Facade plaster on polystyrene foam or penoplex

Penoplex or polystyrene foam, commonly referred to as EPS, are common options for finishing and insulating your home’s exterior walls. With their superior thermal insulation, these materials will keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. However, a layer of facade plaster is frequently applied on top to preserve these insulating layers and give your home a polished appearance.

It takes some thought to apply facade plaster on Penoplex or polystyrene foam. Plaster offers vital weather resistance in addition to improving the building’s aesthetic appeal. Selecting the appropriate plaster type and using it properly are essential to guaranteeing a long-lasting and visually beautiful finish.

This post will walk you through the steps of choosing and applying facade plaster on Penoplex or polystyrene foam, emphasizing the important considerations that will ensure a successful and durable outcome.

Preparation for work

To plaster a wall facade that has been completed with penoplex or polystyrene foam (see. How to finish a facade with foam plastic requires purchasing a proper mixture along with additional required supplies and equipment, as well as priming the surface.

What to plaster polystyrene with

The surface of the material in question is incredibly even and smooth. While this makes installation easier, not all mixtures will adhere to it consistently, which can lead to issues when finishing afterwards. For polystyrene, it is therefore best to select facade plasters made especially for these kinds of surfaces.

Expert builders suggest blends of popular brands like Ecomix and Ceresit, but any plaster that adheres well to polystyrene materials will work in most cases. The most important thing is to use the same mixture throughout the entire area rather than combining compositions from various manufacturers and brands.

Concurrently, take note of the fact that certain manufacturers provide various formulas for bonding polystyrene to the substrate and forming a shielding layer. Others create all-purpose blends that can be used for any kind of task. It is best to go with a universal one if you want to save money.

This is a crucial matter. Only your hands will be able to properly plaster the insulation that is affixed to the wall and secured with umbrella dowels. Another way to finish the facades is to clad them with siding, clapboard, or other materials if the foam plastic slabs are placed inside the frame cells.

It goes without saying that the mixture that is chosen needs to be strong, resistant to moisture and frost, and have the ability to withstand painting rather than being covered in decorative plaster on the facades. It ought to be placed on a polymer, cement, or cement-polymer base.

Polymer compositions are not cheap, but they are easy to apply, long-lasting, and don’t break when they dry.

Plaster consumption is calculated using a 9–10 kg per square meter basis. Of these, 3.5–4 kg will be needed to glue the reinforcing mesh, and 5.5–6 kg will be needed to create a layer that is level.

Materials and tools

Apart from the plaster itself, a reinforcing mesh is an absolute necessity. It will fortify the surface and improve the leveling mixture’s adherence to the base.

Kindly take note! The mesh needs to be resistant to alkali when using cement plaster.

Since the solution more readily passes through the mesh, the larger the mesh cells, the smoother, stronger, and better the protective layer is; conversely, the smaller the mesh cells, the easier it is to glue it. A cell size of 5 mm or a density of 140–160 g/m2 are thought to be ideal.

Don’t forget to bring the following equipment:

  • A set of spatulas (narrow for collecting the solution and wide for application);
  • A large container for preparing the plaster mixture;
  • Drill and mixer attachment;
  • Roller for primer;
  • Grater with an abrasive cloth.

Suggestions. Although the work instructions do not specify the use of fasteners for the mesh, if you are not experienced with such matters, be sure to have a few self-tapping screws ready just in case. They can be unscrewed when the mesh stops slipping and the glue begins to set.

To achieve a long-lasting, beautiful finish, it’s crucial to make sure the right preparations are made and to select the appropriate materials before applying facade plaster to Penoplex or polystyrene foam. This entails the use of reinforcing mesh and particular plaster types to stop cracking and offer durable defense against weather and impact. When plastered correctly, it not only improves the building’s aesthetics but also its insulation and energy efficiency.

Technology of plastering on polystyrene foam

Polyurethane foam must be used to seal the spaces between the sheets of polystyrene foam before plastering the facade. Once the foam has dried, the excess should be carefully cut off with a sharp knife. In the event that "umbrellas" were used to attach the slabs, ensure that their caps do not extend significantly above the surface. This is because the plaster is applied in a thin layer, making it challenging to level.

Next, to enhance the adhesive qualities, the surface is cleaned of dust and primed (refer to Priming the Walls and Everything on This Issue). The next step of the work is to carry out the leveling and reinforcement in two stages.

