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Property/DIY

Painting over fresh plaster

20 replies

wowfudge · 21/02/2017 08:00

Okay - I know about mist coats, etc on new, looks dry plaster. When can you put your top coat on if it isn't just somewhere you are painting white?

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suzyrut · 21/02/2017 10:15

We are just starting painting our newly plastered house. Top coat (dark green/grey so was a bit worried about it) went on straight after mist coat looked dry, we just gave it a couple of hours. I saw it again yesterday after 48 hours of it being on (we are living in a rental) and it looked perfect.

wowfudge · 21/02/2017 11:19

Good to know. This will be in our kitchen and we want to get the ceilings and walls decorated before the units are fitted as it should be much easier.

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Rupster · 21/02/2017 13:16

When the mist coat has dried? Not sure when else you would paint it.

Brollsdolls · 21/02/2017 13:18

Is the 'mist coat' watered down paint? We are having our bedroom replastered soon and need to get this right!!

wowfudge · 21/02/2017 13:56

Well yes, Rupster, but I've only ever painted a freshly replastered ceiling in white before and put on another couple of coats of undiluted Dulux Trade Emulsion. I'm wondering whether if you use a different topcoat you need to wait longer after mist coating.

Brolls a mist coat is diluted emulsion - the plaster absorbs moisture and a mist coat stops your paint from bubbling or flaking. Dulux Trade advises diluting with 10% water from memory I think although I've read about diluting the mist coat even more - if it's really thin it will splash all over the place.

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PigletJohn · 21/02/2017 20:35

ceilings dry fast because they are thin. An old dry wall that is replastered will dry faster than a wall in a new house that was exposed to rain during build, or a wall that was soaked by a leak, which can take about a year.

you can get an idea of the house still drying out, if the windows are misty in the morning, especially upstairs (water vapour is lighter than air so it rises).

PigletJohn · 21/02/2017 20:42

p.s.

You can put Dulux Trade Supermatt on plaster that is still drying, because it is a porous, non-vinyl emulsion. Most other emulsions have vinyl in them and are not suitable. A few other makers offer "paint for new plaster" that may be similar. Water vapour trying to escape through impervious paint may push it off in blisters or acne.

It can be mixed to a colour of your choice, though white and magnolia are cheaper off the shelf because builders use it.

You can paint over it once the wall is fully dry (Supermatt is not very durable) with a harder-wearing/washable paint, especially in kitchens where there may be splashes.

wowfudge · 21/02/2017 20:43

Hi PJ the work will mainly be skimming.

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Rupster · 22/02/2017 12:45

Wowfudge, a mist coat will always dry really quickly (assuming the plaster it was painted on was fully dry first). I find it dries in minutes rather than hours. As soon as it's dry, you can paint on whatever paint you're using for the room in whatever colour. No extra waiting is needed for non-white paint.

wowfudge · 22/02/2017 12:49

Okay - good to know; thank you.

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MooseyMouse · 23/02/2017 04:40

We were told to use watered-down PVA glue (can't remember the proportions) which went on really easily.

MooseyMouse · 23/02/2017 04:49

Uh oh - I've just read that PVA is bad, bad, BAD so ignore my tip!

wowfudge · 23/02/2017 07:16

Honestly Moosey - we got all the way to the end of thread without a mention of PVA! I am hoping the plasterer doesn't mention PVA to DP or I'll have to kill him in order to get on with mist coating, the plasterer being an expert and all. I may have to do a Gove in those circumstances.

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HomeExtender · 23/02/2017 12:37

How many mist coats should we apply. 3? The plaster in the new bathroom has been dry for 12 months. Yes I know...shocking!!!

PigletJohn · 23/02/2017 12:55

I like two. You will know when you have done enough, when the wall no longer sucks the moisture from your brush. The same applies with masonry paint on bare, absorbent brick or render.

Rupster · 23/02/2017 13:49

I generally do just one mist coat. I tend to water the paint down so it's 3 parts paint to 1 part water. Basically I try to get it as thin as possible without it dripping all over the place when I try to use it (with a wide brush).

I mix it and use it from a paint tray. The paint in the tray tends to dry up and thicken after a while, so every now and then I'll add some more water to it to keep it feeling thin and runny.

HomeExtender · 23/02/2017 14:01

Thank you both that is good to know. I think it's time I cracked in with doing it now!!

Rupster · 23/02/2017 15:47

Be sure to use a bathroom paint as it will be much more resilient to all the moisture that builds up in a bathroom.

swillows · 24/02/2017 18:09

I'm currently painting our replastered dining room and I am doing two mist coats watered down 80/20. I am also finding that they are drying within minutes. I have left the plaster to try out for about 6 weeks though and I'm not in a rush with the room either

HomeExtender · 24/02/2017 21:27

Thanks for the tips, much appreciated!!

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