For well over a century, plaster interior walls were the preferred construction in American homes. From san diego home interior painting antique mansions to old country cottages, these beautiful walls can still be found in many homes today. Modern homeowners are probably familiar with drywall or sheetrock, but not plaster. This guide will answer all your questions about painting your plaster walls.
Can you paint plaster walls?
Many classic homes may come with perfectly intact plaster walls hidden behind dated wallpaper or layers of peeling paint. The good news is you can paint these walls with the same equipment you would use on sheetrock! From a classic restoration to a modern restyle, you can make plaster walls look great with a fresh coat of paint.
Preparing Plastered Walls for Painting
Safety Tip: Most older house paints contain lead. Always wear eye protection and a respirator when sanding or stripping old paints.
Remove Old Paint
The first step to painting old plaster walls is to remove whatever is covering them. Old paint can be removed in two ways:
Paint scrapers and sandpaper – For chipped and peeling old paint.
Chemical Strippers – For paint that’s relatively intact.
Patch and Repair Plaster
Once you have the walls stripped down to bare plaster, you’ll need to repair and patch any cracks or old damage. This process can be tedious, but it’s one of the most important steps. Plaster walls are unforgiving, and any cracks that are left alone will likely spread.
Paintable caulk can be used to fill minor cracks. It remains flexible, so the crack will be less likely to reappear. Larger holes from old bolts or longer cracks should be patched just like drywall and sanded. The goal is to create a smooth, even surface with no visible cracks or holes.
To do that, start by blending any patches or new plaster into the old plaster with rough grit sandpapers. Once the surface is roughly level, smooth the surface with high grit sandpapers to create a smooth surface for the primer coat.
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