Since plaster loses its plasticity quickly, if it is not a ready-to-use polymer mixture, it is prepared in small portions just before work begins.

Reinforcement of facades with plaster mesh

The mesh can be glued in two different ways:

  • By applying it to the area being treated and spreading the solution on top. It will penetrate through the cells, gluing the mesh to the base. It is quite difficult to do this alone, since you will have to hold the mesh with one hand, and scoop up the solution with the other and work with a spatula. This is where temporary fasteners can come in handy;
  • First apply the solution to the wall section, then apply the mesh to it, pressing it into the glue with a spatula.

In any case, the planes are pasted over after the building’s corners, door, and window slopes.

This is carried out in this manner:

  • To reinforce the corners, the mesh is cut into strips 30-40 cm wide and about a meter long, or according to the dimensions of the openings. Before gluing, it is bent in the middle with force applied to form a rib.

  • Regardless of the reinforcement method, the solution is applied to the surface in a thin layer of up to 3-4 mm, the mesh is pressed into it by moving the spatula from the corner down and to the sides. Moreover, there should be strips of 2-5 cm along the edges, free of glue for joining with the next strip of mesh.
  • After finishing with the corners, cut the mesh from the roll into pieces about one meter long. A larger size is more difficult to install, you may not have time to smooth out the canvas before the solution dries.
  • It is applied to the wall with a wide spatula in a strip equal to the piece of mesh minus a few centimeters along the edges for joining. The mesh is overlapped with the already fixed strip and smoothed out with pressing movements with the same spatula from top to bottom from the center to the sides. In the same way as it is done when gluing wallpaper.

Your actions will cause the mesh to press into the glue layer and the solution to be forced out through the cells. The mesh is fully hidden by the uniform distribution of the squeezed-out solution across the surface.

It can be added from the container if needed. In the same manner, the remaining strips are adhered to.

It is necessary to rub the plaster with sandpaper and a plastic float after it dries, which can take several hours or a day depending on the humidity and air temperature. This will remove any noticeable irregularities and drips. This is performed with minimal effort in circular motions.

Surface leveling

The application of a leveling layer comes next. It should conceal every flaw in the reinforcing layer, covering up the mesh entirely and laying the groundwork for the facade’s decorative finishing.

Using a spatula, the process is similar to plastering brick or concrete walls; however, the treated areas’ joints should be moved in relation to the mesh’s joints, and the layer shouldn’t be too thick.

Facade plastering on foam plastic for painting requires a high degree of accuracy and care. Paint can draw attention to flaws in the walls, so you should try to make them as even and smooth as you can.

Grouting, which should begin no sooner than a day after the solution has acquired the required strength, is how the surface is brought to its perfect state.

Kindly take note. Additionally, you shouldn’t put off grouting too long. You will need to work much harder to sand the heavily hardened surface after three to four days.

You cannot aim for perfection if the facade’s textured decorative plaster on foam plastic is selected as the finishing finish. However, the indentations and irregularities should still be difficult to spot, and their depth should be greater than two to three times the decorative mixture’s grain size.

The plastered walls are primed prior to the finishing coat being applied. For painting, a liquid homogeneous primer is chosen, and for textured plaster, a mixture that includes quartz sand is chosen. It gives the surface a rougher texture, which helps materials stick to one another better.

Plaster Type Advantages
Mineral Plaster Durable, breathable, resistant to mold
Acrylic Plaster Flexible, crack-resistant, wide color range
Silicone Plaster Self-cleaning, weather-resistant, long-lasting
Silicate Plaster High durability, resistant to dirt, low maintenance

For polystyrene foam or penoplex, selecting the appropriate facade plaster is crucial to guaranteeing both an eye-catching finish and long-lasting protection. Your home’s energy efficiency is increased when these insulating materials are combined with the right plaster to form a strong weather barrier.

Using high-quality materials and applying plaster correctly will prevent problems like detachment and cracking. When choosing the ideal plaster for your needs, it’s also critical to take the local climate and the insulation’s unique qualities into account.

Ultimately, a properly installed plaster system prolongs the life of the insulation and enhances the building’s appearance, making it a wise exterior home improvement investment.

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Dmitry Stepanov

Professional decorator with 10 years of experience. I know everything about renovating apartments, houses and offices. I will be happy to share my knowledge and experience with you.

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