Here are 4 key steps to follow to ensure your newly plastered walls and ceilings look great!

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1. Leave the plaster to dry

First things first, let your plaster dry properly! Plaster is extremely permeable, which means it’ll soak up any moisture quick. That’s why, allowing it to dry out will help you achieve a more even finish. There are different factors that influence how soon can you paint on new plaster, such as the type of material and weather. As a rule of thumb, plaster takes up to a week to dry completely.

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 Ventilation is best! - You can speed things up with by opening a window to allow the moisture trapped in the plaster to escape.

Top tip: If you don’t let the plaster dry and apply emulsion paint to wet plaster, it’s likely to crack and peel off.

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2. Mix your mist coat paint

Painting new plaster that’s completely dry can also leave you with uneven brush strokes. So, the next course of action is to create your own mist coat paint. Mist coat paint is simply watered-down emulsion paint, which acts as your primer. All you need to do is get some white emulsion paint and thin it out with water – it’s that easy! Ten parts paint to one part water should work.

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3. Apply your mist coat paint

Next, apply your mist coat paint to your newly plastered wall. Make sure you’ve prepped the area properly. Lay down dust sheets, cover furniture and get your brushes together.

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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 a professional finish. If you spot any flaws in the wall, you can sand or fill them before adding your colour. Don’t forget to let your mist coat paint dry.

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

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4. Paint your walls with a top coat

The final step for painting new plaster is the most exciting – adding your top coat and that all important splash of colour. With all the prep work done, you can now paint your wall and decorate your room as you would normally.