Can I prime new plaster with vinyl silk?

iscamaid

I have just had my artexed kitchen ceiling plastered over to smooth it out. Over a year ago I bought a huge tub of pink to white paint in vinyl silk in a sale. I must have been so taken with a bargain I did not spot it was silk rather than matt which I prefer. Husband (who ever tells me not to be reckless just because something is bargain) wants to use the vinyl paint to provide the first priming coat to the new plaster rather than waste it. He thinks we can then over paint it with decent quality matt afterwards. I wonder if the slightly shiny surface would cause bobbles and streaks and hinder a smooth finish. Can anyone help????

phill99

You CANNOT use silk as a mist coat. The plasticisers in the emulsion don't soak in to the plaster and it will end up peeling. You need to use a watered down coat (50/50) of MATT emulsion.

iscamaid

phill99 wrote: »

You CANNOT use silk as a mist coat. The plasticisers in the emulsion don't soak in to the plaster and it will end up peeling. You need to use a watered down coat (50/50) of MATT emulsion.

Thank you very much, you have saved a very expensive mistake here ( the plasterer is good but by no means cheap). I will have to Freecycle the unwanted silk. Any ideas how I stop such a watered down mix of emulsion from splattering everywhere when painting a ceiling or will I have to simply cover the room and myself head to foot and pray?

phill99

Cover yourself up and sheet everything up!

keystone

iscamaid wrote: »

I will have to Freecycle the unwanted silk.

If its over a year old already - bin it.

Any ideas how I stop such a watered down mix of emulsion from splattering everywhere when painting a ceiling or will I have to simply cover the room and myself head to foot and pray?

If its that watery your thinning it too much. You can use the shed's own brand stuff as a mist coat straight out of the tub TBH as theres so much water in it. My preference (depending on the budget) is either Dulux Supermatt or a contract matt both thinned by about 30%.

and BTW tell the OH only to paint matt straight over silk if you want a lovely crazed finish.

Cheers

iscamaid

keystone wrote: »

If its over a year old already - bin it.

If its that watery your thinning it too much. You can use the shed's own brand stuff as a mist coat straight out of the tub TBH as theres so much water in it. My preference (depending on the budget) is either Dulux Supermatt or a contract matt both thinned by about 30%.

and BTW tell the OH only to paint matt straight over silk if you want a lovely crazed finish.

Cheers

Hi

The previous owners of our house loved artex (hence the new ceiling) and covered walls, ceilings and artex with vinyl silk. If I risk crazing how do I go about repainting it all with matt?

keystone

iscamaid wrote: »

The previous owners of our house loved artex (hence the new ceiling) and covered walls, ceilings and artex with vinyl silk. If I risk crazing how do I go about repainting it all with matt?

It isn't a risk - its a stone cold certainty if you don't prep the silk first. You can key (sand) it with a fine grit paper or you can prime it first. Given the area that seems to be concerned I'd be suggesting a coat of oil based undercoat rather than BIN or 123 - it'll be a lot cheaper. Alternatively you can always give it a coat of soft sheen before your matt.

Cheers

slam3000

keystone wrote: »

It isn't a risk - its a stone cold certainty if you don't prep the silk first. You can key (sand) it with a fine grit paper or you can prime it first. Given the area that seems to be concerned I'd be suggesting a coat of oil based undercoat rather than BIN or 123 - it'll be a lot cheaper. Alternatively you can always give it a coat of soft sheen before your matt.

Cheers

Can you clarify - can you either sand or prime, or should you do both?

Also, are oil based undercoat paint for walls, rather than woodwork, easy to come accross? I can't say I've noticed them in the DIY stores. Is there one in particular you would recommend?

aboard_epsilon

oil based means white spirit based ..

err... there is plaster sealer at B&Q Ive seen it there .

all the best.markj

keystone

slam3000 wrote: »

Can you clarify - can you either sand or prime, or should you do both?

Either you just have to give the matt something to grab hold of.

Also, are oil based undercoat paint for walls, rather than woodwork, easy to come accross?

I meant as in woodwork.

Cheers

keystone

aboard_epsilon wrote: »

oil based means white spirit based ..

I said oil based because I meant oil based.

err... there is plaster sealer at B&Q Ive seen it there .

Err... we are now discussing prepping silk finish emulsion prior to overpainting with matt not sealing plaster. Anyway plaster sealer is a waste of money - IMHO of course .

Cheers