Tip 1: Use clean equipment
First, clean your equipment as you work. It may seem overkill, but it’s important to keep buckets and tools clean to prevent plaster from fading and to give a lasting finish. This is important because dry plaster can be difficult to remove from the tools, and cause drags on the plaster finish of the next job.
Tip 2: Use clean water
To avoid contamination, it is best to use clean water. Contamination can cause the product to set or go off too quickly.
Tip 3: Mixing plaster with water
When mixing with a paddle mixer or bucket, add the plaster first and then the water.
Mix plaster with water until it forms a homogeneous, lump-free mixture. You can use a bucket and paddle mixer or a forced-action mixer to achieve this.
Tip 4: Make a lump-free mixture
Mix the plaster with the paddle mixer to ensure it is not lumpy. Add the plaster to the mix once it is complete. You can use a wooden paddle or mixer drill. For help from Plasterers Cheltenham, visit pureplasterers.co.uk
Tip 5: Create the right mix of quality
Plaster and water should be mixed roughly 50:50. Try standing a stick inside the bucket of plaster – if the stick can stand, then the plaster has been mixed properly.
Tip 6: Apply the plaster
It is important to apply the plaster when it feels tacky but not too wet, as this will help to bond the surface of the wall.
Tip 7: Check the room temperature
Plastering must be done in a room that is cool. The plaster will not dry properly if the radiators are turned on. It can be difficult to apply, and it may crack. Make sure the room is not too hot so the plaster doesn’t dry out too fast.
Tip 8: How to apply a good finish on plaster
The right angle and confident pressure can help you achieve a good plaster finish. Do not try to get the surface perfectly smooth in the first coat. This can take a long time and cause the plaster to dry out before you are finished. If there are any imperfections, they can be corrected in the final stages.
The trowel should be held at the right angle and with firm pressure to achieve a flawless first coat.
Tip 9: Use a trowel to apply the plaster
Start by angling the edge of the trowel away from the surface when you first apply it to the ceiling or the wall. The angle between the trowel surface and the plaster trowel will decrease as the plaster on it gets thinner with each movement. When the angle of the trowel changes, be careful to avoid spills.
