Want to learn how to paint new plaster the professional way? Consult our useful guide today and discover the essential need-to-know skills that will guarantee an immaculate finish when it comes to painting your new plaster board.
Painting new plaster is one of the more satisfying tasks in the DIY world, as the inherently smooth surface lets the paintbrush glide across the wall and almost always allows a great finish. However, there are a few expert techniques to help you complete the job in far less time and achieve a top coat finish that you’re proud of. Our easy-to-follow tips for painting new plaster will help to alleviate any concerns about the quality of your paintwork and help deliver pleasing results every time.
Painting new plaster can be fairly messy work, so it’s important to take the necessary precautions and suitably protect the room ahead of painting. Although it is highly unlikely that there will be any furniture in a room that has been freshly plastered, in the case that there is, be sure to remove any furniture and cover with a dust sheet to ensure maximum protection.
To protect your flooring from spilt paint, lay a Seriously Good Cotton Rich Dust Sheet down and secure in place with the Seriously Good UV Masking Tape. Conveniently double lined with polythene, the Seriously Good Cotton Rich Dust Sheet can also even prevent paint from penetrating through to your floor to provide extra peace of mind! The tape is necessary to prevent the dust sheet from moving and mitigate accidental spillages on the floor as well as stopping the watered-down mist coat from running onto the floor, light switches and plug sockets.
For those that may not be familiar when painting new plaster, the ‘mist coat’ is a highly watered-down paint mix that can easily drip if proper care is not taken. Opt for old clothes if you’re hesitant about potential accidents with the paint and for additional protection for the clothes and eyes, wear a Seriously Good Protective Suit and a pair of Seriously Good Safety Glasses.
When it comes to painting new plaster board, it’s crucial to remember that the surface is extremely sponge-like. Should you attempt to apply normal emulsion paints, they will be quickly absorbed into the wall. This common error causes you to use more paint than you necessarily need, which can be costly if you have a whole room or house to complete.
One of our easy, Harris-approved tips for painting new plaster that helps to overcome this issue is using a watered-down first layer of paint called a mist coat.This mist coat helps the plaster to absorb the paint superbly. As a new, thin layer has been painted first, the finishing top coat is guaranteed to apply beautifully, especially if you use a Harris Ultimate Walls & Ceilings Roller Set.
Before you begin applying the mist coat, mix the paint well using an Essentials Paint Kettle or Ultimate Large Handy Hold as your container. While there is a great deal of conflicting advice on which ratio of water to paint is best for painting plaster, we advise anything from two parts water to eight parts emulsion paint, down to 50/50 to ensure success – check the manufacturer’s tin for the requirements for your specific brand and feel free to add more water if the mixture appears too thick.
Once you have your consistent water mixture, it’s time to begin to paint the room! For a detailed guide to perfecting your paintwork, read our tips on how to paint a wall. As one of the best brushes for painting on plaster; the Ultimate Flat Brush will help you achieve a flawless finish in no time at all. Taking your brush, cut in around the edges of the room and around detail areas such as the light switches. Be sure to work in 1m sections with the brush to ensure precision and then switch to an Ultimate Walls & Ceilings 4″ Mini Roller to achieve the smoothest coverage and blend the carefully brushed section into the rolled section.
When the more intricate areas have been painted and blended, switch to the Ultimate Walls & Ceilings 9-Inch Powercoat Roller. To speed up the painting process, use an Ultimate Extension Pole to reach down to the 9-inch tray for loading and back up to the top of the wall. Another one of our top tips to painting new plaster is to paint in a W motion; this will help you cover the wall rapidly and seamlessly. When the whole wall is completed and the paint is fully dry, proceed to paint your top coat following our unrivalled how to paint a wall guide!
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