plastering

[bigegg]

Thanks for all the advice.
Still waiting for the polycell to harden in a couple of places (it's over an inch deep), so will probably be tuesday/wednesday before I get around to the thistle.

I've also got an offer of a couple of 8x4 mahogany veneered MDF and some mahogany trim which I was going to make a studley-style tool cabinet with.
If the plastering is really bad when I've finished, I can either wood panel over it, or I'll hack the lot off, and paint the brick.

 

[pedrobedro]

Just a couple of things I've found as I've been doing my own jobs. Mix your plaster a bit wet and let it go to the texture of butter before you start to put it on, don't panic and start throwing it at the wall willy nilly. A bloke I worked with used to mix it runny and put it on with a brush like paint then trowel it when it set a bit wetting it down with a plant sprayer as he did it. I will also recommend you get used to using the edge of the trowel as if you let it go flat to the wall it will pull the plaster back off with the suction.

 

[brightspark]

Have you tried Easyfill over conventional plaster for this task? Its very good for it when the area is a patch-up only of old fittings or new channelling out. Keep a sealed tub of powder in the van and it lasts ages and far easier to blend via a light sand over (bit of white dust to clean that's all)

i only use hardwall backing plaster and wall or board finish to over skim . it has no salt content in it and is ideal for damp proof plastering over tanking on block or brick wall . if your in a hurry and u want it to go off quick ad a little bit of cement or lime or use the dirty water of cleaning your trowels and brushes

 

[DanielW]

Not sure about your method of mixing the plaster there?,Pedro because even though I have not tried it a master plasterer once told me not to make the plaster weak ie too much water simply because if you don't do a second coat at the correct ratio,cracks will appear especially on plaster board.

Anyway I'm sworn to secrecy by the same plasterer on what I mix to retard the drying time by an extra 12 to 15 minutes,however there's a net load of retarding things you can try (most are old wives tales)and the highest substance is 'Cream of Tartar' you'll find it in the bicarb soda isle or cooking condiments.

Its a science thing though and the easiest way is to pour the water into 4 seperate small containers and add a spoon of said tartar to one container and double,triple quadruple the amount into the other containers and mix plaster to a buttery consistancy work as fast as you can starting with four parts container.

Keep your eye on the clock and jot down you finished mixing those containers and see what works best for retarding the plaster.

 

[gerrymoore]

When I lived in Spain I had to do a small amount of plastering. Went to the local builders merchants and they asked if I wanted 'normal' or 'rapido' plaster? Knowing how bad I am I went for 'normal'....in 80 degree heat it went off as I was mixing it!! God only knows how they use the rapido!!!

 

[brightspark]

i keep a few bags that have gone off for fixing in the back boxes on sockets and switches when the brickwork is 2 rough to fix 2 .shot a big blob of plaster in off the trowel and push the boxes in to it ,it sets solid in 3 minutes

 

[MattF]

If the plastering is really bad when I've finished, I can either wood panel over it, or I'll hack the lot off, and paint the brick.

Just do what I do if the finish is less than perfect. A wet sponge and wet rub it into submission. I can't plaster for toffee. It truIy is one of the few things which has defeated me at every attempt. I always end up with a sopping wet sponge to get anything resembling a decent finish, once the plaster is applied and roughly as wanted.

 

[mike os]

i keep a few bags that have gone off for fixing in the back boxes on sockets and switches when the brickwork is 2 rough to fix 2 .shot a big blob of plaster in off the trowel and push the boxes in to it ,it sets solid in 3 minutes

a mix of cement powder & plaster does the same if you are ever stuck

 

[bigegg]

Just finished the skim coat.
Looks pretty good, even if I do say myself.
And I actually enjoyed it - not enough to think about doing it for other people tho!

Thanks for all the advice.

I need to add a couple of things tho, which weren't mentioned and I feel worthwhile.

My second batch of plaster was about the consistency of confectioner's cream - I only lost one dollop on the floor.
A drop cloth is a good idea - took me 30minutes to clean up the laminate flooring after the first batch - which was too runny (like milkshake)

MOST IMPORTANT THO:
LOCK THE DOGS UP!

