What Kind of Paint Is Recommended for Plastered Walls?

Latex Paint

• The Sound Home Resource Center recommends using latex paint to cover plastered walls. Preparation is key to ensuring that the new paint will stick. A tinted shellac base acts as a primer and can prevent some moisture damage from plaster patching. Wall holes, gouges and recessed areas must be filled in with patching plaster and allowed to dry. Small cracks should be concealed with caulking. A second layer of primer smoothes the walls and readies them for painting. Texturing additives in the paint can also help to hide small imperfections in the walls and evens out the surfaces.

Oil-based Paint

• In addition to latex paint, the Technical Preservation Services of the National Park Service also recommends oil-based paint for use on a plastered wall. The plaster must be completely dry before painting, and the drying process on modern plaster can take from two to three weeks. A match struck against a newly plastered wall should light if the plaster has dried properly. Walls that are dried out will have a soft, powdery appearance. The Sherwin-Williams website recommends wiping down this type of plastered wall with a solution of one part vinegar to four parts water and allowing it to dry before painting.

Glossy Paint

• This Old House warns against using glossy paints for plastered walls. Glossy paint is very effective at reflecting the light in a room, and it will make the walls look rough and uneven. Flat or matte latex or oil-based paints are more effective at concealing wall blemishes and help give the plastered walls a clean, smooth appearance.

Considerations

• It may be tempting to paint over a plaster wall without attempting to fix cracks, holes and other blemishes. However, paint alone cannot maintain a plastered wall. Plaster restoration services may be required to address the plaster problems before they can be painted.