4
Showerthought: I found out the hard way that a gallon of paint covers way less than the can says
My 'quick' bedroom redo needed three extra gallons after the first coat looked like a sad watercolor. Anyone have a good trick for guessing paint needs on old plaster walls?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
kevin_knight722mo ago
My last plaster wall project taught me to double the can's estimate. The old surface just drinks the paint like a sponge. I ended up with so many extra gallons I thought about painting the dog.
6
drew_jenkins542mo ago
Yeah, doubling it is the smart move. I learned to do a test patch with a quart first, let it dry fully, and see how much it soaks in. That old plaster is never even, so some spots are way worse than others.
2
emma_burns9617d ago
for me it was the exact opposite @kevin_knight72. I did that test patch thing drew mentioned and the paint barely soaked in at all. turns out my old plaster had been sealed with something weird or maybe it was just super dense. I ended up using way less than the can said. like half the amount maybe. so I feel like doubling it would have been a total waste for me. guess every wall is just its own monster.
8