Updated 1 July 2024, Stephen Cochrane
Preparing to paint plaster walls for the first time? There are key steps you’ll need to follow to achieve a great finish. This may seem daunting, but you’ve come to the right place!
We’re the painters Perth homeowners have counted on for four generations, so we’ve learnt a thing or two along the way. In this article, you’ll learn what it takes to complete your plasterboard painting project successfully.
Let’s get started!
Painting Plaster Walls for First Timers!
Painting plaster walls for the first time can be tricky to get right, especially if you don’t follow all the required steps!
While Perth property prices have seen impressive gains in the past few years, doing a little DIY home improvement can make a big difference to your home value. And even if you’re not interested in selling, a splash of colour can completely change the feel of a room. Painting is a quick and affordable way to give your home a facelift or transform a space.
Plaster walls aren’t as simple to dress as other types of walls, especially if they have signs of wear and tear that need correcting. Even in a brand-new home where your builder has completed the basics, you should check for minor defects before you paint.
Preparation is the key to achieving a great-looking finish that will last for years to come.
So, what do you need to know about your plaster wall painting project?
The Best Type Of Paint For Plaster Walls
We recommend using a good quality low sheen acrylic paint. This is an easy-to-clean paint and can be more forgiving to work with – a bonus for first-time DIY painters whose brush skills may not be fully developed yet!
Dulux Wash and Wear Low Sheen is a popular choice for home interior painting. While it may be pricier than some competitor products, higher-quality paints give you a better finish and may require fewer layers. Great quality also means longevity. Nobody wants to be re-painting before they have to!
Selecting The Right Colour For Your Plaster Walls
And now for the fun part – choosing your colours!
Here are some tips to help you choose interior paint colours that you’ll love for years to come.
Consider Trends
Not sure of the look you’re after? Start by looking at home décor and interior design magazines and websites for inspiration. Gather images of trends you love on a Pinterest board and then spend some time narrowing down your choices. Don’t forget that the colour scheme needs to fit with your existing décor and furniture.
Try Sample Pots
Head to your local paint store and purchase sample pots in your preferred colours. Consider purchasing the same colour in a lighter and darker shade to see how they fit the room. It can be surprising how the size, lighting and décor in a room can affect the perception of a paint colour.
Apply two coats of your selected colours to white cardboard and place them on the walls to be painted. Spend the next few days considering how each colour looks. Check in at different times to note how the changing light throughout the day affects the colour. How does it look in natural light as opposed to artificial light?
Found a winner? It’s time to purchase the paint and other equipment you’ll need.
What You’ll Need To Buy
- Paint: Use high-quality, low-sheen acrylic for all main areas of the house. If you’re painting a bathroom or other wet areas (kitchen and laundry), use a paint specifically designed to withstand humidity and resist mould.
- Good Quality Brushes and Roller: It’s tempting to save money on painting equipment but there is a vast difference between the finish you’ll get with the cheapest available and a good quality version. We recommend an Oldfield 10 nap roller sleeve for applying the paint.
- Sealer Binder or All-In-One Primer: You’ll need this to prep plasterboard walls before painting.
- Extension Pole: A small but sturdy extension pole is ideal for those hard-to-reach spots.
- Masking Or Painters’ Tape: This will protect areas you won’t be painting.
- Drop Sheets: Use these to protect the flooring from drips of paint.
- Sugar Soap and Cleaning Cloths: Use these to prepare surfaces prior to painting, cleaning walls to remove dust, grime and stains. If the plasterboard is new, you may skip this step.
- Hand Sander and Sandpaper: The grit of the sandpaper needed will depend on what the walls were previously painted with.
- Gap Filler and Applicator: you’ll need this to patch and repair any imperfections in the walls.
Not sure how to choose the right products for your interior house painting project? Chat with your local paint supplier.
Preparing Your Room For Painting
Before rolling a single drop of paint, remember the following:
- New plaster should be fully dry before any paint is applied. A thin coat may need to dry for a week, while thick plaster across the entire surface may need closer to a month.
- Check for imperfections such as cracks, indents or raised areas on the plaster. Repair with Polyfilla and once dry, sand them down from top to bottom with a light 120mm sandpaper to make sure the surface is smooth.
- Remove any dust, grit or oil from the surface. If your walls are damaged, you may find a fine layer of plaster dust on the wall. This must be removed before you start. Dust down the walls with a soft broom to do this.
- Apply painter’s tape along edges to protect surfaces you won’t be painting.
- Cover floors with drop sheets.
- Apply one coat of sealer binder thinned approximately 5% with turpentine for penetration into the plaster.
Time To Paint Your Plaster Walls!
To get a great result, follow these steps:
- Start by cutting in the top, bottom, edges and narrow areas with a brush. Cut in the wall at the top next to the cornice first, then down each side of the walls and across the floor.
- Follow this by painting the remaining surface with the roller. Make sure you roll the paint on evenly from top to bottom.
- When applying the low sheen to walls, tackle one wall at a time to achieve an even finish.
- After the recommended drying time, add additional layers of paint until the desired effect is achieved. Remember that it is better to apply a few thin layers, rather than going in too thick and trying to get it done in one.
Oops! What Happens If DIY Plaster Wall Painting Goes South?
Freshly painted walls make a remarkable difference to the look and feel of a room – and DIY painting can be an exciting challenge for the handy homeowner.
But what happens when things don’t go to plan? From accidentally damaging the plaster walls, to poor colour choice, and a whole range of technique issues in between, it’s all too easy for a DIY dream to become a ‘wall of shame.’
Save yourself the time and heartache by calling in the residential painters Perth homeowners have trusted to get the job done right for four generations.
