I've just had the walls of my lounge reskimmed, and the new plasterboard
ceiling (constructed by me) skimmed. I intend to paint them. The plasterers
recommended that the first coat should be diluted, and that any cheap
neutral coloured emulsion would do the job.

Accordingly, I went to Wickes with the intention of buying a big bucket of
trade brilliant white matt emulsion. However, I then spotted a product
claiming to be specifically for painting new plaster, and containing a "mix
of polymers". Needless to say, it is significantly more expensive - £18 for
10L against £11 for 10L of the standard emulsion.

Of course, once I'd spotted a miracle product, doubts set in and I left the
store with nothing. I'm not really bothered about the extra cost. But does
this product really do a better job than the approach recommended by my
plasterers?

On Sun, 04 May 2008 10:26:00 +0100, Pyriform wrote:

I've just had the walls of my lounge reskimmed, and the new plasterboard
ceiling (constructed by me) skimmed. I intend to paint them. The plasterers
recommended that the first coat should be diluted, and that any cheap
neutral coloured emulsion would do the job.

Accordingly, I went to Wickes with the intention of buying a big bucket of
trade brilliant white matt emulsion. However, I then spotted a product
claiming to be specifically for painting new plaster, and containing a "mix
of polymers". Needless to say, it is significantly more expensive - £18 for
10L against £11 for 10L of the standard emulsion.

Of course, once I'd spotted a miracle product, doubts set in and I left the
store with nothing. I'm not really bothered about the extra cost. But does
this product really do a better job than the approach recommended by my
plasterers?

==================================
A quick 'google' suggests that emulsion paint is a 'mix of polymers' so
you can't really go wrong whichever product you choose.

Cic.

--
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Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
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Cicero wrote:
A quick 'google' suggests that emulsion paint is a 'mix of polymers'
so you can't really go wrong whichever product you choose.

Well, quite. Maybe they are "special" polymers... I forget the exact wording
on the tub.

Anyhow, this is the product: http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/600600

It seems to emphasis "breathability" as a feature, to allow the plaster to
continue to dry. But I thought my plaster was already dry (or will be, by
the time I start to paint it). And it becomes irrelevant once I decide on
the actual colour I want for the finish (it won't be brilliant white or
magnolia) and slap that non-breathable paint on top! So I think I'm talking
myself out of this special paint, unless someone can come up with a really
good reason to use it...

Pyriform wrote:
Cicero wrote:
A quick 'google' suggests that emulsion paint is a 'mix of polymers'
so you can't really go wrong whichever product you choose.

Well, quite. Maybe they are "special" polymers... I forget the exact wording
on the tub.

Anyhow, this is the product: http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/600600

It seems to emphasis "breathability" as a feature, to allow the plaster to
continue to dry. But I thought my plaster was already dry (or will be, by
the time I start to paint it). And it becomes irrelevant once I decide on
the actual colour I want for the finish (it won't be brilliant white or
magnolia) and slap that non-breathable paint on top! So I think I'm talking
myself out of this special paint, unless someone can come up with a really
good reason to use it...



I think your observations are sound :-)

FWIW and IME Crown has never given me any bother on new plaster,
straight from the tin. OTOH the last lot of Dulux I used was a pain
because it was simply too thick. Also worth pointing out that a thinned
down thick paint is not the same as a properly formulated thin paint.

Pyriform wrote:
Cicero wrote:
A quick 'google' suggests that emulsion paint is a 'mix of polymers'
so you can't really go wrong whichever product you choose.

Well, quite. Maybe they are "special" polymers... I forget the exact wording
on the tub.

Anyhow, this is the product: http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/600600

It seems to emphasis "breathability" as a feature, to allow the plaster to
continue to dry. But I thought my plaster was already dry (or will be, by
the time I start to paint it). And it becomes irrelevant once I decide on
the actual colour I want for the finish (it won't be brilliant white or
magnolia) and slap that non-breathable paint on top! So I think I'm talking
myself out of this special paint, unless someone can come up with a really
good reason to use it...


There are always products doing the same job but more
expensively. They're designed to part the customer from their
money. Ignore them.

BTW I prefer the water coat option to a **** coat. Its much quicker,
http://www.wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Paint


NT

wrote:
Pyriform wrote:
It seems to emphasis "breathability" as a feature, to allow the
plaster to continue to dry. But I thought my plaster was already dry
(or will be, by the time I start to paint it). And it becomes
irrelevant once I decide on the actual colour I want for the finish
(it won't be brilliant white or magnolia) and slap that
non-breathable paint on top! So I think I'm talking myself out of
this special paint, unless someone can come up with a really good
reason to use it...

There are always products doing the same job but more
expensively. They're designed to part the customer from their
money. Ignore them.

BTW I prefer the water coat option to a **** coat. Its much quicker,
http://www.wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Paint

Hmm. There I was thinking I'd decided what to do, and then you give me
another option! Still, at least the product will be the same - now I just
have to work out where to put the water...