Plastering techniques

by Ella Z. Writer

Plaster preparations

First and foremost for any plastering to be done around the house you must ensure that you have everything necessary to do your work without any problems. Remember to even out your walls or surfaces you will apply the plaster to, uneven surfaces may require more plaster to be added. Also, moisturizing the surfaces will help for the plaster to spread more evenly and to stick better.

Applying a base coat of thin plaster is also a good idea, because this way you can fill up any hole or cracks in the surface, and the second coat of plaster will stick nicely and you will be able to work with the plaster more easily.

Traditional plastering methods

Generally, plastering is done after all the surfaces are ready and set up for finishing touches. The most common method is to smooth out a thin flat surface on any surface as a finishing. Later on paint or wallpapers can be applied.

Even for traditional methods you can add variation, depending on how much plaster apply and what kind of trowel you use. To get really creative, you can modify the trowel with cut-out shapes to give your surfaces a surreal or very artistic finish. And if you do not like it, you can always cover it up with a thin layer of plaster.

Modern plastering methods

One of the most common modern-day plastering methods is to use plasterboards, or drywalls, and to work with added plaster on them. This will save time on the preparation and will help you with applying less plaster for the finish. More often than not, this method ends up with just being painted over or wallpapered, but let that not stop you from letting the creative juices flowing.

Another great method for plastering is the so called veneer plastering. This method usually means that a very wet mixture of plaster is applied to the surface and covered with a so called blueprint, a type of paper which dries together with the plaster. Usually this is a fast method, and requires some finishing sanding to even out the surface. However, it is possible to leave the cringes for an artistic effect.

Texturing

To let your creativity really shine, you can even add personal designs as a finishing touch for your plastering. There are basically no rules on how to do this, let your imagination go wild. Most plasterers however use clean trowels and paintbrushes to make the transitions look seamless. If you decide to make some molds if you want to add some kind of design, account for the extra plaster needed.

Sponge trowels

For a quicker and smoother finish you can always opt for a sponge trowel. The trowel has a sponge at the end which will help spread the almost dry plaster and give it a very smooth and nice finish. Also very handy for smoothing out edges and other artsy designs. Make sure you use the right kind of plaster, because this method requires added sand to the mixture.

Sources:

http://www.diyplastering.co.uk/plasteringtips.html

http://www.proplasternpaint.com.au/plastering.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasterwork