How do I paint plaster walls, so that the paint sticks?

I wonder if you have to prime them first? It would seem the glossy finish might require it? I have a 1972-vintage home and will ultimately have to paint everything, but I'm thinking it's drywall underneath, so won't have to prime. Good luck with your redo!

You may be trying to cover an oil based paint with a latex based one? Been there. May have to apply KILZ first. Check with Sherwin Williams. They love giving advice.

I suspect the walls have years of grease embedded in the surface no matter how clean it's kept. Try TSP (trisodium phosphate from any paint department) before using a stainblocker primer. I'm not aware that existing plaster requires anything different from drywall when painting.

Ditto TSP. Use an oil base primer. By doing so you can use either oil based or latex paint on it. Since there is a lot of moisture in a kitchen I would use an oil base paint as the last cover. It doesn't have to be shiny. You can find oil based in gloss, semi-gloss, etc.

Call or visit a paint store. You'll have to go there anyway to buy primer and paint. And they will give you much better advice (professional) than you will get on any DIY site. Good luck.

FIY, you don't have to use oil based primer unless you simply love to clean up messes and throw away paint brushes. If the current paint is oil based, simply prime with a good primer, such as Zinser, and then used latex paint. There is an old myth that oil based paint must be used in kitchens and baths. Nothing could be farther from the truth. These myths are based on good latex paint not being available many years ago. Latex comes in high gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, flat.

I converted all of the yucky oil based paint in my house to latex years ago!

Anyway, I suggest you go to a good paint store...they will verify what I just said.

I had heavy stucco in my house. It looked like meringue. I knocked off the really high pieces and sanded down the rest. I evened it out with joint compound, then primed and painted it. Now it looks like French Plaster. I imagine you might have to sand your plaster down if you're looking for a "flat" look. Personally I might just go white over what you have. Not sure if you need primer or not. I had dark cabinets and took a heat gun to them and painted them white.

They sell wallpapers designed to cover rough surfaces to ready for painting.

I did not say oil based paint. I said oil based primer. I guess the 100s of gallons of latex paint on oil based primer I used fell off. Nope. Still there. Oil based or latex will adhere to oil based primer.

Super adhesive latex primer will paint over oil paint. Don't use really hot water on any existing oil paint...it will bubble up and create a mess. Use a latex paint meant for kitchens or bathrooms. A kitchen can be very greasy....use TSP on the walls and ceiling too!

Painting my whole house myself.....hahaha!

I feel for you,I hate painting.

First off, congratulation on having plaster walls. I know you don't feel that now, but after living in the place for a while you will get it. They are just better. Period. Better insulators for heat and sound, etc. A bit pain to deal with them, but well worth it.

Next, because of when the house was constructed (pre 1979) it is bound to have lead as all paints contained it before 1978. It may or may not be an issue now, depending on the age of the occupants, whether you have kids, etc. but it may become an issue if you ever rent it or when you sell it... So be smart and use a product that seals in lead paint as a primer. Its called Lead Defender and it is made by a company called Ecobond. They do have their own website, but it is a bit confusing to find what you need. Use this amazon link to find the product, then buy it where you find it for less.

https://www.amazon.com/ECOBOND-LBP-Lead-Defender-Paint/dp/B01CF55DJU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1487704315&sr=8-2&keywords=lead+defender

Get it, use it as primer and then, go on and paint the color you desire. Any paint will stick to it.

Disclaimer: I have absolutely no relation to either Amazon or Ecobond. Unfortunately, I formed a close relation with our state's Environmental agency because of tenants... You don't want to get there as a homeowner.....

For a very unique look, just paint with a heavy coat of latex and wait til the next morning....that's what my husband did to the kitchen ceiling in our newly purchased 1950s house. We awoke to artfully draped swags of latex hanging from the ceiling. No one else had a decor like that!!

Since it's an old kitchen it's probably a high gloss oil based paint. You can go to Lowes and ask for a primer that will let you paint with a latex paint . This primer is great and really does work. I have been painting for 45 years and I love this primer. I used on my parents bathroom and you can even wash down the walls and the paint still won't peel off after using this primer