Plastering is a learned skill and something that can take years of practice to perfect. However, there’s no harm in trying a little DIY, especially if you’re keen to learn. In this article we look at ten expert recommended tips to help you achieve a smooth finish.
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Plastering is a learned skill and something that can take years of practice to perfect. However, there’s no harm in trying a little DIY, especially if you’re keen to learn. In this article we look at ten expert recommended tips to help you achieve a smooth finish.
Light your Workspace Well
A well lit workspace is essential for any DIY job, especially plastering. Natural daylight is best, but if your plastering job takes you into the evening, you’ll need a professional work light. And no, your standard light bulb just won’t cut it.
Work in a Cool Room
Turn off the radiators and keep your room well ventilated to prevent the plaster from drying out too quickly and cracking.
Go Quick and Careful
One of the reasons plastering can be such a difficult skill to master is the required pace of the application. Plaster needs to be applied fast and smooth, to prevent the plaster from setting before it’s properly smoothed out. This is something most people get better at with practice.
Watch Plenty of Videos
Want to make things easy for yourself? Watch lots of videos of professional plasters. Take note of how they apply the plaster to gain an understanding of the proper techniques used. The more you see professionals at work, the better equipped you will be to take on a DIY project.
Start with a Small Trowel
The bigger the trowel, the more difficult it will be to handle so if you’re a beginner, the experts recommend starting off with a standard, 11 inch trowel. As you become more experienced, you can use a larger trowel to cover a larger surface area at once.
Prepare Well
You’ve prepped your walls, mixed your plaster to perfection and you’re ready to get trowelling… only to remember you’ve forgotten several important tools, your work light, and your ladder. The key to efficient and neat work is to prepare everything beforehand, not just the wall but your workspace too. You’ll want a clean, tidy workspace free of clutter and anything you might need during the process to be made easily accessible.
Keep Tools Clean
Clean tools are essential for a neat and professional looking plaster finish. Don’t mix fresh plaster in a bucket contaminated with dry plaster, unless you want chunks of dried plaster ruining your smooth finish. Clean as you go and keep a bucket of fresh water to hand to wash your tools as needed.
Mix a Small Amount at a Time
Plaster dries fairly quickly and if you’re a beginner, you’re likely to work a little slower than a professional plasterer. Mixing as you need will prevent plaster from drying in the bucket, keeping you mix consistent and your walls smooth.
Know When to Invest in Tools
Budget tools are great for budget jobs, but if you want a professional looking finish, you may want to investigate in some high grade tools, and it can help to know which tools are worth investing in. For example, a professional grade trowel is much more likely to help you achieve the finish you want but you can save money on things like buckets and protective sheets by opting for the cheaper ones.
Practice Skimming First
Skimming is the process of plastering onto an already-prepped surface such as plasterboard. Plastering on the other hand is a blanket term used to describe many applications in the plastering trade such as patching holes, levelling, floating and settling and more.
