickly give a light rub the walls down with sand paper getting rid of all snobs of plaster etc so walls are smooth. Check for imperfections, holes etc and fill with easy fill. Then apply another 2 coats of neat or slightly watered down paint again depending on thickness of paint when opened, and that should do it"
Answered on 26th Mar 2020 - Member since Jan 2020 - report"Once the plaster has completely dried give it a light sand and then apply a mist coat (diluted Matt emulsion paint) to the walls. Once this is has dried, apply 2 coats of the paint of your choice. Alternatively you could seal the plaster with a coat of diluted PVA solution followed by the finishing paint."
Answered on 27th Oct 2019 - Member since May 2019 - report"The best thing to do before painting new plaster is to give it a coat of emulsion which has been thinned with 50% water. An alternative is to use a bare plaster sealer before finishing with 2 full coats of emulsion."
Answered on 27th Oct 2019 - Member since Aug 2019 - report"Always put a white coat of paint on the new plaster before any other colour or paper."
Answered on 31st Mar 2020 - Member since Mar 2020 - report"No, you would have to apply a mist coat no matter how long you leave the plaster to dry. It needs to be sealed to stop sucking all the moisture out of the paint too quickly."
Answered on 23rd Nov 2019 - Member since Nov 2019 - report