Painting new plaster

HappyG1rl

I have bought contract matt emulsion from Wickes to paint a newly-plastered wall. It says on the tin it can be diluted with 10% water if required for the first coat and that it allows plaster to carry on drying out through the paint. Other threads have referred to diluting with 30-40% water I don't know what to do now.

Myrtle

If you want the wall painted I'd follow the instructions on the tin personally, but then I've never used Wickes paint. If you don't do this watered-down coat first subsequent paint layers don't bond properly and it will peel off.

If you want it wallpapered then there's no need to paint it first imo.

Lorian

Diluting it will allow it to sup in to the new plaster. This is generally a good idea.

misgrace

Toots wrote: »

I read another thread that said Wickes' paint was krap -
quote]

Cough!Cough! that was me....:o

But in my defence M'lud, I have never used the contract one from wickes, it was the ordinary emulsion, and the client had bought it, and it was awful.:mad:

back to your question....

Even if you dilute it 30-35% thats fine, as you just want it to seal the new plaster, But I would imagine you wouldnt have to thin it by that much as wickes paint is pretty thin anyway.
But just to be on the safe side do 30-35%, it wont harm it if its appears a bit watery and thin.
This will give you a good base to see any imperfections also, which you can fill before applying your further coats.
If you do have to fill, make sure before you do any further coats, that you brush some diluted paint on your filled areas (after you have sanded then down)do this at least twice, then you can go onto your next coat.

Personally I would still thin your second coat, by maybe 10-15%, it will make life easier for you too.
Then your third coat if you wish you can roll as normal, you might have to do a fouth coat as its wickes lol

Papering....

You can either whack a miscoat of paint on it like I described above, or seal your plaster with with a very watery paste the night before your due to paper.
But, if you do this, and decide later on to remove the paper and just have painted walls, you would have to get all the paste residue of the wall with sugar soap, and then still miscoat before your proper painting.

diamond_dave

As mentioned in other posts,if you are going to paint the walls, seal the new plaster with proprietry plaster sealer(B&Q or similar) then paint with 2 coats of emulsion( first one thinned.If you are going to paper then use wallpaper size or thin down ordinary wallpaper paste before papering as normal.If you dont size you will have problems later on. Good prep is always worth it in the end.

cuffie

Sorry to jump in here...how long would you leave it before you use the plaster sealant? Our walls are being plastered in the next week or so. Then is it just a case of the plaster sealant drying before you use the watered down emulsion, or do you need to leave it longer?
Thanks

misgrace

cuffie wrote: »

Sorry to jump in here...how long would you leave it before you use the plaster sealant? Our walls are being plastered in the next week or so. Then is it just a case of the plaster sealant drying before you use the watered down emulsion, or do you need to leave it longer?
Thanks

IMO I wouldnt bother with the plaster sealant, its companies trying to make money of the DIY enthusist.
You can do similar to what I suggested to toots, but use matt to 'miscoat' (seal).

Use either a 'supermatt' or 'Contract matt' Gliddens, made by ICI (the dulux people) is fantastic for new plaster, but its very thick, so you would really have to water down your first coat quite a lot.

misgrace

Toots wrote: »

Have I made a faux pas already - I haven't used a plaster sealant?

I've diluted the emulsion and applied that and will do another coat today. The Wickes contract paint specially for new plaster is really thick anyway and is supposed to cover hairline cracks (not that there are any in the new plaster).

Still trying to decide whether we want it emulsioned or painted in the end. I might want paper I think at least on the ceiling as I think it just looks too flat.

No, you havent made a cack up lol, you have done the right thing and saved yourself a good few pounds by not buying the sealant.

john1965_2

Hi there im a plasterer Do not bother with plaster sealant. If youre going to paper on to newly plasterer walls , give them 4 weeks to dry out then just wallpaper them. As for painting your best option if you can wait is the four weeks to dry. Then either 20% dilute emulsion(cheap stuff) to seal. Most important is to let it dry out fully first.

~Chameleon~

Would the B&Q trade emulsion in the large round tubs be ok to use for this? I've been told it's quite thick so the plan is to paint all the ceilings then water some down to give all the walls (newly plastered/skimmed last week) a base coat at the same time.

Also, is it still advisable to wait 4 weeks on walls that have just been skimmed, or does that only apply to the ones which have also been fully plastered?

Cheers