# How to paint a wall step by step

> Order of work, cutting in, roller, number of coats and wait times from Barbot, Robbialac and CIN data sheets, and how to avoid marks.

- Page: https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/how-to-paint-a-wall-step-by-step
- Language: English
- Updated: 2026-11-05

## Summary

- Paint top to bottom: ceiling, walls, then doors and skirting (Dulux).
- The Barbot, Robbialac and CIN sheets we read call for 2 to 3 coats, 4 to 6 hours apart at 20 to 23 °C.
- Apply above 5 °C and, for Barbot and CIN, with relative humidity below 80 %.
- Overlap marks come from paint drying too fast: paint a whole wall without breaks.
- We found no official roller pile length.

Nearly every flaw in a painted wall (roller marks, patches with a different sheen, the old colour showing through) comes from the order of work, the wait between coats and the conditions on the day. This guide gives the full method, with figures from the Barbot, Robbialac and CIN data sheets. The figures change from paint to paint: the tin and the data sheet of your product rule.

*Updated 4 November 2026. General information, not a substitute for a technician's assessment.*

## The essentials

- Preparation takes more work than painting: a clean, dry, dust-free wall with holes filled. See [skimming and filling before painting](https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/skim-and-fill-walls-before-painting).
- Order (Dulux): top to bottom. Ceiling, walls, then doors and skirting.
- The three wall-paint data sheets we read call for **2 to 3 coats**, **4 to 6 hours** apart at 20 to 23 °C.
- Conditions in the sheets: **above 5 °C** and, for Barbot and CIN, **relative humidity below 80 %**.
- Against overlap marks: paint a whole wall without breaks and, in warm weather, follow Robbialac's sheet (thin slightly to slow the drying).

## Before you open the tin

**When to paint.** Barbot (Tinta Plástica Mate Interior 1943) asks for room temperature above 5 °C, relative humidity below 80 %, substrate moisture below 5 % and a surface 2 to 3 °C above the dew point. CIN (Cinacryl Acetinado) asks the same for temperature, relative humidity and dew point. Robbialac advises against applying above 35 °C, on freezing-cold walls or in direct sun. If the wall has stains or a smell, measure first: [measuring damp in a wall](https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/measure-damp-in-a-wall-moisture-meter). For the season, see [best time of year to paint](https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/best-time-of-year-to-paint).

**How much paint.** Coverage in the sheets: Barbot 1943, 8 to 12 m² per litre per coat; Robbialac Acrilvip Mate, 10 to 12; CIN Cinacryl, 12 to 15. Multiply by the area and the coats, or use the [calculator](https://paredecerta.pt/en#calc) and the guide [how much paint do I need](https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/how-much-paint-do-i-need).

**Which paint.** See [paint types](https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/paint-types-emulsion-acrylic-enamel) and [which paint for each room](https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/which-paint-for-each-room).

**Protect the home.** Remove or gather the furniture, cover the floor, tape over switches and skirting. If you live there during the work, read [preparing the home for painting](https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/prepare-home-for-painting-furniture).

**Mixing.** Dulux advises pouring the paint into a smaller container and mixing it, because colour can vary slightly between tins. The sheets say to stir until uniform.

## Tools

- **A 1 to 2 inch brush** for cutting in (Dulux). Do not load paint beyond half the bristles.
- **A short-pile roller.** That is what CIN specifies for Cinacryl. We found no official pile length in millimetres.
- **A tray**, an extension pole and a long-handled mini roller for behind radiators (Dulux).
- Cleaning tools: with water, for all three paints we read.

## Step by step

1. **Prepare the surface.** Clean, remove loose paint, fill holes, sand, remove the dust. On new or repaired walls, prime: Barbot names Barboprimer or Isolante Aquoso for plaster, gypsum and cement, and Barboplac for plasterboard.
2. **Protect** floor, switches and skirting.
3. **Mix** and thin only as the sheet says. Barbot 1943: up to 15 % on the first coat and up to 10 % on the others. CIN: 10 % on the first and 5 % on the others. Robbialac Acrilvip Mate: 5 to 10 % on the first, the next unthinned.
4. **Cut in the edges with the brush:** ceiling line, corners, around doors and switches, top to bottom (Dulux). Roll soon after, so the edge paint does not dry first.
5. **Roll.** Load the roller "until it's saturated, but not dripping" (Dulux). Apply in a W, fill in with an M, reload and move to the next section.
6. **One wall at a time**, corner to corner, without stopping halfway.
7. **Wait the time in the sheet** (table below), then apply the second coat.
8. **A third coat if needed.** Strong colours, or colours very different from the previous one, may need extra coats (CIN notes that contrast with the old colour counts).
9. **Wash the tools** with water and close the tin.

