DIY facade plaster

Adding new, long-lasting facade plaster to your house is a terrific DIY project. This satisfying project can shield your property from the elements in addition to improving its appearance. You don’t need a contractor to get professional-looking results if you have the right equipment and a little know-how.

How simple the process can be surprises a lot of homeowners. With DIY facade plastering, you can take charge of the exterior of your house, whether you’re covering up old, worn-out walls or adding a fresh coat to a recent construction.

We’ll guide you through every step of the plastering process in this post, from surface preparation to applying the final coat. You’ll be able to take on this project with confidence if you have a little perseverance and focus on the details.

How to prepare facade plaster with your own hands?

A low-cost method of giving the building a finished appearance is DIY facade plaster. Making such a solution is not as hard as it might appear. As a binder, we employ lime, gypsum, or cement.

For such plaster, we use three options, depending on the circumstances:

• cement-sand;
• combined;
• lime-sand.

Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

1. Cement-sand plaster

We employ M500 Portland cement. Solution composition: 1:4. Take one part sand and four parts cement. Add a plasticizer, like liquid soap, for example.

Water should be added gradually while thoroughly mixing the mixture to create a gray, plastic-like mass.

In order to make working with the solution convenient, we choose the consistency. Too thick of a composition is hard to stretch, and too liquid a composition just runs off the tool and the wall.

2. Combination plaster

One part Portland cement M500, five parts sand, and half a part slaked lime make up the solution. Such plaster offers superior moisture protection. It is easy to use and convenient. This composition is adaptable and useful in any circumstance.

3. Lime-sand plaster

Option for a budget. The solution’s ingredients are one part lime to four parts sand. The two biggest benefits are the lightweight and flexibility.

The finish’s lack of strength and durability is a drawback. Replacing the facade with a composition like this is preferable to starting from scratch with plaster.

How to plaster the facade with your own hands

Although the process is accountable, everyone can manage it. Working in pairs makes things more convenient. Plastering goes through the following stages:

• preparation and marking of the surface, installation of beacons;
• preparation of the solution and preparation of the tool;
• spraying;
• base coat;
• primer;
• finishing coat;
• grouting and painting.

1. Surface preparation and marking, installation of beacons

1. Clean the surface from dirt, dust and remnants of old finishing. Use metal brushes.

Greasy stains can be removed with a solvent. Additionally, use a hammer drill equipped with a special attachment to remove large chunks of old plaster.

1. In brick walls, we make a joint – we clean and deepen the mortar in the seams between the bricks. This improves adhesion to the plaster.
2. Prime the walls with a special compound. The primer is applied with a paint roller. To exclude missed areas, each pass overlaps the previous one by 50 mm. Wait 3-4 hours and prime the walls again.
3. The next day, attach the plaster mesh and make markings.

How to assemble beacons (second photo):

• Determine the verticality of the wall using a plumb line. Mark in advance for yourself where more mortar will be needed.
• Cut off a piece of the required length from the plaster beacon (according to the height of the wall).

Working with a thicker beacon makes it more convenient and stronger overall. However, the thicker the plaster layer.

• We retreat 200-300 mm from the corner of the wall. And vertically throw the solution in heels. We select the consistency so that the mixture does not fall down. The distance between the heels is 50 cm.

We first use a spray bottle to apply water to the wall. In this manner, the fix adheres more firmly.

• We put a beacon, lightly press it into the solution. We use a rule with a level and set the beacon vertically. We remove excess solution with a spatula.

We employ a minimum 1.5 m long rule. The outcome is more accurate the longer the rule.

• We wait 1 hour until the solution sets and carefully fill the voids under the beacon with the solution.

On the opposite side of the wall, we do the same thing. We then install intermediate guides and stretch a fishing line between the extreme beacons at three different points along the wall’s height.

The installation step is 200 mm shorter than the rule’s length.

2. Preparing the solution and preparing the tool

In order to have enough solution for an hour’s work, we compute the mixing. We use a plastic bucket that holds 25 liters for preparation. Using a drill and a special attachment called a construction mixer, combine the solution.

