Paint confusion?

[Mike Hibbert]

Hello

We have just had our walls skimmed and they are ready for painting - but, I have a question!

The plasterer says, to just waterdown some cheam emulsion, paint that on and then use a normal vinyl matt as a top coat.

The dulux decorating centre say, don't do that as it will crack, use "super Matt" or "contract matt" and live with the fact that it will need to be redone in 6 months or so and that it will scuff.

The Artexer says, to use a acrylic based undercoat and to then use an ordinary emulsion as a top coat.

Ummm, who's right?

Cheers Mike

[Andrew Gabriel]

If _cheam_ emulsion is _cheap_ emulsion, then the plaster is right. Wait for plaster to dry first, and then a few more days just to be sure. Use matt emulsion. It will say on the tin how much to water down, but 10%-25% is typical, with more watering down required the more polished the plaster finish is. Matt emulsion leaves a very nice surface for applying just about any type of paint on top.

The dulux decorating centre is correct for a new build which will need time to dry out, and shouldn't be painted with an impermeable paint such as silk/vinyl until the walls are dried through. This shouldn't be necessary just for a reskim.

Don't use PVA. This advice seems to have come from makeover TV programs, but it's so wrong, some paint manufacturers have had to start warning against it on their tins now. (It creates a disaster which is very difficult to recover from.)

[S Viemeister]

What are the effects of using PVA?

[Stuart Noble]

It's not "wrong" as such but, if you overdo it, you can create a film on the surface that won't take a colour very well. Streaks, brushmarks etc. So, basically, it's safer to use thinned paint. I've used Crown emulsion straight from the tin on new plaster many times without incident. I really can't be arsed watering down paint and the mess that creates

[OG]

I've not used watered down paint on fresh plaster, but on repainting I find it makes coverage very much smoother when using emulsion diluted about 1 part in 5.

[meow2222]

Too much pva and it forms a plastic like layer, which repels paint.

There is a quicker version than diluting paint 50/50, that is paint the wall with a coat of water, which can be done without any particular care, thus very fast, leave it 5 minutes, then paint with emulsion full strength. Its quicker, easier, less messy, and gives more body in the time.

For only a skim I wouldnt use the porous stuff that wears badly, not needed.

NT