When Can You Paint Fresh Plaster

Ideally, plaster needs to be fully dry prior to painting. Fresh plaster will take around 4-6 weeks to fully dry. Fresh plaster is porous and will therefore absorb moisture. If you attempt to paint over plaster that is still damp the paint is likely to peel off.

What happens if you paint plaster too soon?

The plaster may dry itself out and you may get away with it, or the result may appear stained or inconsistent in colour and tone, the paint may crack and peel, or you may experience a musty, damp smell as the surface is unable to breathe.

How do you know when plaster is dry?

You can tell when the plaster is dry by watching the colour change. When the plaster has a uniformed pale pink complexion then you can firmly say it’s dried.