Newly Plastered Wall - When Can I Get "Cracking"?

stevesmiff

Just had my walls skimmed by a plasterer over the weekend. It's now 48 hours later and they are 75% "touch" and "look" dry. I've got carpets coming this Friday and need to fix skirting boards and paint before then and wondered if I'm going to be able to do this or not?

I'm already equipped with the skirts and some No More Nails and also have some Dulux Sealer for plaster together with Dulux Luxurious Silk paint.

Once the room "looks" 100% dry which I would imagine is another 24hours, am I good to start putting the Dulux Sealer on?

I really need to do this:
Monday (today) - Wait agonisingly for plaster to dry
Tuesday - Use Dulux Sealer for Plaster
Wednesday - Apply first coat of Dulux silk
Thursday - Apply second coat of Dulux silk (if required)
Friday - Fix skirts early then carpets fitted later on

Should I be waiting longer to put the sealer and paint on? The walls were only skimmed (5mm thick approx.) but am worried I could be doing things too quickly but don't really want to be painting in a newly carpeted room so want to do it this week if poss.

Also, people talk about mis-coats to seal the plaster - isn't my sealer actually doing this job (i.e. ok for normal painting straight over the sealer)?

adaze

You should wait as long as possible. I waited for at least 2 weeks.....

stevesmiff

I would love to wait longer but, as I say, carpets coming Friday and want to paint before. Some people say 2 days, some say 2 weeks, some say 2 months. I know it depends on circumstances but in my scenario we are talking about a 5mm skim and I would like to think that if it looks dry, it's ready but would like some clarification.

agent_orange_2

It turns to a 'salmon pink' colour as it dries. Once it is completely this colour, you can go ahead as per your schedule. The warmer the room, the quicker it will dry out - mine took about 3 to 4 days but it was in the cold of winter.

nickj_2

you will be abl to see any damp patches as this will be darker
once it is all the same colour ie you should be able to paint it with a mist coat
of thinned trade matt emulsion
if you search the the diy section here you will find loads of threads about painting new plaster

ormus

wait as long as possible. but i did mine after 5 days as it looked dry and ok.
it was fine. thin coat and then 3 coats of magnolia. it looks great.

fluffymuffy

If you can put a dehumidifyer in there that would speed things up.

Ordep

Stevesmiffn
You need to apply "Contract Emulsion". (avalible from Brewers) that is, emulsion with out the "plastic" added to it, there by letting any water still in the plaster to escape.