Painting after a plaster skim
Discussion
Can't seem to find a consistent answer to this one on the wider internet so thought I'd run it by the PH experts... I'm having the walls in my home office re-skimmed over the next couple of days (should mainly be a skim but there are a couple of deeper holes under the windowsill that will need some more substantial attention and I'm wondering how long to leave it before painting? Everyone seems pretty much in agreement that doing a mist coat first is a good idea (although the ratio of water to paint seems to take on almost holy significance between the different camps) and I've got buckets of plain white emulsion which, assuming it's vinyl-free should be good to go for that. Am I mad to think I could look at doing that not this weekend but the weekend after? If it's better to wait longer then I can do that I'd just need to re-adjust some of my other plans 
AlmostUseful said:
I did a skim on ours the other day and plan to seal it tonight, once I've used the sealant do I need a mist coat or should I just go at it? It's B&Q Dial exterior stabilising primer, but has been used extensively inside too where we had bare plaster.
Why do you need to seal the plaster?Plaster needs to absorb the emulsion.
This is good stuff, if you can't be doing with the 50/50 mix. Covers really well and usually one coat is enough!
http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-trade-bare-p...
http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-trade-bare-p...
I'm plastering all week. What I skimmed yesterday was bone dry today (light pink).
A few walls were bonded then skimmed last Friday. Dry also.
Basically it as someone above said, when it's a uniform light colour it's ready for paint.
I've always advocated a mist coat but having recently tried this I no longer bother.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-trade-bare-p...
Cheap as chips, two coats and you're done.
A few walls were bonded then skimmed last Friday. Dry also.
Basically it as someone above said, when it's a uniform light colour it's ready for paint.
I've always advocated a mist coat but having recently tried this I no longer bother.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-trade-bare-p...
Cheap as chips, two coats and you're done.
AlmostUseful said:
Sorry, primer rather than sealant, I used Wickes multi finish finishing plaster and it says to use a primer for best results.
If you're referring to Multifinish (orange bag), the primer comment will refer to the prep prior to plastering to provide a key or control suction (or both). Don't use PVA prior to painting.B17NNS said:
If you're referring to Multifinish (orange bag), the primer comment will refer to the prep prior to plastering to provide a key or control suction (or both). Don't use PVA prior to painting.
Just had a look at the bag again, definitely refers to pre painting after the plaster is fully dried. Will prime it and see what happens... It's only a few sq metres, can be sanded off easily enough if required. I've used primer rather than a pva mix, assuming the primer isn't just expensively bottled pva and water!!I disagree. If I'd been told no, you don't need to prime it then fair enough, but I was told I'd misinterpretted instructions which I clearly hadn't and not to use pva which I never intended to use anyway.
Happy to accept advice when it's well informed, but in my opinion the above wasn't.
I'll run with what the packet says on that basis.
Happy to accept advice when it's well informed, but in my opinion the above wasn't.
I'll run with what the packet says on that basis.
Without wishing to confuse the matter more than necessary just watch your dilution rates on the mist - I am closer to 33:67 / 25:75 (ie nearer 25% paint, 75% water) in this weather and with the (thick, trade) emulsion that I am using.
It should be thin enough that you can still see the plaster underneath - at 50:50 it was going on too thickly for me.
It should be thin enough that you can still see the plaster underneath - at 50:50 it was going on too thickly for me.
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