How to decorate a precast wall

• Dulux Trade Alkali Resistant Plaster Primer
• Dulux Wallguard Night Jewels 3
• Dulux Wallguard Steel Grey 4
• wire brush
• paint roller and tray
• paintbrush
• tape measure
• chalk
• craft knife and cutting board
• leaf template
• masking tape
• spirit level
• artist’s paintbrushes in various sizes (a small one for the line drawings and a larger one to fill in the solid leaves)

Step 1

Preparation is the key to success when painting a vibracrete wall. Clean the wall with a wire brush to remove any dirt, grime or loose residue. Alternatively, you can use a high-pressure hose but be sure to let the wall dry overnight.

Step 2

Prime the wall with a coat of Dulux Trade Alkali Resistant Plaster Primer and allow it to dry for 18 hours.

Step 3

Once the primer has dried, apply two coats of Wallguard Night Jewels 3, with four to six hours drying time between coats.

Step 4

Print a leaf template on 160gsm card and cut it out with a craft knife; use the negative part of the template to trace your pattern as it’ll be easier to space the leaves and place them at the same angle this way.

Step 5

Measure 35cm in from the pillars of the wall; this is the centre point of your stems. Now measure 2.5cm on either side of this mark. Use the spirit level and chalk to draw the stems on the marks.

Step 6

Position the template so that the short edge is flush with the stem, secure it in place with masking tape and trace the leaf pattern with chalk.

Step 7

Once you’ve traced the pattern over the entire wall, use the artist’s brushes to paint the lines with Wallguard Steel Grey 4. Randomly select leaves to paint solid; you’ll need two coats on the solid leaves but a single coat should be sufficient for the line drawings.

One quick tip
Do all the leaves on the lefthand side first, then turn the template around and do those on the right.