Plastering tips

[rocker]

Good moring Vietnam. Has anyone got any decent tips for plastering, especially on wide chases? I guess every time I do one I get a little better at it, but I never seem to be able to get it quite right. I tell the customers that I'm not a plasterer and that if they want a top finish to get a plasterer in, and also that I'll leave it low so that they can just get a skim on there, but I still seem to be getting into a lot more arguments (and directing their attention to the contract they signed) than I should be.

Anyone got any wonder tips, or should I just go on a plastering course?? Or just bloody leave it and tell them they'll need a plasterer. Or fill their houses with a lovely 3D matrix of trunking?

 

[garyinderby]

the trick is knowing when to do the final polish. the thing with plaster is the more you touch it the wetter it gets.
so
1, do not use onecoat plaster(c**p)
2, two coats first bonding coat, leave 3mm from surface. then multifinish plaster on top.
3, just smooth over topcoat till about right then go for a sarnie and a brew.
4, check plaster with end of finger, if it feels hard then brush with a little water and polish with trowel.
5, stand back and be proud of all the mess you have made, lol

something like that anyway. where are you maybe could come a nd show you.

Gary

 

[rocker]

Nice one. See I've just been slapping on one coat stuff, not leaving it and sort of skimming over a very wet bit of plaster as soon as it goes on the wall, then trying to smooth it out. It doesn't work.

I'm in Newport (Wales newport)

 

[garyinderby]

bit to far to go for a pint then? lol. but, then again cardiff is a good night out. anyway need any advice pm me.

Gary

 

[Des 56]

Gary seems to know what he is talking about,especially the flatten it and go for a cup of tea
How important that is
The big mistake some make with skimming is playing with it,trying to get a finish when its not ready,it just makes it 100 times worse


Try using carlight browning or bonding for the deep chase,it willl go off in next to no time,run the blade of the trowel down the joint to keep it below finish level

When you later skim the chase,after its gone off and trowelled up, rub a paddle brush up the joint trowelling outwards until they blend in using plenty of water when trowelling

Thats s my tips almost finished,the alternative if I'm out of my depth, is get my brother on the job

So the final tip is make sure you have a family plasterer waiting in the wings

 

[rocker]

Ha well I've got an expert mechanic brother who is also a brilliant electriciansforums, tiler, pretty good chippy and a passable brickie, but for some reason the plastering gene seems to have skipped the brothers Butler.

Thanks for the advice. What the heck is a paddle brush? Putting it into google brings up pictures of something my missus has in her substantial toiletries suitcase.

 

[garyinderby]

just use a soft 4inch emulsion brush. works for me. good for slapping the gopher around the head with to. lol

 

[ezzzekiel]

i served my time as a plasterer many moons ago suppose that helps
tip from the top, mix some bonding (use as opposed to browning , much easier to work with) and add a little finish plaster to it, that way it will be set solid in about 10 mins, give it a soak with water and run some finish over it and walk away until the point where if you touch it with your finger you can just say see a fingerpring then give it a light spray of water and a quick float over.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

the trick is knowing when to do the final polish. the thing with plaster is the more you touch it the wetter it gets.
so
1, do not use onecoat plaster(c**p)
2, two coats first bonding coat, leave 3mm from surface. then multifinish plaster on top.
3, just smooth over topcoat till about right then go for a sarnie and a brew.
4, check plaster with end of finger, if it feels hard then brush with a little water and polish with trowel.
5, stand back and be proud of all the mess you have made, lol

something like that anyway. where are you maybe could come a nd show you.

Gary

Been plastering for years and this pretty much sums it up.....only thing I would add is use a plant sprayer type thingy for the final polish rather than chucking a wet brush around, MUCH less messy....And thoroughly damp down the chase before starting,otherwise the wall will suck all the water out of your plaster....and yes...onecoat,easyplast etc are carp.

 

[saveloy]

Nice one. See I've just been slapping on one coat stuff, not leaving it and sort of skimming over a very wet bit of plaster as soon as it goes on the wall, then trying to smooth it out. It doesn't work.

I'm in Newport (Wales newport)

The secret with one coat is to fill out the chase and flush it off with the original plaster either side and then leave it till it is almost gone off hard. Clean any excess off the original with a wet emulsion brush or sponge when still wet. Go back to it and soak it well and then rub it up with a wet plastic float (using a circular motion). This brings up the fat and fills in any small indents. Use a wet steel trowel for a final polish. One coat loves water once it has started to set!

 

[martysparky]

Is there an easier alternative to plaster?

A plaster made good in my house a few years ago with some sort of filler. mixed it like plaster slapped it on and made off. when it dried it looked fine but was a very light gray.

Don't know what it was.

Couldn't tell the difference when pained over.

 

[martysparky]

After reading this thread I had a go at plastering in the house. I thought I'll have a crash course and if I botch it I'll just have to get someone in to put it right..
However, I done all up the stairs and done a big ceiling,

Bag of plaster at £5 a bag from B n Q cheaper than the builders... much!

A whole lot cheaper than a few hundred quid for a plasterer and now I've learned.

So, a big thanks for the tips here I would have not done it with out them.

Pleased with results too but more importantly the Mrs is.

 

[UNG]

Is there an easier alternative to plaster?

It's called trunking

 

[m4tty]

Is there an easier alternative to plaster?

A plaster made good in my house a few years ago with some sort of filler. mixed it like plaster slapped it on and made off. when it dried it looked fine but was a very light gray.

Don't know what it was.

Couldn't tell the difference when pained over.

Polycell make stuff which is like plaster it's very light and finishes grey. They sell it in bnq

 

[confused-fuse]

clean,pva,plaster,finish,brew but if i have a job plastering i will ask my bro .. who is a plaster,bricky