How soon to paint newly skimmed ceiling?

[markharro]

I read on one of the paint company's websites 4 weeks but our plasterer said as soon as its dry?

[nod]

4 minutes ago, markharro said:

I read on one of the paint company's websites 4 weeks but our plasterer said as soon as its dry?

As soon as it’s all one pale colour 

Couple of days 

[Kelvin]

56 minutes ago, markharro said:

I read on one of the paint company's websites 4 weeks but our plasterer said as soon as it’s  dry?

I left ours for three weeks apart from one wall which I did after 4 days when it looked dry. I had nothing but trouble with that one wall with the second coat lifting the mist coat off. I had to sand the lifted bits back and even fill in a few places and use a Gardz product to seal it properly then paint it. Was a right pia. 

[Nickfromwales]

1 hour ago, Kelvin said:

I left ours for three weeks apart from one wall which I did after 4 days when it looked dry. I had nothing but trouble with that one wall with the second coat lifting the mist coat off. I had to sand the lifted bits back and even fill in a few places and use a Gardz product to seal it properly then paint it. Was a right pia. 

Did you use high opacity paint designed for application to new plaster?

 

I have skimmed and painted newly plastered walls and ceilings over the last few decades, and the only time I have had issues is when some bell-end working for me had watered-down the paint.

[Kelvin]

7 hours ago, Nickfromwales said:

Did you use high opacity paint designed for application to new plaster?

 

I have skimmed and painted newly plastered walls and ceilings over the last few decades, and the only time I have had issues is when some bell-end working for me had watered-down the paint.

I used specific paint for new plaster. Same paint I used everywhere else. It was just this wall I had a problem with and the only difference was I didn’t leave it as long to dry as everywhere else. It was also just the bottom 1.5m of the wall. Above this to the vaulted ceiling was fine. 

[Nickfromwales]

12 hours ago, Kelvin said:

I used specific paint for new plaster. Same paint I used everywhere else. It was just this wall I had a problem with and the only difference was I didn’t leave it as long to dry as everywhere else. It was also just the bottom 1.5m of the wall. Above this to the vaulted ceiling was fine. 

Leaving a desk fan on oscillate in the room on a low setting will help move the air about and aid drying.

[Post and beam]

On 21/06/2025 at 01:33, Nickfromwales said:

the only time I have had issues is when some bell-end working for me had watered-down the paint.

I thought the mist coat was supposed to be watered down, or have i misunderstood something?

[JohnMo]

11 minutes ago, Post and beam said:

I thought the mist coat was supposed to be watered down, or have i misunderstood something?

That's exactly how I have always done it generally use Dulux trade emulsion, and add 25% water, mix well and apply. That's the first coat and then full strength once dried. All our walls are done that way, mist coat and another coat, 4 years later still fine.

[Nickfromwales]

1 hour ago, Post and beam said:

I thought the mist coat was supposed to be watered down, or have i misunderstood something?

High opacity paint is specifically for new plaster. The only time you'll get issues is if the plasterer has polished the plaster to a shine, and then you would be better off doing a mist coat (watered down) but for the last 15+ years or more I have gone pot > roller > wall & ceilings without issue.

[Post and beam]

The plaster in our house is smooth like glass, shame to paint it really. Had a few small issues with the frog tape peeling the paint. Even after a mist coat. Probably down to me not leaving the ceilings long enough before wanting to paint the walls.

[Nickfromwales]

5 minutes ago, Post and beam said:

The plaster in our house is smooth like glass, shame to paint it really. Had a few small issues with the frog tape peeling the paint. Even after a mist coat. Probably down to me not leaving the ceilings long enough before wanting to paint the walls.

That's when nerves like mine don't match the rock-steady hands of a decorator. My mate paints straight lines and cuts-in like a machine.....so doesn't need to mask.

 

They say if you can piss you can paint, but there is a HUGE difference between applying paint, and actually decorating a house; my mates roller just doesn't leave a single bit of evidence when he's gliding it around the room. Defo a skill that few appreciate (or want to pay for) sadly.