Let it dry for at least 24 hours.
If your skim coat is real shallow, you can prime and paint the same day. However, if there are spots where it is thick because it was filling divots or doing some serious leveling, you will need to wait 24hrs for the J/C to dry.
Newly plaster skimmed walls take approximately 4 days to dry out before you should attempt to decorate them. It is crucial to wait until the plaster has dried, and its colour has changed to a pale pink. There should be no brown patches as a guide. In some instances, you may need to wait up to 4 weeks.
Don't paint directly over newly plastered walls because the glossy surface can prevent the paint from adhering effectively. Instead, once you've protected your work area with dust sheets, lightly score the walls with 150-grade sandpaper to improve adhesion.
In good conditions – typically in summer months – this will usually take around three days. However, we'd recommend leaving it for at least two weeks if possible to be safe. In the wrong conditions, plaster can even be known to take up to four weeks to dry!
Generally, it takes a few hours to overnight for a skim coat layer to dry. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations and allow each layer to dry completely before sanding and applying the next coat.
As a rule of thumb, plaster takes up to 4 weeks to dry completely. You can speed things up with a heater or by opening a window. Top tip: If you don't let the plaster dry and apply emulsion paint to wet plaster, it's likely to crack and peel off.
Make sure the plaster has been left to dry for a few weeks before you begin painting. There is one type of paint that can be used on plastered walls before the drying time has passed. Contract matt paint is designed for use on damp plaster. It is permeable, allowing the plaster to breathe through a single coat.
Without the mist coat you're likely to have very poor adhesion between your paint and your plaster and quite often it will crack, flake or even peel off in sheets in some instances!
There are two methods to sealing the new plaster. Firstly, you can use a mist coat of white watered down emulsion. However, it is more preferable to use a primer or top coat and water down the first layer by 10%. This allows the initial coat to properly soak into the plaster aiding adhesion of the final coat.
MAKE SURE YOUR WALLS ARE COMPLETELY DRY. This can take a maximum of 7-10 days, depending on the conditions in your home.
You only need to sand old walls before painting. Newly plastered walls should already have an even surface to paint onto, but old walls may have rough spots. The best way to identify the rough areas is to run your fingers over the surface and feel for changing texture.
Applying the second coat too early will result in lost time, money, and effort. Not only that but it'll also create additional stress that's not necessary. Applying the second coat too early will result in streaks, peeling paint, and uneven color.
To ensure a smooth, appealing outcome, it is essential to allow a drying period of at least 24 hours. Painting over wet drywall mud is a practice often associated with unpleasant outcomes. Without the correct guidance, such attempts may lead to unfortunate mishaps.
You can usually paint three days after skimming your walls. That's because plaster typically takes at least three days to dry and cure.
Color Considerations
We all know that lighter colors emphasize imperfections while darker colors hide them. This also has to do with light and reflection. Lighter colors reflect more light while darker shades absorb it.
Due to the fact that newly plastered walls cannot be painted using certain paints until they are completely dry, contract matt is the best paint to use. This is for a number of reasons, which include cost and moisture.
What paint can I use after applying Mondo Skimcoat? You can apply water-based or solvent-based paints, but for best results we will recommend to apply any Davies Paints water-based or solvent-based paint.
If the paint is in good condition and not in need of any maintenance, it is perfectly fine to skim over it with plaster. However, if the paint is old, flaking, or damaged, it is recommended to remove it before plastering.
As a general rule of thumb, a newly plastered wall should be left for 28 days before any painting should begin. Walls should be fully dry both visibly and to the touch.
A disadvantage of skim coating is that the skim coat is very thin and fragile. Be careful when priming and painting the skimmed wall. Is sanding necessary before skim coating? Sanding before skim coating may be necessary if the wall is glossy or if rough areas need to be smoothed down.
Be prepared to apply at least two coats for a smooth finish. You don't need to wait for the first coat to dry before applying the second. As soon as you've finished covering a wall, go back to the beginning for your next coat, dragging your trowel.