How much should I dilute emulsion to seal new plaster with a first coat?

Question

I want to prepare my newly plastered walls, which have been left 4 weeks to dry, with a dilute emulsion before applying the topcoat. How much should I dilute the emulsion by?

Answer 1

There is a product especially for this job. I have been completely satisfied with the results. HDepot carries it. In the paint department look for the orange can called PVA.

Answer 2

only 2 correct answers.

DO NOT use PVA, if will seal the wall and ruin any future decoration and prevent the plaster breathing.

coat 1 - 50% water into any matt emulsion (not bathroom or kitchen paint though)

coat 2 - 10-25% water into any emulsion

coat 3 + neat, until you are happy, normally 2 coats.

If you put paint on neat, then the plaster sucks the water out of it and you get painting cracking, so thinning it lets it soak or 'key' into the plaster. the second coat finish this. Then your final coats have a great surface to cover.

EXTRA - To the below and asker, the trade don't just use leyland paint, it's a brand name and no different to many others, plus it needs to be cut by more than 10% for the first coat otherwise you risk cracking after subsequent coats. You should still there see the plaster through the first coat, some people call it misting, as it is like looking at the wall through fog!!

Answer 3

There's 2 ways to paint new plaster, the DIY way and the trade way.

DIY - Thin emulsion down with 10% water, coat and then recoat with standard emulsion, with no water added, twice.

Trade - Go to Leyland, buy super leytex and apply 2 coats. It does new plaster.

Don't put soft sheen or vinyl on new plaster without first coating with matt.

Answer 4

DO NOT USE PVA the whole idea of a mist coat is to let the plaster breath so it sinks in to the plaster not just sit on the top buy dulux super matt it tells you how much to water it down by
you can use normal emoulsion just make it really thin 25 percent paint 75 persent water

Answer 5

Sealing New Plaster

Answer 6

Use B&Q cheapest of the cheap white emulsion it is watered down already and is fine for using to seal plaster

Answer 7

Hi, Use a stabilizing solution or PVA .It works, diluted emulsion is some times very patchy.
Be Safe, Diolch .

Answer 8

The last answer is correct, all you need is PVA mixed with water (1 part PVA - 5 part Water). This puts a film on the walls that is impervious to your next coats of paint. Using this process you will cover your walls using less paint than expected.

Answer 9

To be safe, buy Vinyl Matt in Dulux Trade or Leyland. Thin down first coat by 25% when using dulux or thin down first coat by 10% when using leyland. The choice is yours.

First coat is not worth skimping on! Make it a decent paint.

Have fun.

Answer 10

50/50