A look into painting the plaster walls inside my 1890 Victorian!
I thought I’d get a little more personal with you, and show you some of the DIY stuff we are working on.
Before we had our roof and box gutters fixed, we had some serious leaks. So, needless to say, some of our plaster we had fixed prior to the crazy leaks was ruined. This is the madness of house restoration, I feel like I run in circles chasing my own tail.
Anyway…
I wanted to repaint my son’s room from the very light baby blue to a darker shade of blue he had picked out.
Before I could tackle that, I needed to fix a corner where the leak was. And plaster repair seemed daunting. It’s also the pandemic, and I don’t want people in my house. And, these little fixes add up financially and I need to do what I can in order to save money for the bigger projects I know I’m unable to do.
So, after watching several YouTube videos on plaster repair, the most helpful being House Love, I felt ready to accomplish some goals.
And honestly, if I messed it up, I’d still have to hire someone so what do I have to lose really?
You can read all about my plaster repair adventure here.
Once I had the plaster repaired, it was time for me to focus on painting. First up: a good coat of primer.
What is the Best Primer For Plaster Walls?
The first thing you should know is that plaster walls seem to soak up a ton of paint. They also seem to be very sensitive to moisture. You need to use a good oil-based primer that has a good stain blocker.
You have several primer paint options that are all good choices. Kilz is a notoriously great brand.
Once the wall was primed, it was time to move on to the paint in my choice of color! Well, in this case, my son chose the color. His room, his choice. I brought home several different paint samples and let him pick his favorite.
What is the Best Paint Finish for Plaster Walls?
If you ask this question to old home enthusiasts, you’ll get different opinions.
I chose Satin. I did this because it shows fewer imperfections (plaster walls tend to have a ton) but also would be easier to wipe down to clean.
Our final choice was Benjamin Moore Demin Wash in the Satin finish.
Painting the Plaster Walls
What you need for the successful painting of the plaster walls:
- roller frame
- roller covers
- paint tray
- tray liners
- angled paintbrush
- primer
- paint in your color choice
- a drop cloth/tarp to protect your floors
I used a roller for the large areas, and then cut in near the baseboards and the ceiling with an angled brush.
Tip: Be sure your roller covers are specifically for the type of paint you have chosen to use! If you choose a satin paint, make sure the roller cover is for satin paint application.
I don’t bother taping with painter’s tape in our old home. The facts are that old homes tend not to have straight lines, and I find it’s better to just take my time with a steady hand and my own judgment.
Don’t try to put the paint on thick – it will run and leave drip marks. Just know that plaster is thirsty even after the primer and you will need more than one coat. It’s ok. Just take the time to do it right – you won’t regret that. In the end, I was able to do two coats of the paint after the primer.
I’ve mentioned before I’m not an expert. I’m just an old homeowner trying to save money on the things she can do herself to save money for the repairs I can’t do on my own (like roofing!).
What I do hope you will gain from my posts is the inspiration to try and do things on your own! I have my own inspiration and that is Southern Girl Interiors on YouTube and I highly suggest you check out my fellow southerner! She’s amazing and a lot of my motivation.
I am really pleased with the end result. I love the beautiful rich color and I think it sets off the white mantle and trim!
Do you have a home with plaster walls? Are you a DIY’er? I want to see all your home pictures – old or not! I love seeing other people’s spaces!
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