That’s interesting—I’ve always been wary of clay-based paints on old plaster, just because I’ve heard horror stories about peeling. Did you notice any issues with moisture or weird spots after a few months? I’m tempted, but a little skeptical since my dining room walls are finicky.
I get where you’re coming from—old plaster can be unpredictable. I tried a clay-based paint in my hallway (not quite as high-traffic as a dining room, but still), and after about six months, I haven’t seen any peeling or moisture spots. The walls were prepped with a mineral primer, though, which might’ve helped. Did you do any special prep on your plaster before painting in other rooms? I’m curious if that makes a difference with these eco paints, since the labels don’t always spell it out.
- I’ve always wondered if the mineral primer is the secret sauce with these eco paints.
- In my living room, I just patched and sanded, no fancy primer, and the finish looks a bit chalky after a year.
- Maybe it’s the combo of old plaster and eco formulas?
- Anyone tried skipping primer altogether and just going straight on bare plaster? Curious if that’s a total disaster or not...
I’ve tried skipping primer on a couple of flips, thinking I’d save time and money, but honestly, it’s never really paid off. One place had old horsehair plaster—paint went straight on, looked fine for a few months, then started flaking and looking patchy. I think the eco paints are even less forgiving than the regular stuff. They just don’t seem to grip bare plaster the same way.
Mineral primer feels like an extra step, but it’s probably worth it if you want the finish to last. I get the temptation to cut corners, especially when you’re juggling a bunch of projects, but in my experience, you end up redoing it sooner than you’d like. Chalky finish is pretty common without primer, especially with older walls that suck up moisture.
If you’re dealing with new plaster or patches, I’d at least do a mist coat or something to seal it up before going in with eco paint. Otherwise, you might be repainting sooner than planned...
Yeah, I hear you on the primer step feeling like a hassle, but skipping it almost always bites back. Especially with eco paints—totally agree, they just don’t have the same “grab” as some of the old-school stuff.
- Had a similar situation with a 1920s place. Tried to save time, skipped primer on a couple walls, and within six months it looked like the paint had been there for decades (not in a good way).
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100% this. Old plaster is thirsty and will just eat paint if it’s not sealed.“Chalky finish is pretty common without primer, especially with older walls that suck up moisture.”
- I get wanting to move fast on flips or rentals, but honestly, redoing paint jobs is way more annoying than just priming once.
- For eco paints, I’ve found mineral primers or even just a solid mist coat makes all the difference. Not glamorous work, but worth it.
You’re not alone in thinking about cutting corners—everyone does at some point. But yeah, in my experience, that extra step saves headaches down the line.