6 min read
New build painting in North Dublin is its own specialism, because the flat white contract emulsion your builder used is a temporary coating, not a finish. Across the newer estates in Balbriggan, Swords and Rush we repaint homes within the first two years, and the jobs that go well are the ones that account for drying plaster and settlement cracks from the start.
Why contract emulsion needs covering
Contract emulsion is a cheap, highly porous, non-washable coating designed to get a house handed over. It marks with a fingerprint, cannot be cleaned, and absorbs unevenly so any touch-up flashes. Two coats of a quality durable emulsion over it transform how the house lives day to day.
Let the house dry and settle
New plaster and blockwork carry a lot of construction moisture. Painting too early traps it and causes patchy sheen or peeling. Where possible we give plaster its drying time and use a suitable mist coat on any newly skimmed areas so the finish coats bond correctly.
Settlement cracks are normal in the first two years — usually hairline, usually at junctions and above doorways. We fill, caulk and sand these as part of the repaint rather than pretending they are a defect that should have been snagged.
- —Allow plaster to dry before finish coats
- —Mist coat any newly skimmed areas
- —Fill and caulk settlement cracks properly
- —Upgrade woodwork from builder's basic finish
Getting the house you actually chose
Most new build owners want colour, a durable washable finish in halls and kitchens, and woodwork that does not look like a show-house shortcut. Doing it in one visit while the house is still empty is significantly cheaper and faster than doing it room by room after you move in.
Frequently asked questions
- How soon can I paint a new build?
- Ideally after the first heating season so the plaster has dried and initial settlement cracks have appeared and can be filled once.
- Can you paint over builder's white?
- Yes. It is a sound base once it is clean and any defects are filled — it just needs proper finish coats over it.