So, you’re planning some renovations to your home, and for keeping costs down, you’ve decided to have a go at doing some plastering yourself. Before you start work, we will break down some of the essential factors to consider in this short article.
Being Realistic
You must keep in mind that plastering is a skill at the outset, and there is a reason why professional plasterers charge what they do. As they are time served artisans, they have developed and practised their chosen art and improved as they’ve done so. Your foray into plastering will not bring the same results as you do not have the skills or experience. Keep this in the back of your mind and ensure you have realistic expectations of your work.
Having the Right Equipment
Whether you’re a professional or a budding amateur, it’s always essential to have the correct tools for any task, the plastering tools which you will need are as follows:
- Finishing Trowel
- Bucket Trowel
- Plaster buckets
- A hawk (holds the plaster)
- A paddle (fits to your drill when mixing)
Key Piece to the Puzzle
While a cheap finishing trowel might suit you if plastering a small area, it’s a good idea to invest in a good trowel. It really will make a significant difference; even if you aren’t planning to plaster in the future, you can always claw some money back by selling it on eBay, or you can consider hiring what you need. Good finishing trowels aren’t flat but slightly curved to aid in getting a professional finish, and they are also lighter in weight and won’t rust. Good tools cost the extra for a reason, and the fact that artisans shell out for them should give you all the impetus you need to invest.
Additional Tools
The other tools you’ll need all serve their different purposes in the plastering process, and you should use proper plaster buckets as they are more suited to the job. You can fix a paddle attachment to an electric drill or even a kitchen mixer, and you can mix plaster by hand, but it isn’t recommended. A hawk is a plastering tool that holds the plaster you are using, and this is moved from the mixing bucket using the bucket trowel, with both being plastering essentials. It’s also a good idea to have an old paintbrush and a spray bottle handy, both used to keep your tools clean and the plaster wet.
Other Issues to Consider
There are a few additional vital items to consider before you start plastering, and one of these is whether your space needs preparing with a PVA solution. If you’re plastering directly onto fresh plasterboard, you’re good to go but if there is a layer of old plaster, coating it with PVA is best practice. Old plaster is a low suction surface, and the new plaster will not adhere to it; using PVA changes the surface area to enable the new plaster to stick. It is also essential to take some time to view or read helpful online guides to inform you about the best processes for critical tasks like mixing plaster and keeping your tools clean and wet. There’s an enormous wealth of DIY how-to information available to you online.
