An essential first step in giving any area a polished appearance is plastering the walls. Plastering a new building or remodeling an existing one requires careful consideration of the plaster mix in order to produce smooth, long-lasting walls. An effective combination can mean the difference between a job that deteriorates quickly and one that lasts.
We’ll walk you through the easy procedure of creating a plastering solution in this article. All you need are a few simple supplies and tools to make an application-friendly mixture that looks professional. Whether you’re an experienced do-it-yourselfer or a novice, these instructions will help you plaster your walls with assurance.
We’ll cover everything you need to know, from knowing the various kinds of plaster to combining the proper amounts. At the conclusion, you’ll be well-prepared to take on your plastering project and guarantee that your walls are level, smooth, and prepared for the final touches.
Choosing the right composition of the solution
Before we discuss how to make a plaster solution, it is important to determine which composition is best for your situation. Ultimately, if you can handle everything on your own, the material cost will be significantly lower.
Additionally, you must appropriately prep the surface. Make sure the surface you plan to plaster complies completely with the prepared recipe before you begin mixing.
Suggestions regarding the selection of plaster solutions:
- If you are going to carry out external facade work or need to carry out work in a room with very high humidity, then for surface treatment it is better to use solutions containing cement, just cement or cement with an admixture of lime.
- If the humidity in the building is at the normal level, then a lime-based solution or a mixture of gypsum and lime can be used for finishing.
- If the humidity level is minimal, and the surfaces to be treated are also made of stone or wood (see. How to plaster a wooden wall), then the most acceptable choice would be clay-based solutions.
Think about the following details before putting the solution together:
- It is necessary to sift all the initial reagents. For this, sieves are used, mainly with square cells (cell sizes of either 3×3 or 5×5 mm).
- To prepare solutions, the container must have a depth of at least one or two centimeters.
- When mixing the solution, you should achieve complete homogeneity, without large lumps, otherwise the solution will not bond with the surface being finished. For mixing, use a shovel, preferably made of wood, with a total length of about a meter.
- After mixing, you need to check the solution for stickiness: scoop up a little of the resulting mixture with a shovel and let it drain. If the solution only sticks to the wood a little visually, then it can be used in the work. If the solution flows slowly, or is quite firmly stuck to the shovel, then you need to add a thinner, but if it is so liquid that it does not stick to the surface at all, then you need to add the original ingredients to increase the viscosity.
Combining the appropriate materials to create a plastering solution for walls is necessary to produce a smooth, long-lasting finish. You will be guided through all the necessary steps in this guide, from choosing the right plaster type for your walls to mixing it to the proper consistency. These simple instructions will assist you in creating a high-quality plastering solution that is suitable for your project and easy to apply, regardless of your level of experience with do-it-yourself projects.
Cement mortar
Standard recipe is two or three parts sand to one part cement (see Cement-Sand Plaster: Characteristics of the Substance). Sand can be added in greater proportions—up to six parts for every one of cement—but this will cause weak bonds to form between the solution’s components, which will make any further work challenging.
How to get ready for wall plastering with a cement mortar:
- pour sand onto the bottom of the container;
- sprinkle with several layers of cement on top;
- mix them until a homogeneous dry mixture is formed;
- add water little by little, stirring the mixture all the time;
- when the solution reaches the consistency of thick sour cream, stop supplying water;
- to improve the adhesion of the plaster, you can add gypsum or PVA glue to the solution – all in small quantities. If you need to reduce the adhesion, you need to add a small amount of detergent, which will create a film on the surface of the solution particles.
Be aware that after adding PVA, the solution can only be used for an hour after mixing, after which point its functional qualities will start to decline. It is preferable to combine the solution in tiny, rapidly workable portions.
The dry ingredient mixture must be diluted with water according to the recommended ratio in order to produce a workable solution. To achieve this, the solution should be thoroughly mixed each time water is added in tiny amounts.
The following indicators can be used to determine the incorrect ratio of liquid to mixture:
- Viscous solution — the mixture is saturated with moisture, but not diluted enough, so the solution has a thick state, or a lot of cement was initially laid. After drying, a layer of such a solution applied to the surface will give many cracks and quickly crumble.
- Liquid solution — excess water, which led to a lack of components that provide the required viscosity. Or the mixture initially contains more sand than necessary. Such a mixture is not stable when drying and is highly susceptible to destruction.
The right viscosity is thus ascertained; it ought to resemble thick sour cream. However, there are no established standards for surface treatment as such. The surface area and the necessary coating layer thickness are the only factors that need to be considered.
Cement + lime
Recipe: Combine one part cement, three to five parts sand, and one to one and a half parts lime solution.
- To prepare the solution, use quicklime. Place the lime in a metal container. Take care of your hands, mucous membranes and eyes – the substance can cause chemical burns.
- Pour warm water on top so that the lime layer is completely covered. And immediately close the bucket with a lid, placing something heavy on top – quicklime reacts violently with water, and this threatens to splash out hot liquid.
- After the reaction is complete, it is necessary to strain the solution. Gauze will do for this purpose. Let it stand for a day and it is ready for use.
- Prepare a dry mixture: mix cement with sand in a proportion of 1 to 3 in a mixing container.
- Then pour the settled lime solution there and mix thoroughly.
Lime-based solution
One part lime solution to three parts sand is the recipe for making a lime solution for plastering.
- It is necessary to slaked the lime and prepare the lime solution according to the above method.
- 1/3 of sand and a small fraction of water are added to the prepared solution. This is done for better mixing of the mixture. Rub the resulting mixture carefully, until the lumps disappeared complete.
- The rest of the sand should be added in small portions, while ticking water to the container.
- The solution will be ready when it acquires an average consistency in viscosity and will only stick slightly to the shovel.
It is imperative that the solution be fully developed on the day of cooking; it cannot be left for several days.
Lime + gypsum
One to three lime solutions are combined with gypsum.
- gypsum is diluted with water until it acquires a density of dough;
- A solution of lime is poured to the resulting mass and mix thoroughly.
It is important to note that this solution solidifies completely after 30 minutes, but it does solidify within the first five minutes of cooking. Consequently, this mass needs to be applied to the surface right away.
Step | Description |
1. Gather Materials | Collect sand, cement, and water. Use a 4:1 sand-to-cement ratio. |
2. Mix Dry Ingredients | In a large container, mix sand and cement until well combined. |
3. Add Water | Gradually add water while stirring until the mixture reaches a thick, creamy consistency. |
4. Check Consistency | The mixture should stick to a trowel without dripping. |
5. Apply to Walls | Use a trowel to apply the plaster evenly to the wall surface. |
Plastering walls may seem like a difficult task at first, but with the correct techniques and supplies, it becomes much more doable. The ingredients can be precisely measured and combined to create a smooth, long-lasting plaster that is prepared for application.
Recall that patience and consistency are the keys to a successful plaster mix. Don’t hurry the process; take your time and thoroughly combine everything. This will guarantee a long-lasting finish and good plaster adherence to the walls.
Whether you’re plastering a large wall or a small patch, adhering to these guidelines will enable you to produce a plastering solution of expert caliber that will improve the longevity and aesthetics of your walls.