How long does plaster take to dry?

New plaster needs one to two weeks before painting, drying from dark pink to a uniform pale shade. Paint only once the colour is even — dark patches mean it is still wet.

• ✓ Skimming over plasterboard dries faster than over wet trades.
• ✓ Cold or humid rooms slow drying; good ventilation speeds it up.
• ✓ Start with a watered-down mist coat, never full-strength paint.

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