When you have a newly plastered wall or ceiling in your home, some steps need to be taken before you can paint it. For example, the plaster must be properly cured and sealed. Once your plaster repair contractor has finished installing new plaster, follow these steps to prepare your new walls for a brand new color.

How to Prepare New Plaster for Paint

1. Make Sure It Is Completely Dry

It might take weeks or months for your new plaster surface to dry, and it needs to be completely dry before you begin painting the surface. This is because plaster soaks up moisture. Plaster repair contractors recommend allowing your new plaster to dry for four weeks for every 5 mm of plaster depth. Dark patches on the surface indicate it still needs to dry, while a uniform, light appearance usually means it is ready.

2. Apply a Mist Coat or Primer

Before you begin painting, a primer is needed. You can purchase a store-bought primer, but it must be specific for the type of plaster your contractor installed. For example, lime-based plaster requires a special acrylic primer made specifically for painting fresh concrete. You can also make your own primer as your first coat of paint. Since plaster absorbs moisture, this first coat of paint needs to be watered down. The water sinks into the plaster and allows the paint to bond to it. The mist coat is a primer and is created by mixing water with less expensive emulsion or water-based paint in a similar color to your desired finished coat. The paint should be a non-vinyl water-based paint for best results since vinyl paint contains plastic and is likely to flake and fall off of new plaster. A general rule is to mix three parts paint to one part water. Make sure you mask baseboards with painter’s tape and use drop cloths to cover flooring and furniture. Mist coating can be a messy task as drips are common. Use a foam roller for best results and quickly roll over and smooth any drips that might form. Allow the mist coat at least 24 hours to dry. 

3. Paint a Top Coat

Use your desired paint and color to paint over the mist coat. Use a foam roller and apply the paint in “V”-shaped strokes until the entire wall is covered. This will help you achieve even coverage, but don’t hang your artwork yet. Once the top coat is completely dry, you should be prepared to apply another coat of paint as needed. Because plaster is porous, it might take additional coats to arrive at your desired look.

If you need a new wall built or other plastering services, look no further than Old World Plastering in Cincinnati. This plaster repair contractor has years of experience and has achieved high-quality results on historical restorations, new home additions, and noise reduction projects. Whether you need traditional plastering services or ornamental plasterwork for cornice design, call (513) 481-1122 to request service or visit them online today.