How to paint onto fresh plaster

It’s a decorating dilemma you’ve probably faced plenty of times – what’s the best way to paint fresh plaster? As you probably already know, painting new plaster is different to painting an ordinary wall. It requires more preparation – and patience! So, here’s a quick refresher of the basics.

How to paint new plaster – 4 key steps

1. Leave the plaster to dry

First things first, let the plaster dry properly! Plaster is extremely permeable, which means it soaks up any moisture quickly. Allowing it to dry out helps you achieve a more even finish. As a rule of thumb, plaster takes up to 4 weeks to dry completely. Though of course, you can speed things up with a heater or by opening a window.
Top tip: If you don’t let the plaster dry and apply emulsion paint when it’s still wet, it’s likely to crack and peel off.

2. Mix your mist coat paint

Painting new plaster that’s completely dry can also leave you with uneven brush strokes. So, it’s helpful to create your own mist coat paint. Mist coat paint is simply watered-down emulsion paint, which acts as a primer. All you need to do is get some white emulsion paint and thin it out with water. Three parts paint to one part water should do the trick.
As an alternative to watering down your paint, you can also use Dulux Sealer for Plaster.

3. Apply your mist coat paint

Once you’ve properly prepped the area, it’s time to apply your mist coat. The mixture will soak into the wall and seal the plaster. It’s this extra layer of moisture that will help your top-coat stick, so you can achieve the professional finish you want. If you spot any flaws in the wall, you can always sand or fill them before adding your colour.

Top tip: Watch out for drips! Mist coat paint is really runny, so make sure you roll over drips before they dry.

4. Paint your walls with a top-coat

The final step for painting new plaster is applying your top-coat. With all the prep work done, you can now get on with decorating the room in the chosen colour.