6 Tips to Make you a Plastering Pro

Plastering is a handy skill to have, especially if you like to do your own home improvements, but it can be tricky to master.

We’ve put together 6 handy tips to give you the facts you need to make you a plastering pro.

Plaster thickness

It’s important to get the thickness of your plaster right. This can vary according to the type of plaster you’re using and where you apply it. Undercoat plasters should be applied approximately 11mm thick for walls, and 8mm for ceilings. Finish cost plasters should be applied at around 2mm thick.

Plastering a painted wall

Plastering a painted wall can be tricky – if the paint is of poor quality, strength or adhesion it may flake off and ruin your plaster. To make sure all your hard work isn’t for nothing, it’s a good idea to try on a trial area of your painted wall before tackling the whole thing.

For the best possible results, wire brush the surface using an appropriate detergent and use a bonding agent before applying a thin layer of plaster.
plastering over damp walls

Plastering a damp wall

Damp walls can be plastered, but it’s important to know the extent of the damp before going ahead.

If you have applied a damp proofing product to the wall, and the remaining damp is just residual, it’s usually fine to go ahead. However, if the damp hasn’t been treated it’s important to do so and check it’s been successful before plastering.

Plastering on a dry surface

If you’re planning to plaster very dry background, it might be a good idea to use a suction control primer.

When used as a base, a suction control primer reduces suction to stop your plaster drying out and deteriorating. A suction control primer can be applied diluted or undiluted, and should be allowed to soak in before going over it.

Salt-contaminated walls

A surface should be clean and dust-free before plastering. Drying should bring any salts to the top of any background, and these should be removed.

Salt contamination can be a sign of damp, so if there are signs of extensive salt contamination it’s important to check the background for damp before starting work.

Using plaster to reduce air leakage

Plastering can be a great way to reduce the air leakage of a building. You can use plaster to plug gaps and cracks to maintain airtightness quickly and easily.

These tips should help you on your way to becoming a plastering pro, but if you don’t fancy having a go yourself, we can help. Fill out our online form to find up to 4 contractors in your local area.

By Evy Coe

Emily

Emily Rivers is the Customer Experience Manager at Quotatis. She informs customers of the latest developments in a range of products so they can make the best choice for their homes and ensures they get the best out of our service.