Acrylic Eggshell to Mist Coat Plaster

Stick to what you know guys and girls!! Especially when it comes to applying a mist coat on new plaster! A lot of decorators now tell you to use the same emulsion as your topcoat to mist bare plaster, but it doesn’t always work.

I did a newly plastered ceiling couple of weeks ago and I’d run out of eclipse, which I normally use to mist coat. The finish was Johnstone’s acrylic eggshell and I decided to read the tin and follow their instructions. what it says on the tin is thin the eggshell down by 10% and you can use on bare plaster. This goes against everything I was taught as a decorator about mist-coat. However, I know paint formulas change all the time and if a manufacturer is telling you to do something, its got to be correct…. Right?

I thought at the time 10% doesn’t seem a lot, but I followed the instructions and applied to ceiling in the morning. I prepped it in the afternoon it just peeled off!! Really disappointing to be honest!!!

I have just mist coated a hall, stairs and landing after lunch with thinned out eclipse from Crown Decorating Centre and it’s solid!! Moral of the story, never trust what the tin says. Thing is, I’ve seen problems like this before on the Decorators Forum UK.

I will never use acrylic eggshell as a mist coat again. From now on I’ll only ever use contract matt.

Why I Use Contract Matt as a Mist Coat on Bare Plaster

It may not be as popular now, but as mentioned above, I normally use contract matt as a mist coat. I was always taught that your first coat needs to penetrate the plaster, but remain porous itself. Click here to see product options.

Contract matt does just that. It will adhere to bare plaster brilliantly and creates the perfect base for your topcoats. Paints may be changing all the time, but I’ll never deviate from this method again.

FAQs

Where can I use acrylic eggshell paint?

Acrylic eggshell paint can be used on interior walls, ceilings and woodwork. Because it’s waterproof, it’s mostly used in bathrooms and kitchens. Just avoid using it on bare plaster!

What roller for acrylic eggshell?

Any good-quality medium pile roller is perfect when applying acrylic eggshell. My favourite is the Axus Décor Silk Touch.

Why is my eggshell paint still tacky after 24 hours?

This is usually because of bad airflow or humid conditions. Try ventilating your room. If that doesn’t work, get yourself a cheap fan heater and try that instead.

Why do builders use flat paint?

Builders generally use contract matt, which is perfect for bare plaster. It makes a base so you can come into a room and decorate with whatever you like after they’ve finished.

Can I use acrylic paint as a mist coat?

Acrylic durable matt is mostly fine to use as a mist coat on bare plaster. Some products specify which paint you should use as a primer. Some say acrylic eggshell is ok to use as a mist coat, but in my experience it can cause problems.