A common option for providing walls with a smooth and long-lasting finish is gypsum plaster. Whether you’re building a new space or remodeling an existing one, doing the plastering yourself will save time and money.
Gypsum is simple to work with, unlike other types of plaster, which makes it perfect for do-it-yourself projects. Even if you’re new to plastering, you can still produce results that look professional with the correct equipment and supplies.
For a perfect finish, this guide will show you how to prepare your walls, mix the plaster, and apply it. Your walls can be completely transformed and turned into a flawless surface that is ready for painting or decorating with a little perseverance and attention to detail.
Step | Description |
1. Gather Materials | Get gypsum powder, water, a mixing bucket, a trowel, and a mixing tool. |
2. Prepare the Surface | Clean the wall of dust, dirt, and loose material to ensure proper adhesion. |
3. Mix the Plaster | Slowly add water to the gypsum powder and stir until you get a smooth, lump-free paste. |
4. Apply the Plaster | Use a trowel to spread the plaster evenly across the wall in thin layers. |
5. Smooth the Surface | After applying, smooth out the plaster with a clean trowel for a uniform finish. |
6. Let it Dry | Allow the plaster to dry completely before painting or applying other finishes. |
Advantageous features
The benefits of the gypsum mixture itself are what make this kind of plaster advantageous for users.
Among the most significant are the following, which should be noted:
- Ease of work.
- Plasticity.
- No shrinkage and low probability of cracking.
- Affordable price.
- Attractive appearance of the walls and ceiling on which the solution was applied.
- Ability to give the desired shade and texture.
- Resistance to sudden changes in temperature.
- Durability.
- Creation of a comfortable microclimate in the room.
- Drying speed.
- Environmental friendliness.
- Long service life.
Note: The composition of the mixture directly affects all of these benefits as well as others. Gypsum forms the foundation of gypsum plaster.
It also includes a variety of natural polymer additives and mineral plasticizers.
How to dilute gypsum plaster
The dry gypsum-based mixture must be prepared precisely from gypsum plaster in order for it to carry out all of the tasks assigned to it without losing its properties.
The following must be done before you can prepare gypsum plaster (see Tool for plastering walls: what you need for work):
- Deep container.
- Clean water.
- Construction mixer or electric drill with a special attachment designed for preparing building solutions.
- Rule.
- Wide spatula.
- Clean water.
These are the principal phases of it:
- Pour clean water into a pre-prepared container, the technique for working with gypsum plaster is exactly this.
- Pour a certain amount of dry mixture from the bag.
- Mix everything thoroughly.
Suggestions. Expert artisans advise that you ascertain the solution’s intended use before beginning any preparations.
- If there are many cracks or unevenness on the work surface, it is necessary to apply a thicker layer of putty, and for this the solution must be quite thick.
- If you plan to plaster a plasterboard surface, the putty layer must be thin enough, which means that you can prepare a more liquid solution.
- In addition, you must not forget about such a property of gypsum plaster as a high drying speed.
- That is why you need to prepare the solution quite quickly.
Since the ready-made mixture cannot be stored, it must be used right away.
Amount of required material
There are a few things to consider when calculating the quantity of ready-made solution needed:
- The degree of unevenness of the work surface that will need to be leveled.
- Area of work to be performed.
- Thickness of the plaster layer.
Note: As previously stated, gypsum is the least expensive type of dry mixture used for finishing walls or ceilings.
By looking over the information in the table below, you can confirm this:
Type of dry mixture | Consumption per 1 m2 (kg) |
Plaster | 9 |
Cement | 17 |
Decorative | 10 |
Limestone | 15 |
DIY gypsum plaster
It is now necessary for you to become acquainted with the fundamentals of the technology used in mortar application to walls or ceilings.
The surface needs to be prepared first:
- To do this, remove all dirt, dust, and remnants of the old plaster layer (see. How to remove old plaster from walls without problems) or whitewash.
- A prerequisite for successful plastering is a primer.
- For this, different types of liquid primer are used. If the work is carried out on smooth materials, for example, concrete, plasterboard or brick, applying a primer will increase the adhesion of the putty.
- If the wall is uneven or porous, the use of a primer, in addition to increasing the degree of adhesion, helps to reduce the degree of moisture absorption from the air.
Suggestions. Experts advise applying multiple layers of primer in this situation.
Work conditions
Before creating gypsum plaster, the following circumstances need to be considered:
- The air temperature in the room or outside should not go beyond the range of +5+25 degrees Celsius.
- After the plastering is completed, it is necessary to ensure that there are no drafts in the room.
- During the drying process, it is also impossible to allow direct sunlight to fall on the layer or use heating devices to speed up the drying of the putty layer.
Experts advise placing unique beacons across the surface to make the putty application process easier, especially for novices:
- For this, you can use aluminum slats, profiles or narrow wooden slats.
- They must be installed in a strictly horizontal position.
- In addition to the fact that using beacons will increase the adhesion of the putty to the surface, it will also be much easier for novice craftsmen to distribute the solution in an even layer over the entire work surface.
Note: The solution is gathered and moved to a wide surface using a narrow spatula. After that, the mixture is tossed onto the surface with a hand swing. This needs to be completed in a top-down manner.
You can now move on to the leveling phase:
- For this, such a tool is used, as a rule, the width of which reaches 2 meters.
- The rule moves upward, and the beacons are used as guides.
- If, after leveling, grooves or irregularities are formed on the surface, they should be filled with a solution, which is then also leveled.
- After leveling, it is time for grouting. The essence of this stage is that the surface is given a perfectly smooth appearance. For this, special metal graters or felt sponges are used.
You can see exactly how to mix gypsum plaster and how to apply it to the work surface by watching the video in this article. A video on DIY gypsum plaster is a useful tool for inexperienced artisans.
Although making your own gypsum plaster can seem difficult at first, anyone can learn how to do it with the right tools and some practice. You can give your walls a polished, seamless finish by carefully following the instructions.
It’s important to take your time when applying and mixing the plaster to ensure a smooth surface and uniform consistency. The secret to achieving your desired outcomes is patience.
After plastering is finished, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you did it yourself, saving money, and giving your house a unique touch.
A quick and affordable method to create smooth, long-lasting walls is to make your own gypsum plaster. You can mix, apply, and finish plaster with just a few simple tools and supplies, giving uneven surfaces a smooth, polished appearance that is ideal for painting or wallpapering. You won’t need to hire an expert to finish your walls because this guide will walk you through every step.