DIY Plastering Tips

If you’re feeling adventurous and fancy giving plastering a go, we’ve put together a check list for you. For all aspects of plastering try to follow the steps below:

1. Prepare & control the cuction. If the wall is too dry the moisture will be sucked out of the plaster you apply.

2. Use sand & cement (with plasticiser), gives you all day to work with it – it sets overnight so no time pressure.

3. Apply 2 Coats with a very thin 1st coat just to ensure it sticks and is properly pushed into the wall with lots of pressure. This ensures it will not fall off later, and allows the 2nd coat to be applied.

4. Keep it flat. Always make sure you are aiming for flatness – not smoothness!

5. Cut back – just run a totally flat trowel over a wall that has firmed up at the end of the day or before the finish coat.

6. Use the right trowel! If the trowel is no good then the finish won’t be either.

7. Don’t mix the finish plaster too thick otherwise it will be very difficult to keep it flat and your arm will ache trying to spread it out.

8. One of the most important plastering tips is the trowel angle. 10 mm on the leading edge will flatten when combined with firm pressure.

9. Firm pressure on the trowel will ensure the plaster is flat with no bulges.

10. Flatness, holes then trowel marks. Remember this order and all should work out.

If all else fails then give Andrew Davies a call to sort out out on on 07976 792264 or email adaviesplastering@gmail.com.