Over the years advise for painting on a newly plastered walls seem to change from year to year. The best way to paint on new plaster is to seal the wall before you paint it.
If you just slap a few coats of paint on new plaster then you might find it starts to flake away because the new plaster has sucked all the moisture out of the paint.
A newly plastered wall is dry and will absorb any moisture applied to it. So using this mixture will help seal your wall and prime it ready for a nice bright colour that will not flake or peel away after a few days.
Newly Plastered Walls
Depending on the finish, newly plastered walls need to be lightly sanded. This avoids paint from peeling if the plaster to smooth then paint can peel away.
TOP TIP: Yes, plaster can be too smooth, if the plasterer trowels it too much it will be too smooth and the paint will not key/grip when dries.
- Lightly sand the fresh plaster (300 grit)
- Make sure CORNERS are smooth for when you cut in your colours
- Check for a good finish on the skirting boards
- Fill any scuffs or marks left by the plasterer
The PVA Sealing Mixture
After a few days, your plaster will go pail, which means it’s ready to be painted. To prime your wall you will need:
- 1 litre of water
- 1/2 litre of PVA glue
- 1 litre of white paint (emulsion)
Mix this solution together well and apply it with a brush or roller. Once this dries you can paint your plaster with normal paint and your desired colour.
This process of painting fresh plaster will not let you down and provides success every time. Some plasterers and painters just use water and emulsion, by adding the PVA glue you are sealing the wall ready for matt or silk emulsion.
Happy Painting 😉