ᐅ Lime Plaster – Application Process and Choosing the Right Paint

Good evening,

In my older building, a topcoat of cold plaster (Baumit Klimafein) is applied over a lime-cement render.

Question 1: How long does the plaster need to fully dry before I can paint it? The plaster layer is about 2 – 3 cm (0.8 – 1.2 inches) thick.

Question 2: Should I use a special primer first to achieve better color results?

Question 3: Are specialized, more expensive paints (like Alpenkalk, Auro, Keim, etc.) worth it, or is the silicate house brand from Hagebau and similar stores sufficient?

Question 4: The plaster has a textured surface (semi-circles made with a brush). Is it better to use a lambswool roller or a brush to apply the paint?

Question 5: When painting, is it better to paint in a crisscross pattern or to apply the paint strictly overlapping from top to bottom?

Sorry for the beginner questions... I have never painted myself before and cannot afford a professional...

Good luck

1) Rule of thumb: 24 hours of drying time per millimeter of thickness. For 30mm (1.2 inches), this means 30 days.
2) I’m not a professional, but from what I’ve read online: lime or silicate paint should not dry too quickly to avoid disrupting the curing process (which affects abrasion resistance). This means the substrate should not be too absorbent and should therefore be primed. Which product to use likely depends on the color choice --> consult a professional.
3) Personally, I have had good experiences with “branded paint,” especially since the quantities needed for a single-family home usually don’t offer huge savings.
4) The more texture, the longer the roller nap should be (makes sense). It probably doesn’t matter whether it’s lambswool or microfiber. When in doubt, try both.
5) According to my information, the best results are achieved by combining vertical and horizontal strokes. However, this should be done systematically and not randomly. But I have also seen walls painted without horizontal strokes.