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Painting & Decorating

Painting new plaster

Anonymous user 08/06/2026 - 8.00 AM

Hello. I just had a room plastered (walls skimmed and ceiling plasterboarded) and it's dry and ready to be painted. I don't have the money to hire a pro to paint it for me (recent quotes have been upwards of £450 which, for the work needed, I don't think is unreasonable) so I'm thinking I am going to have a go at it myself. I've painted over wallpaper before, but not new, fresh plaster, so I was hoping I could get some tips, do's and don't's. I know I need to throw a mist coat or two on the walls and ceiling and use the recommended water > paint mixture, but after that, I'm not sure what to do. I've read I should sand and scrape any bumps the plasterer left before and after the mist coat, should I do it before the mist coat or after? Once the mist coat has dried (I read I should leave it around 12-24 hours), which type of paint would be best? I was thinking of using a Valspar premium paint because I can only find the colour I want in this brands, butu Farrow and Ball do one that's close enough that I wouldn't mind. But, I was told that farrow and ball would be better because it breathes better than valspar, but I was also told, it doesn't really matter so long as I prep good enough wioth the mist coat. Just looking for opinions on this please. If there are any other tips or things you can help a complete and utter nervous first timer with, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks

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8 Answers

Anonymous user

Use a new plastered white emulsion paint for your Mist coat. Wickes white emulsion for new plaster is good. You could get away with one coat if you dont spend it out much. Then you can put any colour over the top

Answered4 June 2026

Mohammed

Rating: 5 out of 5

Edinburgh

Hi, If the plaster is fully dry, I would lightly sand any rough spots and remove any dust before applying a mist coat. Once the mist coat has dried, it’s much easier to spot any small imperfections, so I usually do any final filling and sanding at that stage before applying the finish coats. As long as the mist coat is done properly, both Valspar and Farrow & Ball can give a good finish. In my experience, preparation is more important than the brand of paint. Make sure the surface is clean, dry and smooth, then apply two good finish coats. For a first-time DIY job, take your time with the prep work and you’ll likely get a very good result.

Answered4 June 2026

Rob decorating

Rating: 5 out of 5

South Ockendon

Sanding if need clean all dust ,take any emulsion white paint mix with water for mis coat and u can paint too more time.

Answered4 June 2026

EM decorating

No reviews yet

East Grinstead

You can mistcoat with any colour paint as you will have to do 2 coats of your colour wall. Use any emulsion for mist coat is doesn't matter, then leave it for 2-3h after that get some easy fill and fill any imperfection you can see ,leave the filler to dry and then sand everything, touch up all the area you fill and sand with the colour you choose, then give everything 1 coat,after that you most likely find more imperfections on the plaster,(fill ,sand) everything is needed, then touch up again on the filling area ,if any,then do the second coat and you should be good. Hope that help.

Answered5 June 2026

shaunhiscock

Rating: 5 out of 5

Reading

Go to wickes by bare plasterer paint go over all walls and ceiling let it dry then go over with 120 grit paper to get rid of any nibs then paint with 2 coats of emulsion

Answered5 June 2026

Positive Construction Ltd

No reviews yet

Chatham

Newly plastered surfaces should be thoroughly sanded and then cleaned of dust. Applying a primer followed by two coats of paint is recommended. Dulux paints are ideal, especially Dulux Light+Space emulsion matte paint, which is available in many colors online. As a primer, Armstead, a more affordable product from the same manufacturer as Dulux, can be used.

Answered5 June 2026

PS_DION Ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5

Croydon

Honestly, can’t stop giggling reading mostly of the answers . I’ve seen many ceilings and walls peeling , mouldy and messy , because the saved money from not hiring a pros. Or “pros “ which obviously don’t know what guild they belong . Kindly note that sometimes the best is to hire a pro otherwise results from sharpening of your skills ion your own new walls and ceilings will be entirely on your bill and it will be ways costly than hiring an average pro. Am trying to tell you that chats like : how to do it by yourself- are good stuff , but always someone have to pay the bill end of the day and is good avoiding paying it twice .. Books are good thing , but not many people are “trained “ to write them .. isn’t it 😉 Dear customers , if you have hard times just ask politely pros to give you a discount , reschedule payments or do the job pro bono like for Xmas charities and you will be surprised to find that we are humans too . Think twice do you know how to use a roller or a brush before “mist coating” your ceiling with the best Wickes brands . Wickes paints are great , but you must to know how to apply them properly ;) Buying a Ferrari don’t makes you F1 racing champ though :)) Best of luck with your DIY projects and avoid advices from every pro

Answered8 June 2026

Damian Mruk Decorators Ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5

West Ealing, London

Hi, preparation is essential. The more you do before the mist coat, the more reflections you'll see in the final coats. We, as professionals, sand all new plaster to remove small imperfections and thoroughly check all corners. It's very important to remove all dust from the surface. For the mist coat, use a 7/3 mix of paint to water. I recommend using high-quality paint, even for the mist coat — Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt is a great choice, as it results in better finish and durability. Apply the paint smoothly with a high-quality professional roller, such as Purdy. Allow sufficient drying time, depending on conditions. On hot days, opening windows for a few hours can help. Once dry, carefully inspect the walls for any issues. Then, apply the first final coat, allow it to dry, and repeat with a second coat. Before the final coat, double-check for splashes, drips, or other imperfections and fix them now — this is your last opportunity to improve the finish. After the final coat, enjoy your completed work. Best wishes and good luck, Damian, Damian Mruk Decorators Ltd.

Answered8 June 2026