How Do I Paint New Plaster?Updated 2 years ago

It's important to note that painting new plaster is different from painting an ordinary wall. It requires more preparation and patience! There are extra steps you need to take, including the application of primer paint, before you can add a top coat of your chosen colour.

1. Leave the plaster to dry

First things first, let your plaster dry properly! Plaster is extremely permeable, which means it'll soak up any moisture quickly. That's why allowing it to dry out will help you achieve a more even finish. There are different factors that influence how soon you can paint on new plaster, such as the type of material and the weather. As a rule of thumb, plaster takes up to 4 weeks to dry completely. You can speed things up with a heater or by opening a window.

Note:If you don't let the plaster dry and apply emulsion paint to wet plaster, it's likely to crack and peel off.

2. Apply your primer coat

Painting new plaster that's completely dry can also leave you with uneven brush strokes. So the next course of action is to apply a primer coat. Our Optiva Primer can be tinted to a wide range of colours to ensure application of the topcoat is easier

The Optiva Primer will soak into the wall and seal the plaster. It's this extra layer of moisture that will help your topcoat stick, so you can achieve a professional finish. If you spot any flaws in the wall, you can sand or fill them before adding your topcoat.

3. Paint your walls with a topcoat

The final step for painting new plaster is to add your topcoat in that all-important final colour. With all the prep work done, you can now paint your walls and decorate your room as you normally would.

Topcoat x 2 with Optiva 3, Optiva 5, Optiva 7, Optiva 20, Optiva White, depending on the sheen level required.

If you require more advice on painting newly plastered walls, give our technical team a call on 0131 334 4999 or send them a message here.