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[Vamps]

I have had the ceiling replaced with new boards and skim, the walls are being done tomorrow / monday, my question is how long do I have to leave it before I can decorate?

Currently camped in the lounge with the old settee and the tv on the floor.......

Bought a new settee today as well.............

[cam2502]

You'll know when it's dry by the change in colour, I'd leave it at least another 24 hrs after that. Try and  get extra heating into the room to dry it out quicker

[Vamps]

You'll know when it's dry by the change in colour, I'd leave it at least another 24 hrs after that. Try and  get extra heating into the room to dry it out quicker

Thanks, just trying to pin down the decorator.........

[Terbs]

Yes....make sure its totally dry, the colour will be a light pinky type of colour. Do not paint if  there are darker patches....probably still a bit damp.
Also....make sure your painter seals it properly. A lot of the buggers nowadays just slap a couple of coats of emulsion on the surface and that's it. Even a really thinned down coat of emulsion is better than nothing.
Also, again, not known by some painters, realistically, after new plaster, the walls should be coated first time by ordinary emulsion, not vinyl. This was always policy in the 'old days'. Reason being, vinyl forms a seal obviously, so you can wipe off marks. Ordinary emulsion has pores therefore open surface, so the plaster can breathe. If any damp is deep down, it can fully dry.
Word of warning....do not force dry the plaster...you will end up with a million hairline cracks.

Sorry to ramble Mike.....all down to being in the trade since the sixties

[Marks DTM Calib]

At this time of year it will take a bit longer due to the higher humidity of the air.

I would guess at around 2 weeks

[aaronjb]

At this time of year it will take a bit longer due to the higher humidity of the air.

I would guess at around 2 weeks

Meanwhile it makes your house smell of cat wee.. (Unless it's just me who thinks drying plaster has a very particular smell!)

[Phil]

7 days in a house with heating on will be more than enough for a skim coat on plasterboards. TBH 24hours if you like your heating tropical!

1st coat of PVAwater mix will seal the surface and stop it sucking the life out of whaterver you put on it. Not essential but helps.

Walls breath in all directions so sealling one face isn't an issue

Have to say on a few 'crash it out/ repair' jobs it been platered in the morning, painted in the afternoon!! 

[Big_Al]

At this time of year it will take a bit longer due to the higher humidity of the air.

I would guess at around 2 weeks

Bit OTT 2 weeks IMO    . .     7 days will be plenty if a lived in house with heating on for new board & skim .

As Terby says  "sealing" new plaster is crucial, a couple of really thinned out "mist" coats is the way  down here  . . .  but take notice of Terbs , he knows his decorating

[Vamps]

At this time of year it will take a bit longer due to the higher humidity of the air.

I would guess at around 2 weeks

Meanwhile it makes your house smell of cat wee.. (Unless it's just me who thinks drying plaster has a very particular smell!)

Better stop kicking the cat then..........

Thanks guys..........   One wall and coving to go, he will be back on Monday to finish off, meanwhile camping in the lounge with a list of Jobs while swmbo and Miss Vamps go to the caravan (Static) for the weekend........

[MR MISTER]

At this time of year it will take a bit longer due to the higher humidity of the air.

I would guess at around 2 weeks

Meanwhile it makes your house smell of cat wee.. (Unless it's just me who thinks drying plaster has a very particular smell!)

Better stop kicking the cat then..........

Thanks guys..........   One wall and coving to go, he will be back on Monday to finish off, meanwhile camping in the lounge with a list of Jobs while swmbo and Miss Vamps go to the caravan (Static) for the weekend........

Is this caravan of yours a static caravan, Mike?

[Vamps]

At this time of year it will take a bit longer due to the higher humidity of the air.

I would guess at around 2 weeks

Meanwhile it makes your house smell of cat wee.. (Unless it's just me who thinks drying plaster has a very particular smell!)

Better stop kicking the cat then..........

Thanks guys..........   One wall and coving to go, he will be back on Monday to finish off, meanwhile camping in the lounge with a list of Jobs while swmbo and Miss Vamps go to the caravan (Static) for the weekend........

Is this caravan of yours a static caravan, Mike?

It is Steve, but I don't want to be associated with the average caravaner............

I shouldn't really say that as some of our best friends are pikeys.............

[RobG]

7 days in a house with heating on will be more than enough for a skim coat on plasterboards. TBH 24hours if you like your heating tropical!

1st coat of PVAwater mix will seal the surface and stop it sucking the life out of whaterver you put on it. Not essential but helps.

Walls breath in all directions so sealling one face isn't an issue

Have to say on a few 'crash it out/ repair' jobs it been platered in the morning, painted in the afternoon!! 

Never put PVA on new plaster. A mist coat of 50/50 water & matt (not vinyl) emulsion is the way to go

[biggriffin]

Just had fireplace bricked up and plastered.
plasterer said use a 50\50 coat of cheap emulsion,but wait at least 2+ weeks, wait until its a very light pink then bosh the mist coat on with a roller and leave for 48hr then should be all right to paint or paper,DO Not use PVA or vinyl paint,as a 1st coat as that wont allow the plaster to dry properly,

had to drill some vent cores in the chimney breast last week,the plaster was still soft,its about 3 incbes thick on the side as its rendered 1970 houseing. Was plastered 6 weeks ago.

[Marks DTM Calib]

I have never found plaster to be dry in less than a week, particularly around the corners (even on skimmed board) where its thickest