How essential is special plaster sealing stuff?

[ZolaBuddleia]

Was about to paint over new plaster with watered down emulsion, but on the back of the pot I have it says I should use Dulux Sealer for Plaster?

Is this necessary? It's pretty pricey, and I have loads of white emulsion.

We have always just used watered down emulsion

No. Thinned down emulsion is perfect. Decorators call it a mist coat. No need for another trip to b&q.....

Forgot to say that it should be matt emulsion and Use a 50/50 ratio

Phew. So, one coat of 50/50 then I should be able to put the top coat on? The plaster is very pale beige, not that orangey/pink looking stuff. How many coats do you think it'll take?

Took us two coats of water downed emulsion. Wickes is very watery so worked well.

No need - mist coat and then normal paint.

Never heard this before... I've always just emulsioned straight onto plaster, and it has been fine. :)

Right. Have put first coat on. Some of the paint was thicker than in other places due to the difficulty of mixing thoroughly, does that matter? It's all watered down to some extent, I'd say between a third and two thirds.

Why did you do 2 watered down coats? Sorry if there's an obvious answer to that!

Two coats if the plaster is still 'drinking' the paint. You can just paint the plaster with your coloured paint but it is expensive because so much is absorbed.

you must stir it better and longer until it is of the same consistency.

pva is really cheap and works a treat too.

cones in massive tins in b and q.

nonononononononononno!

please never put PVA glue on any surface you hope one day to paint. It is water-soluble and will soften when wetted by the paint, preventing the paint from touching or adhering to the wall.

There are still a few plasterers who recommend it, but most of them have been killed by angry decorators.

Shouldn't use pva - it doesn't allow the plaster to breathe

Right. It's done, and looks great! I did one coat of watered down paint except for the very first bit I did which was very watery and that got two.

Then, a top coat of Matt Dulux Once and it looks fab, v even. I think it helped that the plaster was very pale to start with.

The plaster actually drank in very little, was surprised, much easier than I thought, thanks for the tips!

pigletjohn!