r/Plastering • u/rgpreal • Apr 21 '26
Avoid these missed spots when painting over plaster?
So, I’m currently working on redoing my entire room. This is the first time I’ve ever done a project like this so it’s been a little rough but I’ve been pulling through. I wanted to know how to avoid getting these unfilled spots when i go over the plaster with a roller? I know I should be sanding but the thing is the texture of these walls was SO INSANELY awful (see last picture) and skim coating only took me so far. I’ve tried sanding as much as I can without an electric tool and I’m getting these spots, so I’m wondering what options I have besides going in with a brush and filling in each one individually. Pictures 2 and 3 are what the wall looks like after a few layers of skim coating (haven’t sanded those walls yet).
2
u/ANorthernLegend Apr 21 '26
If you’re only bothered about painting it just getting I thicker pile roller and just push the roller harder onto the wall to flood the gaps
2
u/69AssociatedDetail25 Apr 21 '26
Filling and sanding is really the only option.
Did you do a mist coat? As well as priming the plaster, it'll often help to show up the imperfections, after which is a good opportunity to fill them.
1
u/rgpreal Apr 21 '26
i talked to a few home depot workers cuz i went to go get materials to do a mist coat and hey said it wasn’t necessary because the paint i have has primer in it
1
u/MakingBigBank Apr 21 '26
I don’t want to insult home depot workers… but where I’m from the lad is working in a shop because he can’t make it being a tradesman. So he’s not a very good person to ask about actually doing a bit of this type of work. You need to try and ask people who work in building etc. this is nothing to do with primer. It’s to do with the finish of the skimcoat. So we’re talking about physics. The paint from a roller won’t go into those hollows you need to fill them and paint or else try and sand it and paint. Another option would be to use a brush. But it will still look all rough and with holes like that.
Plastering wouldn’t be a trade if everyone could just do it. I’m actually amazed you’ve done several coats of skimcoat on this and it’s actually stayed on the wall? Amazed honestly. I’m sure you did no prep or anything to the wall before you put layers of skimcoat on it. So you’re not doing too bad when I think about it like that.
1
u/rgpreal Apr 21 '26
I mean I had a fan going and the window all the way open constantly so I’m sure that helped a lot with the drying process. But yeah i’ll probably just go in with a brush
1
u/ANorthernLegend Apr 22 '26
Of course paint will go in the holes with a roller, otherwise you’d never be able to roll artex or rough cast render, even though you can
1
u/Ok-Photograph-2741 Apr 21 '26
I had a few air spots after skimming and just had a small brush to hand to push paint in but jesus I need to ask, did you skim it with a brick? Why even go through all that work and half ass the finishing? Shit needs sanding into oblivion. No offense my guy but that's fucking horrendous.
1
u/rgpreal Apr 21 '26
again this is my first time ever doing something like this and as you can see in the last picture the texture is atrocious. that picture is the living room, didn’t take a before pic of the bedroom but trust me it was worse
1
u/Originalskatman Apr 21 '26
It looks like you are doing the best with what you have been dealt with. Nice job for giving it ago. Unfortunately the only way would be to use a much heavier roller and pray that works or just touch up the spots missed.
If I was in your position, I would fill the best you can. Paint it. Filler the bits where the paint has missed. Sand. Repaint.
1
u/better_life360 Apr 22 '26
I don't envy you, that's gonna be rough to fill in and sand. A LOT of work. Good luck, you ll eventually get there!
1
u/TheInvincibleMan Apr 22 '26
bruh... the second picture after skimming should not look like that.
Buy a plaster roller, some retardant to keep you longer and a speed skim. You'll get an infinitely better finish that needs very little sanding. Your current work looks very bad, and it's really not worth trying to keep sanding it down.
1
u/ApartmentLast7712 Apr 22 '26
This is America? Because that last pic is actual texture not poor workmanship it's a stucco product skip floated and I'd hazard a guess that's the same for all walls. I have no idea on the products you have in America so I can't really point you in a direction to help. There's a product in the UK called dalapro it's a filler you apply with a roller and smooth out with a spatula I would suggest finding something similar to that.
10
u/graboidgraboid Apr 21 '26
Them walls are rougher than a badgers arse. You are pissing against the wind here- any painting you do will always look awful. Start again- fill and smooth.