The following equipment will be required for plastering:

• trowel;
• spatula;
• metal trowel;
• rule
• grater
• sprayer with water.

3. Spraying

This stage’s solution has a consistency similar to that of liquid sour cream. We gather it with a ladle and discard it against the wall. Correct force calculation is crucial because the solution needs to adhere to the wall rather than bounce off of it.

Apply a light mist of water to the wall beforehand.

After an hour, let the solution dry completely before applying the top layer.

4. Main layer

1. Throw the main layer between the beacons.
2. Pull the solution along the guides from the bottom up. To do this, use the rule to make reciprocating movements with a short amplitude in the horizontal direction. At the same time, we press lightly on the beacons. And move excess mortar from bottom to top, filling voids along the way.

10 to 50 mm of plaster thickness. We advise using two coats of mortar for differences larger than thirty millimeters.

1. When the plaster dries, carefully remove the guides. And plaster the resulting cavities.
2. After the plaster of straight sections has dried, move on to the corners. Install corner plaster beacons, using straight sections of the wall as a plane. Throw mortar and bring out the corners.

Keep the corner beacons in place. They shield the building’s corners from mechanical harm.

5. Grouting

Rub the plaster with a foam or wooden float once it has dried.

Perform this in a spiraling, circular motion. In this manner, we smooth the surface, fill the holes, and get rid of extra mortar.

When using pre-made mixes, there may be a small variation in the application technology. Adhere strictly to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The video below goes into detail on how facade plaster is applied.

6. Primer

The walls are primed once more after the primary layer has dried. As a result, the plaster becomes monolithic and doesn’t crumble.

This step is frequently omitted, which causes the finish to peel after a few years.

Using a deep penetration primer is advised. This mixture has good adhesion to the primary coating and dries in 24 hours.

6. Finishing layer and painting

For outdoor work, it is best to apply the final coat of ready-made finishing plaster. It costs not too much and is available at a hardware store.

Using a trowel and spatula, apply the composition in a layer that is 2-3 mm thick. In this manner, the surface is at last leveled and ready for paint.

Use a paint roller to apply facade paint once the solution has dried.

It is best to paint the whole wall at once, without stopping. If not, the light in various areas will be different from one another.

The application of facade plaster is demonstrated in full in the video:

Step	Description
Surface Preparation	Clean the facade, remove any loose material, and apply a primer to ensure proper adhesion of the plaster.
Mixing the Plaster	Follow the manufacturer"s instructions to mix the plaster to the right consistency, ensuring it"s smooth and free of lumps.
Applying the Plaster	Use a trowel to spread the plaster evenly across the surface in thin layers, working in small sections to avoid drying before smoothing.
Smoothing and Finishing	Once applied, use a float or trowel to smooth the plaster, ensuring an even surface. Allow it to dry before applying any paint or finish.

Doing your own facade plaster application can be a satisfying project that greatly improves the appearance of your house. A long-lasting, professional-looking finish can be achieved with the correct equipment, supplies, and a little perseverance.

It’s crucial to take your time with each step of the process. A successful outcome depends on careful application, meticulous surface preparation, and close attention to detail. Take your time, and be sure to mix and apply the plaster according to the instructions.

You’ll feel more accomplished and save money if you complete the work yourself. Additionally, you can customize the finish to your preferred style, giving the outside of your house a distinctive appearance.

By keeping these suggestions in mind, you’ll be well on your way to applying a new layer of plaster to the facade of your house. Cheers to plastering!

Adding a layer of weather resistance and a fresh, modern look to your home’s exterior while protecting it is possible with DIY facade plaster. Without hiring pricey contractors, even novices can achieve professional-looking results by selecting the appropriate materials and adhering to simple instructions.

Video on the topic

DO NOT pay 10 TIMES more! TWO TECHNIQUES for decorating walls that no master will tell you about!

How to plaster walls with your own hands for a beginner

Strong and CHEAP Facade Plaster from Cement and Sand .