Trying Your Hand at Plastering

You might be planning a house extension or have moved into a property that requires some work, and to keep costs down, you’re going to try doing the plastering jobs yourself. Before doing that, you must do some research, so you’re equipped with the correct tools and understand how to do the job right.

It’s a Highly Skilled Task

Possibly the most essential thing to bear in mind is that plastering is a skill that can take years to master. There is a reason why skilled plasterers are in constant demand, and they cost the amount they do. Their skills have been learnt over years of experience and hundreds of different jobs, the plastering finish you manage to attain on your initial attempts will not be of the same standard as theirs.

Getting The Right Tools

Equipping yourself with the right tools should also be high in priority, and there are several specialist tools you will need to invest in buying. Even if you aren’t planning to plaster in the future, you can always sell quality tools on the second-hand market, but you can also consider hiring them. The essential tools for successful plastering are as follows:

  • Finishing trowel: This trowel is used to apply the plaster to the wall and having a good quality trowel is recommended.
  • A Hawk: The Hawk holds the wet plaster.
  • The Bucket Trowel. This trowel moves the plaster from the mixing bucket to the Hawk.
  • Mixing Buckets – Purpose-made plaster buckets are the best option.
  • Paint Brush and/or Spray Bottle – You use these to keep tools clean and the plaster wet.

Mixing the Plaster

As well as the above equipment, you’ll also need some method of mixing the plaster, it is possible to mix it by hand, but it’s not recommended. When you don’t have access to a plastering machine, like many people do not, then the recommended process is to use a paddle attachment that can be affixed to a standard hand drill. Take some time to investigate the various online self-help guides on the actual mixing process, as it can differ depending on the type of plaster you are using.

Perfect Preparation Prevents…

An essential task before starting to plaster is also making sure that the wall or surface is free from dust and any other foreign particles. It is also vital to make sure that you’ve primed the surface if it is required, and if you’re plastering on fresh new plasterboard, then no primer is needed. If you are plastering over old plaster or wallpaper, then a PVA type or grit-based primer layer is necessary to ensure the new plaster has enough grip to adhere to the surface.

Useful Tips for Beginners

Further handy expert tips when plastering include keeping your tools wet while in use, constantly cleaning both yourself and your tools between plaster mixes – there’s nothing worse than tiny, dried pieces of plaster spoiling a nice smooth, fresh mixed bucket of plaster. As previously mentioned, it is worth your time and effort to explore all the different online help guides before setting out on your plastering journey – best of luck!