When watching the home improvement TV shows they seem to make plastering look an easy job. The reality is that it is far from easy and can take many months and even years to become proficient. The good news is that small jobs can be done with a little know how and practice though large jobs are best left for the professional plasterers.
One of the first things professionals will tell you is the importance of collecting all your plastering tools together and making sure that it is clean and ready to use. You will need at least one trowel, a hawk which is used to hold the plaster, a mixing board and bucket and finally your plaster mix. Ready to mix plasters are available though most plasterers will make up their own from separate materials. The recommended mix for an internal wall is 7 parts sand with one part cement to make the plaster mixed with one part water. Areas around the plastering should be protected with plastic sheeting.
The surface area should be prepared before any plaster is mixed. If it is new plasterboard the joints need to be covered with scrim tapes and any corners fitted with angle bead to make them true. Other plaster should be brushed to make it clear of dust and dirt. The surface can be dampened with a mist of water to help the plaster to stick. Mix the plaster according to the instructions or the above ratios. The plaster should be added to water in the bucket, never the other way round. It should be without lumps and have a consistency like thick cream. Mixing it will be hard work so many plasterers use a paddle fixed to an electric drill to make it easier. It is vitally important to have everything in place for when you are ready to plaster as you will have a limited time after it is mixed. It can often be within minutes that the plaster becomes stiffer and harder to spread, especially in the warm summer months.
To apply the plaster use the trowel to put some onto the hawk then put some back on to your trowel. Apply to the surface. When plastering walls begin from the bottom and work your way up in a smooth movement. It is better to have several layers applied well than one think poorly applied layer. Don’t worry about getting each layer smooth. Leave that for the final layer. Make sure that you leave enough time for each layer to dry. Make sure that your tools are cleaned properly between applications as hardened plaster can ruin the layers already applied. Some plasterers will use a floating trowel on the final layer to give it its smooth finish. Leave it again to dry. The final layer could be a skimming plaster. When it has dried you can use sandpaper to smooth out any rough parts and then cover with whichever covering you want. Be prepared to wait at least a few days before the plaster is dry enough for covering.
