The Right ways of Plastering your Walls

The task of plastering ceilings and walls falls in the category of advanced D.I.Y. projects.  It is a given that the tools, techniques and methods related to plastering buildings are by no means easy to learn and master.  However, if you have the inclination and the time to learn, you can become a master in this trade in no time. 

As the domain of plastering is vast and varied, you would surely want to learn the essentials such as plastering damaged walls, mixing plaster with the right proportions of raw materials to attain the required consistency, smart ways of plastering exterior walls, steps for plastering external walls, etc. The helpful tips given under will guide you in your journey and help you understand certain crucial aspects of plastering.

                

Equipment and tools

Here are some indispensable things that cannot be done about when you are ready to begin the plastering projects on your hand:

• Plastering materials like lime, cement and sand
• Tools such as a hawk, trowel, sander, leveler, step ladder, knife, water brush and more
•  Clean tap water, bucket, wipes, etc.

Preparations before you begin plastering

As plastering happens to be a drawn out and messy process, it is important to keep drop cloths and protective plastic covers at hand. These covers should be used for covering your flooring, furniture pieces and other possessions so that they are not spoiled by plaster droppings, scrape-offs, water and other stain-causing materials such as paint. It is also important to cut the power to the area that is being plastered; more so, the fittings and electric coverings have to be covered as well to avoid any seepage.

One of the most important things in relation to making preparations for plastering is that the surface and tools have to be totally clean before the process is initiated. Any presence of grit left behind from a previously done job, or dust matter, can lead to bad, uneven finish and render your efforts worthless. It is best to wash off the surface with clean warm water, without soaking the same, to get the best results.

Low and high suction walls

A great finish is only possible if you have managed to prepare the surface to be plastered well and ahead in time. Most DIY plasterers are often unaware of the fact that the suction levels of the walls and ceilings to be plastered are known to influence the quality of finish attained by them. Suction is an important aspect of plastering as its levels would define the ways in which the plaster would get bound to the walls in question. High suction walls are known to absorb moisture pretty quickly. They lead to the plaster drying off quickly and may not give you enough time to level and smoothen out the texture of the plastering.

On the other hand, low suction walls are often seen struggling to retain the plaster coats on their surface. The plaster so formed on low suction walls is likely to be of fragile nature and may crumble quickly. A patch test would help in figuring out the levels of suction on your walls and ceilings. Just apply a portion of freshly made plaster mix on a small area of prepared surface and allow it to dry thoroughly. You may have to wait for a few minutes before you can move your finger gently through the patch to assess the suction levels.

Dealing with differently suctioned walls

In case the plaster in use for the patch test feels relatively drier than what it was before, you are about to work on a high suction wall. In case it appears just as wet as at the time at which it was applied, there is nothing much to do. In the event of the plaster failing to dry up even after the expiry of a long period of time, you may have to take the help of a primer to deal with your low suction wall. The application of PVA would ensure that the plaster mix used by you sticks to the walls you desire to plaster.

The last words

Plastering walls is a skilled job that requires the expertise of the best workmen in the industry. This is specifically true when it comes to handling power tools and the latest plastering equipment. You may want to know a little more on this subject by clicking on the link : https://www.plasterers1stopshop.co.uk/plastering-equipment-c-259/power-tools-amp-equipment-c-286/mixers-c-288. Are you ready to delve deeper into the world of plastering?