You can apply a mist coat with any good quality emulsion brushes and rollers. However, the first coat on bare plaster can drag, so using a long pile roller and brush with a thick stock will make your life a lot easier. My preferred roller for mist coating is the Purdy Colossus.
There are two different ways you can apply the mist coat. If you choose to use a roller, you'll cover the wall much quicker but it will be very messy as rollers can splatter paint very easily. Alternatively, a paintbrush will take much longer but you shouldn't have as many drips to deal with.
Using a roller will help you to apply the new paint evenly, and it will blend in with the existing paint better. Choose a good quality synthetic cover with a nap thickness of ¼ to ½ inch. Make sure the surface area is clean and free from any dirt, dust, grease, or oils.
Choosing the correct brush or roller will come down to the surface you are painting and the type of paint being used. If you are looking to complete a small paint job, go for a paint brush. If you want to evenly cover a large surface at once, choose a paint roller instead.
A good Harris roller with a medium pile will be your friend for the first two coats ( obliteration / mist ) and then a finer pile for laying on the finishes.
Too Much Water
You don't want to be too thin, but a mist coat needs to be thin—almost like a soup. The water will not seep into the substrate if the mist coat is too watery.
Walls, Wood, and Metal - Small 1/4″ roller covers or foam rollers will produce the smoothest finish. Light to Medium Textured Surfaces - Microfiber rollers are best. Smooth Surfaces - Use a white woven short nap roller for an ultra fine finish.
Professional painters typically use both brushes and rollers when painting. Brushes are used to apply paint in tight spaces or areas with intricate details, while rollers are used for larger surfaces like walls and ceilings.
Method to prevent roller marks
One is to make sure the paint is mixed well before using it. Another is to use a high-quality roller cover and make sure it's in good condition. When rolling the paint on, start at the top and work your way down. Apply even pressure and avoid going over the same area multiple times.
If you're working on a large project, then paint rollers will definitely be the way to go as they can cover more surface area in less time. However, if you're working on a smaller project or one that requires more precision, then paint brushes might be the better choice.
Many painters “break in” a roller cover by priming it with water or thinner. In our lab we never prewet a cover before painting. If you choose to, you must spin it out with five or six strong pumps so it is only lightly damp. Then take even more moisture out by blotting the cover with a paper towel.
Key Takeaways: Cut-in and painting on the same day are recommended for the best results. Wait for the trim to dry completely before painting to avoid an uneven finish.
More often than not, roller marks occur when you fail to load your roller with enough paint, or have exhausted the paint in your roller and are trying to cover more area than you should. Finally, applying the wrong amount of pressure can cause paint to push out around the edge of the roller, creating a streak.
If the mist coat is stuck to the back of your top coat colour then this will give you a clue that there is an issue with the adhesion. The best thing to do is sand this area back to the plaster, then usually it's just a case of following the steps above again after ensuring the plaster is totally dry.
To ensure your clear coat looks as good as possible, it's important to apply it evenly with a paint roller and brush. Using a roller will help spread the clear coat evenly over the surface while the brush will ensure it gets into every nook and cranny.
It should be thin enough to absorb into the plaster but not so watery that it needs colour and coverage. Test the mixture: if possible, test it on a small, inconspicuous plaster area to check its absorption and drying. Mixing a mist coat is a straightforward but essential process in painting new plaster.
Patchy paint can result if paint has been applied unevenly. Patchy paint can be down to a variation in surface absorption. Walls might appear patchy if they have variation in texture. Using paint that is not fully mixed can cause a patchy appearance.
Also, a second coat of paint helps remove roller marks by allowing you to feather out some of the unevenness in the finish. You can do this by overlapping the uneven areas to create a more uniform finish.
"Working" paint too much during application (e.g., applying too quickly or for too long). Use of the wrong type or nap size of roller cover. Use of the wrong type or size of brush. Applying too thin of a paint film.
Back-rolling right after spraying works the coating into the surface more efficiently than spraying alone, promoting better adhesion between the coating and the substrate (which is most often drywall when working on residential interiors).
A roller also lays down a thicker layer of paint with each pass, making roller painting a better choice when coating large, smooth, level surfaces such as walls and ceilings. Consider the type of paint you'll be working with when choosing a roller for any job.
Use a liner brush and clean up the edges of your stroke. Also, you can use a dry brush or another type of brush with a smaller tip to blend in your strokes.
Without sanding, the new coat of paint might peel or cause an orange peel texture. Once sanded, clean the entire surface and scrub away any leftover dust, debris, or grime. Keep in mind that nothing gets smoother by adding more paint, it only gets smoother by sanding between coats.
White China—These natural bristle brushes are best used with oil-based paints, especially enamels and varnishes. Ideal for woodwork, enamels, or marine applications, White China bristles virtually eliminate brush marks.
Paint in Small Sections
If you have a large wall, break it up into small sections that are manageable. It'll make painting with a paint roller easier and your results will improve. Make sure each section is two to three square feet big. The roller should sound wet at all times when you're painting.