Wait for plaster to dry or move in ASAP and paint later?

[MissMysticFalls]

Hello,

I'm hoping that someone will have done one of these scenarios and can share their wisdom.

We've bought our first home and are in our cramped rented accommodation with small child and cat while the plasterers are in reboarding ceilings and plastering almost throughout.

We've enough money to paint it ourselves but not much so I don't want to stay renting longer than we can or paint twice. I know the rules about mist coats, etc on new plaster but am trying to cost/benefit waiting until it's all dry (how long?) to paint before moving in or move in and paint when it's ready (and when we'll know what colours we might want).

Would you/have you:
A) move in, wait for the plaster to dry and then decorate (mist coat, followed by the colours you want)? Cheapest option, gets us in ASAP, but hassle as (not a lot of) furniture, cat and child are in - we have space to share rooms or put stuff in the garage though.

B) wait a couple of weeks so you can paint all the rooms with microporous mist coat and then two coats of microporous trade PBW, move in, and then paint the colour you want later? Cost of rent, impatient to get in, end up painting twice, but first time is an empty house.

C) paint the ceilings (presumably dry quicker?), move in and then do A).

Thanks.

Having been through the reality of painting ceilings etc. with young children and cats I would really try and get the ceilings and mist coats done before you move in. In an empty house it will take a couple of days otherwise erm a few weeks of hard work and frustration - remember you will have to keep the cat shut in and they will not be happy!

How long do you expect it to take for the plaster to dry (I can't remember) with the heating on low and in this weather hopefully it will be quite quick?

Wait for it to dry then paint. Treat it as a cost of moving (the extra rent). Don't move in until you've painted. Honestly you don't want to get it wrong. I'd also just paint it trade white then move in. You can spend more time deciding on colours and paaint of an evening.

Thanks. I think the ceilings will be quick but the walls could be weeks especially as we can't be there everyday opening doors and windows (relocating).

The cat is a house cat thank goodness! The toddler however...

Would you like to see the photos of my cat "helping", including the paw prints in my newly glossed windowsill and gloss all over the wood floors???

Your cat will still be in a mood if they've been relocated - ours certainly were!

Are there not little windows you lock a bit open? Another consideration is a dehumidifier?

random yes please!
Ok, I think the voices of experience are speaking here. I'll pack DP off with a Thermos, a sleeping bag and some painting stuff and try to keep patient!

I think we will still need the microporous paint to allow the plaster to dry or we'll be here for weeks. Any recommendations?

I would move in now and then do it. You can always use a paint like ECOS that's non toxic and safe for your child and cat. Paint is touch dry within hours so as long as you can close doors to keep child and cat away while painting it should be fine.

I imagine most people paint while living in a property and it's fine.

I would paint it white and move in.

Can you afford a decorator? Costs a bit but so much faster and easier than doing it yourself. I'm not sure I will ever decorate again now.

No need for fancy microporous paint.

Dulux Trade Supermatt is a non-vinyl paint that allows plaster to continue drying. It is available in a limited range of simple colours. It is not as durable as vinyl silk but is easy to paint over once the house is dry enough for the windows to stop going misty. Two well-thinned mist coats are better than one. When the wall stops sucking the paint off your brush it is done. Don't put PVA glue on any surface that you hope one day to paint.

New plaster will start chocolate brown, and turn pale pink. If you see some persistent brown patches it will be over a deep fill or possibly a wet brick. Rub the plaster wuth a damp sponge in case it is dusty. The ceilings will dry first because they are thin.

Fresh air dries it. Open the windows as much as possible. Leave the loft hatch open (water vapour is lighter than air so will rise up through the house and escape.

You can also use big standard emulsion watered down to must coat new plaste. Much cheaper! I cannot remember the quantities but a quick Google search will bring it up.

I'd save the money and move now.

If you don't have lots of furniture it will be easier, it will dry quicker because you are there and can open all the windows.

I would want to live there before deciding on a wall colour. It depends on the light, the feel for the room, etc.

We had new plaster on all ceilings and many walls (we moved in with 3 dc after the structural work was done) and I joked about our F&B colour "fresh plaster".

The only thing is dust. If you cannot stand dust, don't move in before it's painted.

We had no choice as landlord had sold our rental, but considering the amount of money we saved, I'd do it.

Thanks for all the advice. I still need to thin the Dulux Trade Supermatt don't I? pigletjohn?

So we'd put two coats of that on when the plaster seems dry enough, and then paint with the colour we want over the top?

The loft hatch will disappear when the ceilings are reboarded - annoying - but lots of doors and windows so will open it up as much as we can when we can and leave fan lights open - it's a bungalow but guess nothing to nick until we move in!

We absolutely can't afford to get it wrong or pay someone to do it as the asbestos removal, plastering and woodworm treatment has wiped out our savings.

Do you have family that will have your toddler at some point? If so move in keeps as much packed up as possible due to the dust, banish dc for several days once dry and go for it.

You thin Supermatt for the mist coats, then apply it unthinned as a finish.

Then your walls are painted, but can continue to dry out because it is non-vinyl.

You can paint over it with a more durable or expensive paint when you get round to it, and the house is dry enough for the windows not to go misty.

You know I have had lots of walls plastered and never bothered with a mist coat. Just 2 coats of emulsion. Never had a problem.

Dulux trade supermatt tin says to thin paint to water 75/25% for mist coat but our decorator said 50/50 is better. She said unless you are being absolutely sprayed then the paint isn't thin enough. You wouldn't really want any furniture in there when doing mist coat.

yep, thin as milk.

It is actually easier to apply with a big brush than a roller, when it's that thin. It will simply disappear into the wall.

Great, thank you all for your detailed and swift advice. I'd far rather move in after it's painted and that sounds like a good compromise. We can live with white (and grubby toddler handprints) for a while I'm sure.

Supermatt is sold in white and magnolia at most DIY sheds or paint shops, and 150 colours mixed to order at a Dulux Decorator Centre (which is open to anyone)

The mixed is more expensive.

Even better, thank you.