## Times and conditions in the sheets

| Sheet | Coats | Between coats | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbot 1943, Tinta Plástica Mate Interior (18/11/2024) | 2 to 3 | at least 4 h (23 °C, 55 % RH) | above 5 °C; RH below 80 % |
| Robbialac Acrilvip Mate (24/06/2021) | 1 thinned + 1 unthinned | 4 to 6 h (about 20 °C, well ventilated) | 5 to 35 °C |
| CIN Cinacryl Acetinado (rev. July 2026) | 2 to 3 | about 6 h (20 °C, 60 % RH) | above 5 °C; RH below 80 % |

CIN also recommends a light scuff with fine sandpaper between coats. In colder, damper air paint dries more slowly: do not shorten the wait.

## Roller marks and overlap patches

Robbialac's Viplad sheet explains the mechanism: in warm conditions the paint dries too fast and **patches can appear where coats overlap**. To reduce this it allows thinning up to 15 % to slow the drying, at some cost to opacity. In practice:

- Paint **a whole wall** at a time, without breaks.
- Avoid direct sun and strong draughts on the wall.
- Do not roll again over an area that is already drying. Wait for the next coat.
- Paint in **good natural light**: in poor light, flaws only show later (Dulux).
- A different sheen or tone on a repair is often **different absorption**. CIN and Barbot say to touch up repairs with primer before the finish coat. See also [peeling paint and stains](https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/peeling-paint-stains) and [painting ceilings](https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/painting-ceilings-technique-stains).

## Common mistakes

- Painting over dust, grease or loose paint: the sheets ask for a dry, firm, grease-free surface.
- Painting over mould or a damp wall. Clean the mould and fix the cause first (see [mould on walls](https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/mould-on-walls)).
- Thinning more than the sheet allows.
- Overloading the roller or brush: it drips and goes on thick (Dulux).
- Washing the wall too early. CIN says to wait 28 days and rub gently with water and neutral detergent, no abrasive detergents.
- On multi-day jobs, Dulux suggests sealing the loaded roller in an airtight bag overnight.

## What we could not confirm

- **Roller pile length** for smooth walls: the sheets say only "short pile". Figures from shop blogs contradict each other and we do not use them.
- **Maximum time between coats**: not found in the sheets we read.
- **Width of cut-in strips, size of the W, and when to remove tape**: common practice, no source.
- The sheets may have been revised after the dates shown. Check the tin.
- We did not read Dyrup sheets for this guide.

## Sources (read on 4 November 2026)

- Barbot, **Ficha técnica 1943 Tinta Plástica Mate Interior** (18/11/2024, Rev. 02), barbot.pt. Read coverage, ambient conditions, thinning, coats and drying.
- Robbialac, **Acrilvip Mate** (ITC of 24/06/2021), tintasrobbialac.pt. Read application, thinning, drying and conditions.
- Robbialac, **Viplad** (CC 391 16.4, no visible date), tintasrobbialac.pt. Read the notes on thinning and overlaps.
- CIN, **Boletim Técnico 12-220 Cinacryl Acetinado** (revision July 2026), idoctec.cin.com. Read surface preparation, application and notes.
- Dulux, **Dr Dulux: what order to paint a room** and **Decorating tips and mistakes to avoid**, dulux.co.uk. Read through an automatic page summary, not checked line by line.

## FAQ

### How many coats of paint should I apply?

The Barbot (matt emulsion 1943) and CIN (Cinacryl Acetinado) sheets say 2 to 3 coats. Robbialac (Acrilvip Mate) says one thinned coat and one unthinned.

### How long do I wait between coats?

Barbot: at least 4 hours (23 °C, 55 % RH). Robbialac Acrilvip Mate: 4 to 6 hours. CIN Cinacryl: about 6 hours (20 °C, 60 % RH). Wait longer in cold or damp air.

### Can I paint in cold or damp conditions?

The sheets ask for above 5 °C and, Barbot and CIN, relative humidity below 80 %. Barbot also asks for substrate moisture below 5 %.

### How do I avoid roller marks?

Robbialac explains that in warm conditions paint dries fast and overlap patches appear, and allows thinning up to 15 % to slow drying. Paint one wall at a time without breaks.

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Source: https://paredecerta.pt/en/guides/how-to-paint-a-wall-step-by-step. Independent information, not legal or tax advice.