How to Paint New Plaster

If you are doing a bit of redecorating and have had your walls plastered you will likely be wondering what the next step will be.

How do you take this freshly plastered wall and turn it into a stylish space? Are there any pitfalls to avoid?

Well, in this helpful guide, we will be helping you understand everything you need to know when painting new plaster walls.

It is important to make sure it is properly prepared before painting your wall after plastering. If you are too eager and jump straight to painting it can end up not properly adhering to the wall and creating more work for you to do it again.

The good news is that all of this can be avoided by following our step-by-step guide to painting new plaster walls. If this sounds interesting read on to learn everything you need to know.

Steps to Paint New Plaster

Make Sure the Plaster is Fully Dry

Fresh plaster needs a chance to fully dry before you start painting. If you don't let it dry it is likely to crack and peel off leaving you with quite a mess to clean up.

Plaster is very permeable, which means it will soak up moisture quickly. Many factors can play a role in how soon you can paint over new plaster such as the weather and type of material. The drying process can take up to a few weeks.

With good ventilation and a dehumidifier or by opening a window, you can help speed up the process. You will be able to see when the plaster dries as the wet patches (dark spots) will fade away. Once your plaster is fully dried you will be ready to move on to the next step

Apply a Primer Coat

Once your plaster has dried the next step is to apply a primer coat. New plaster will soak in the primer and it will seal the plaster

This is an important step that ensures your

Another advantage of using Optiva Primer is that it can be tinted to a wide range of colours. This makes the application of your top coat far easier and helps you achieve that flawless finish you are looking for.

Mix a Mist Coat of Paint

Now you are working with fully dried plaster you can apply a mist coat. A mist coat is a watered-down emulsion paint that acts as a primer. This coat will be absorbed into the wall and helps ensure the top coat of paint adheres to the wall well.

To make your mist coat grab a standard emulsion paint and water it down by around 20-30%. Apply one or two coats of this to your wall.

If you are unsure of how to mix a mist coat or don't have any paint lying around for the job we do have Optiva Primer which is perfect for the job. Optiva Primer can also be tinted to a wide range of colours making your top coats finish easier to achieve.

Apply your Mist Coat

Once your mist coat is prepared it's time to apply it. Paint your mist coat over the wall just like you will the top coat applying it evenly all over. Even though it is watered down you will still be able to see if you have missed any spots since the dry plaster is quite light in colour.

Wait for another 24 hours for your mist coat to fully dry.

Apply Your Top Coat

Now you are finally ready to apply your top coat. Grab a new painting tray and pour your top coat into it. Using a roller apply an even coat of paint over the wall. You will likely need to apply two coats to the wall leaving enough time in between coats for it to be recoated. This can vary from paint to paint so check your paint can for details.

Keep in mind there is a difference between touch dry and recoatable.

Use a paintbrush to finish up the edges where the roller can't quite reach and you will be good to go.