Thanks to a dislodged roof tile I have a small patch of water staining on a plaster wall painted matt white. I applied a not-very-effective couple of coats of paint over the stains before I remembered that it's wise to seal the surface first.
So, two questions: does the new paint mean that sealing the area now won't be effective? And is there any alternative to the specialist sealer/primers? I'm reluctant to buy a whole tin just for a few brushstrokes.
Many thanks.
In general stains will not migrate once dry.
As long as you let the area dry out, just paint over it. Several coats may be needed as the water in the paint will tend to pull the stain into the paint layer. Hence the advice to seal, but IME am extra layer of paint is just as good as a sealer.
And since you already have the paint, just use a shade more of it!
Excellent, thanks.
I've found an aerosol can of Polycell One Coat Stain Stop from the Range to be both cheap and effective.
You will probably regret not investing in a can of stain block.
Even the moisture from future painting can ‘ mobilise’ the stain. Spray the area and around it with stain block. If you use the Polycell spray can, as the area is Matt White, it should blend in. I’d give it two coats.
I had a massive ceiling stain with blown plaster from a leaking shower
Just patched it up and repainted it with as it happened, 3 coats. Once set emulsion paint is pretty waterproof.
no
Any paint that's not water based usually works. But on occasion it proves necessary to use multiple layers or get stain block. And sometimes you can get away with a coat of dilute pva.
Belated thanks for the further replies and especially for the recommendation of Polycoat One Coat Stain Stop. I'll give that a go.
Whoops. Make that PolyCELL... Apologies.
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