Plastering is the process of covering the uneven masonry surface with plastic. Plastering helps you to achieve surfaces that are even, smooth, regular, clean & more durable. It is one of the final steps in finishing a wall construction that needs a technical touch. However, you can do it yourself after following the proper procedure.
Here is a step-by-step guideline with basic plastering tips that will assist you during the entire job.
Prepare the Work Area:
Firstly, start with cleaning tools. This helps to avoid contamination. Before you begin mixing your plaster, make sure that your bucket and trowel are clean. This is important because if a leftover plaster from the previous job finds its way, it will interfere with the sticking property of the plastic. Also, it can create lumps on the surface. You can use cold water if you want to mix the plastic slowly, else use hot water.
Secondly, you must lay out work clothes to keep your work area clean. Plastering can get messy and hence laying out cloth can spare you an exhaustive cleanup process later on.
Thirdly, you must scrub the wall that you have to plaster. Use a dry stiff-bristled brush to scrub the wall from top to bottom. Clean up the left behind lumps and repair any cracks in the wall before plastering it.
Finally, brush PVA glue on the wall. It will help the wall to hold the plaster. Combine one part of PVA glue with four parts of water before applying it to the wall. It also prevents the substrate from leaching moisture from the plaster.
Mix Plaster in a 5 or 7- Gallon Bucket:
Fill the bucket to the half with cool or hot clean water. Now, add a new bag of plaster mix and shake it well until it forms a mound above the surface of the water. You can also use a stirring rod for this task. Make sure that you add plaster mix to water else you will need to exert pressure to mix them.
Apply Plaster to the Wall:
Heap some fresh plaster onto your hawk board. Use hawk along with a finishing trowel to apply a smooth finish of plaster to the wall. You should start with a conservative amount of plaster. You can later add more as per the requirements. Start smearing the plaster on the wall from one of the bottom corners.
Push the plaster up the wall in a gentle arc. At the top of the stroke, you must slide the trowel 2- 3 inches which should be later followed by reversing the motion and bringing it down again. For smoother finishes, glide the float lightly over the surface of the wet plaster in all directions to work out any lumps. Allow the plaster to set. You must repeat the process for the second and third coats.
Conclusion:
Make sure to work out inconsistencies while plastering. Also, you can apply 2- 3 coats of plastic but the thickness of a single coat should not exceed 12 mm. For most construction sites, plastering is usually applied in 2 coats. The article discussed all the necessary details extensively but if you want any expert guidance, you can connect with plastering Melbourne directly.