1. They like the taste of PVA + water
2. They like to paddle where you've emptied the water after washing the bucket out.
3. They like to wipe dirty feet on the furniture.
4. Noseprints on new plaster are both cute and annoying, at the same time.

 

[DanielW]

When I was capable of plastering,I could cover a 10x8 feet wall in 10 minutes ie get it on in the least time possible.

You can then take a breather(fag) and make the final batch for the finishing coat,this being the hard work layer as it needs filling/leveling as you go and slight polish.

Leave for 20 minutes(another fag) and then polish.

If you have never plastered before, sweep the plaster from skirting upwards and don't be afraid to to put loads on the trowel,the less you have on the trowel the less coverage you will make and more time it will take to cover the wall.

My walls where so flat I amazed meself.

 

[DanielW]

Just finished the skim coat.
Looks pretty good, even if I do say myself.
And I actually enjoyed it - not enough to think about doing it for other people tho!

Thats a silly way to look at gaining the art of plastering,start out small for people you know and the experience will flourish in mastering it.

 

[bigegg]

You don't know my friends - I'd end up with a full time job on part time pay.

 

[bigegg]

Oh!
One other bit of useful information I gleaned.

I NEED a mixer for the drill. Mixing with a stick is *****y hard work, and leaves lumps!

 

[bigegg]

 

[DanielW]

Looks ok....for a smurf.

 

[pedrobedro]

Oh!
One other bit of useful information I gleaned.

I NEED a mixer for the drill. Mixing with a stick is *****y hard work, and leaves lumps!

A friend of mine was blocking a door up in his house with help from another mate of his and when they had done this mate did the plaster and it was not really very good. My friend tried sanding it down but it still looked a pig's ear so I offered to tidy it up for him. I went home and fetched my "tools" and when I came back his face dropped. I do use a proper trowel and hawk (the hawk is my home made one with a sloping top because I find it easier to use) but my mixing tackle for small jobs like that is a straight sided aluminium saucepan and a potato masher which I find to work admirably. He was pleased enough with the final finish anyway and it got me a drop of whisky as a reward. When it was emulsioned over you couldn't see the join as Morecambe and wise used to say A plasterer I used to know said to add a drop of Fairy washing up to the mix to make it workable for longer, not sure if it had to be Fairy or if other makes were acceptable.

 

[DanielW]

I blew the pics up....do I detect overfill in parts? when ever that happens you scrape it off whilst still wet and infill.

Can't stand big bumps in the wall me.

 

[DanielW]

I made me own hawk,piece of square 3/8" ply a piece of perspex same size as ply,wooden handle.

Screw ply board to handle with two decent size wood screws,then expoxied perspex to ply board.

Magic.

 

[DanielW]

Oh!
One other bit of useful information I gleaned.

I NEED a mixer for the drill. Mixing with a stick is *****y hard work, and leaves lumps!

Hah! try doing a ceiling next....then you will find out what hard work is.

 

[bigegg]

I do use a proper trowel and hawk (the hawk is my home made one with a sloping top because I find it easier to use) but my mixing tackle for small jobs like that is a straight sided aluminium saucepan and a potato masher which I find to work admirably. He was pleased enough with the final finish anyway and it got me a drop of whisky as a reward. When it was emulsioned over you couldn't see the join as Morecambe and wise used to say A plasterer I used to know said to add a drop of Fairy washing up to the mix to make it workable for longer, not sure if it had to be Fairy or if other makes were acceptable.

which is wierd, cos I use a drill attachment to mash taties...

I think the biggest issues I had were that the first mix was too runny, and too lumpy.
That meant that I put it on too thin (less than a mm in places), which meant when I smoothed off, the highest parts of the old finish came through. Nothing a DA sander cant fix tho...

I have used washing up liquid in concrete render (cheap 20p a bottle stuff from morrisons tho, not fairy), I would have thought that if it was better, it would be added to the plaster by the manufacturer - it's ridiculously cheap in bulk (like £10/1000L)