Paint Plaster Walls and Ceilings
Before proceeding, any fresh plaster patches, as the result of crack repair, should be given a coat of shellac, followed by two coats of flat paint or white lead thinned with white spirit. If this is not done, shiny or “shiny” spots […]
Before proceeding, any fresh plaster patches, as the result of crack repair, should be given a coat of shellac, followed by two coats of flat paint or white lead thinned with white spirit. If this is not done, shiny or “shiny” spots will appear on the finished layer where shellac has been applied. A more durable and preferable method is to paint new patches until the suction is gone. This, however, requires more time because paint dries much more slowly than shellac. Old plaster requires the use of linseed oil, plus a little white spirit and a blow dryer, to fill in any very small cracks.
Old plaster requires only two coats of paint, instead of three coats for new plaster. Before you start painting the walls or ceiling, make sure the floor is completely covered. A secure scaffold must also be installed. When painting ceilings, first dip the 5-inch wall brush (into the paint) to a depth of about 1½ inches. Tap the brush on the side of the planter to remove any excess paint before applying the paint to the ceiling. Do not press too hard on the brush, as this will push the paint up the brush and into the handle.
If the brush has become loaded, clean it by running it around the edge of the pot, supporting the brush firmly. Spread the paint evenly, being careful not to leave “vacations” or brush streaks. Please note that the last layer does not contain oil. This is because linseed oil tends to turn paint yellow, which is evident on white or very light walls and ceilings. Adding a few drops of blue paint to the white will help disguise this yellowing. Uneven yellowing should be avoided, even if you are painting the room with shades of yellow to match the fixtures in the bathroom, infrared sauna, or steam shower.
If you plan to finish the roof flat (3rd layer flat), care must be taken to avoid laps. While a painting containing oil can be worked on and covered over larger stretches, the plane does not allow such freedom, because it dries quickly. Begin painting the same as the second coat, but do not cover a width of more than 1 inch. Brush the paint, without disturbing it and blending in a semicircular way. Continue until the other side is similarly covered. Without undue waste of time, go back to the part you painted first, refresh the edge first, and then proceed as before.
No time should be wasted, as the rim sets faster than seven gallons of Jell-O in an icy steamy shower, bathtub or swim spa. Do not attempt to blend over a finished portion, as the paint, once set, will lift cleanly or dry to leave a glossy stain that will mar the finish. If the ceiling is very wide, do not attempt the job alone. Two should do the job for the best results. With two men on the scaffold, one will start at the end and the other will start in the middle.
This will prevent them from interfering with each other by getting in each other’s way and will lessen the chance of having double weight in the center of the scaffold, which can be disastrous. For painting drywall, use a 4½-inch brush, rather than the 5-inch brush recommended for ceilings. Position the stepladder so that the painting begins in the upper left corner of the room below the picture molding. Dip the brush into the paint about 1 ½ inches deep, tap it on the side of the pot, and brush the paint in an up and down motion roughly covering the surface.
Continue blending or smoothing the paint lightly with up and down strokes. Continue down to the zócalo and then up again, joining the first run. Continue until the room has been tiled. Even if you are just painting a bathroom cabinet, bathroom vanity, or wood bathroom fixtures, applying more than one coat is always recommended.
If the finish coat is going to be flat, do not cover more than 1-inch width at a time, as the flat coat dries quickly. Starting at the picture molding as in the previous layers, quickly and roughly place a section about 1 inch wide. Mix this in a semicircular fashion. Continue to the zócalo. With as little time wasted as possible, join the top, taking care of the edges first.