How to Paint Over Waxed Venetian Plaster

Splash about 1/4 cup of mineral spirits onto a clean, lint-free cloth. Rub the dampened cloth against the wall. Let the spot dry, and check to see if the wax has been removed. If it has, continue until it has been entirely stripped away.

Attach 80-grit sandpaper to your palm sander and go over the walls lightly if the mineral spirits did not remove the wax. Wipe away the dust with a damp cloth.

Change to 120-grit sandpaper and go over the walls again. Wipe them down with a clean cloth.

Put painter’s tape over any trim, electrical outlets or switch plates that you do not want to get paint on, and put drop cloths on the floor.

Pour a few inches of alkyd or quartz primer into paint tray. Use the edging brush to work around your painter’s tape, and a long-handled roller to do the rest of the walls. Apply the primer in a thin, even coat. Let it dry according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Fill a paint tray about halfway with latex paint. Use a clean edging brush to work around the painter’s tape on the trim. Paint the rest of the walls with a clean, long-handled roller. Let the latex paint dry according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Remove the painter’s tape while the paint is still damp to avoid pulling up any dried paint. Use the edging brush to make small repairs if needed.

Apply a second coat if you think the room needs it. Let the paint dry overnight.