Painting new plaster: the do’s & don’ts
This page explains everything about painting a newly plastered wall. Preparation is always the most important step. Fresh plaster is highly absorbent, which can cause paint to dry unevenly or leave streaks. That’s why the first step is always to control the absorbency of the substrate. Below, we explain exactly how to do this and which products to use.
Preparing plaster is crucial
For painting new plaster, preparation is absolutely essential. Make sure your plasterer delivers the wall as Class 1, paint-ready, ensuring a smooth and even surface. Only then will you achieve a flawless result when painting over plaster.
Do you want to finish the wall with Microcement or Loam plaster instead of paint? Then the plaster doesn’t need to be perfect—small irregularities disappear because you level them out while applying the material.
Priming plastered walls
A newly plastered wall must always be primed twice before painting or applying Microcement or Loam plaster. This neutralises the absorbency of the substrate and ensures an even finish.
Use the following products:
- For textured paints such as Concrete effect paint, Lime paint, Japandi paint or Loam paint:
→ Use EcoPrimer, diluted with approx. 20% water on fresh plaster. - For Microcement finishes:
→ Use Microcement Primer, diluted 1:1 with water. - For Texture paint or Loam plaster:
→ Always use EcoPrimer Rough.
Two layers of primer create the correct base and prevent stains or colour variations.
Drying tip & priming check
Want to be certain the wall is ready? Simply wipe your hand over the plaster. If you see any white residue, the plaster or primer is not yet dry enough. Wait until the surface no longer marks.
In a hurry? Place a few drying units or blowers toward the wall after applying primer. This speeds up the drying process so you can start painting sooner.
Painting plaster
Once the primer is dry, you can move on to the best part: choosing your product and colour.
- Matte, even, natural look → Choose Lime paint, Loam paint or Japandi paint. Soft beige and taupe shades create a calm, natural finish.
- Clean, strong concrete effect → Choose Concrete effect paint in modern, industrial colours.
- Robust, Marrakesh-style texture → Texture paint is your ideal match.
All these paint types are applied in two coats.
Want to work quickly? Japandi paint, Concrete effect paint and Lime paint dry fast—especially with blowers—so you can continue almost immediately. Perfect for fast-paced renovators!
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Do I need to measure moisture before painting plasterwork?
Yes, that’s advisable. New plaster can look dry on the surface while still being too moist to paint. Always measure the moisture content of the wall — it should be below 4% before you apply a primer.
When measuring, pay extra attention to joints and corners where the plaster is often applied more thickly. These areas take longer to dry and can retain more moisture.
Can I smooth plastered walls myself?
Yes, you can, but it depends on how neatly the plasterwork was finished. You can often fix small imperfections yourself by lightly sanding or filling. If you plan to paint the wall, have the plaster delivered as class 1 “ready for coating,” so you won’t need to correct anything.