How long for plaster to dry?

SavvySaver24

We are having our ceilings plasterboarded and skimmed in every room in the house. This is starting in about a months time and should take 1 to 2 weeks.

How long should we leave plaster to fully dry out before painting? We aren't living at the house so no immediate rush but I am trying to project plan and book in carpet fitting which will only be done once painting is done and dry which in turn can only happen when plaster is dry.

I have heard everything from a day to 4 weeks!?

SG27

It does depend quite a bit. For a skim should be dry in a week. If you have heating probably sooner. Our skimmed walls took about a week. The walls with lots of bonding so deeper plaster have taken more like 3. This is in a house with no heating and its cold!

Grenage

Probably 3-7 days for a skim in this weather; colour is the main indicator.

KateLiana27

I read 2-3 days for skim on plasterboard. We've just had a new room done and that was pretty much accurate, in a centrally heated home.

jcb208

If the house is heated 3 days is plenty for skim to dry

no1catman

When its just been applied it will look a rich terrace colour, it will dry gradually, to a pink colour.
I had a damp wall to be restored - finished at the start of the third week.
So, that involved clearing it back to the brick, render over - dry, tanking layer - dry, another render - dry, then plaster - dry - the longest (happened in winter - snow held them up - but didn't make any difference) but probably four or five days.