Introduction
Cracks and uneven surfaces after plastering are the two things that need to be avoided while building a wall. If you avoid this and go on to paint the wall with your favourite colour, the cracks will be really evident. This is a kind of job that needs patience and skill to perfect it. This perfect job needs to professional and the right kind of tools for a smooth plastered surface. Wait a minute. What is plastering of the wall? Why do you need to do that? Can it be avoided?
Plastering, what does it mean?
Plastering is a white powdered mixture that you’ll have to add water at a measured quantity to get a pasty consistency. This is made of lime or gypsum which is used to cover the brick to protect it. This needs to be applied twice to ensure full coverage.
Pros and Cons of Plaster
Pros-
- Plaster can last long
- Hard material with a durable surface
- The surface doesn’t crack
- Mixes easily with water and spreads easily
- It can be cleaned
- A thicker plaster is good for soundproofing
Cons-
- It’s porous and absorbs moisture easily
- Expensive to repair
- Difficult to hang any of your favourite family moments
- It’s not suitable for exterior projects
Is Plastering different from Plasterboard?
Plasterboard is another name for drywall. It is made up of gypsum that’s again mixed with water. This is spread between two large sheets of paper and is mostly used in constructing the interior walls and ceilings. The front side of the board is usually in white to paint over it. This plasterboard can be noise and humidity resistant.
Plasterboard better than Plastering?
Pros-
- Drywall can be painted over
- It doesn’t require sanding
- It is more stable than plaster
- The surface is easier to repair
- It is fire resistant
- Also has sound and temperature insulation
- Comes in a variety of sizes and shapes
- Not as expensive as plastering
- Can hang shelves and frames on the wall
Cons-
- Installation the process is complicated and messy
- Drywall is heavy and needs two or more people to help in installation
- It’s not flexible as plaster
- Lower durability than plaster
- The joints of the sheets will be visible if the installation is not done correctly
- It is not water and moisture resistant
Are there other kinds of Plaster?
Apart from Plasterboard and Plastering, there are more kinds of it,
- Slaked Lime Plaster
- Clay plaster
- Gypsum Plaster
- Venetian Plaster
- Tadelakt
- Neo Plaster
Slaked Lime Plaster- The component in this plaster is limestone that has been baked in high temperatures to remove impurities. This plaster is mixed with shrinkage preventing aggregate like horsehair to the wood lath. Later another mixture called the brown coat which is mixed with sand. Finally, a layer of fine skim coat is applied.
The basic form of slaked lime plaster is pure white but now it comes in a huge range of colours. Unlike the clay plaster, this can be used in kitchen and bath. But to use in the bath it needs to be coated with a protective layer of bee’s wax.
Clay Plaster- This kind of plaster is considered healthy especially for people with health issues. It comes in a powdered form in many ranges of earthy shades. This kind of plaster is designed for wet areas of the house like bathrooms or kitchens. But this absorbs moisture that regulates the humidity in the house. Usually, the plaster needs to apply four to five times on the wall.
Gypsum Plaster- This kind of plaster is a little tricky to work with. The reason is that when you mix the powdered form of gypsum to the water, you get only 30-45 mins of window time to work with it. Else it becomes weak and you need to start over. Gypsum plater is less expensive than the lime plaster and requires fewer coats on the wall.
Venetian Plaster- This kind of plaster is a mixture of slaked lime plaster and marble dust. With this mixture, it shows the beauty of the polished and natural stone. Venetian plaster was used extensively in Italy, Venice during the renaissance period. This plaster is versatile, easy to maintain, and ageless.
Tadelakt- This kind of plaster is composed of lime plaster and black soap made from olives. After the ingredients are combined a chemical reaction between the two creates a waterproof membrane, making it possible to be used in both bathrooms and kitchens.
Neo Plaster- This kind of plaster doesn’t require many coats, and it’s easy to apply. This plaster often contains acrylics and other ingredients that help in a quick process.
What are the tools needed for plastering?
The right tools for plastering are important before you beginning the work. The tools are:
- Mechanical Whisk
- Trowel
- Hawk
- Bucket
- Small brush
- Clean water
- Protective clothing
- Dust sheets
Nine things to know about Plastering.
These are the nine main things you need to keep in mind before you could use plaster on the wall.
- There are different kinds of plasters one contains with marble dust, the other contains soap made with olives etc.,
- It can be found in pyramids.
- Even though the use of plaster is old, it can also be used for modern interiors
- Plasters can be used for anything and not just walls. It can be used for the fireplace, Stairs etc.,
- It’s eco friendly
- It can be waterproof provided it needs to be coated, or Tadelakt, the Moroccan plaster is considered to be waterproof
- It requires layering, at least two to three coats of plaster will give good results
- It takes a lot of labour work but it’s quite expensive as well.
- You can Do-It-Yourself. If you are not up for spending so much money, choosing drywall or plasterboard will be a smart choice. With drywall, you can mimic the look of plaster with lime wash paint.
Conclusion
Building your home is everyone’s dream and the modern world of plaster and its techniques can achieve it. And choosing the right kind of ingredients for the walls of the house is necessary. Plaster can be expensive but is eco-friendly and doesn’t cause problems for people with health issues. The results after the layering of plaster on the wall look magical.
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