Plastering sand-lime brick: features and main stages

Sand-lime brick plastering is an excellent method to improve the durability and aesthetics of your walls. This procedure not only enhances the surface’s appearance but also adds an additional layer of defense against wear and moisture. If you’re thinking about plastering your sand-lime brick walls, it’s critical to comprehend the particular elements and procedures required to get the best results.

The special qualities of sand-lime brick can influence how plaster goes on and works. Although these bricks are strong and long-lasting, plastering over them needs to be done carefully. By following the right procedures for surface preparation and plaster application, you can steer clear of common pitfalls and guarantee a smooth, durable finish.

We’ll take you step-by-step through the primary steps of plastering sand-lime brick in this post, from setup to finishing touches. Knowing these procedures will help you complete the task correctly, regardless of whether you’re a do-it-yourself enthusiast or just trying to update the appearance of your house.

Feature Description
Surface Preparation Clean the sand-lime brick surface to remove dust and debris. Repair any cracks or damage to ensure a smooth base for plastering.
Primer Application Apply a primer to improve adhesion between the brick and the plaster. This helps the plaster bond better and prevents peeling.
Plaster Mix Prepare the plaster mix according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The mix should be smooth and free of lumps for an even application.
First Coat Apply the first coat of plaster, known as the scratch coat, to create a rough surface for the second coat to adhere to. Allow it to dry completely.
Second Coat Apply the second coat of plaster, called the finishing coat, over the scratch coat. Smooth it out for a polished look and allow it to dry.
Finishing Touches Once the plaster is dry, check for any imperfections and smooth them out. Clean up any excess plaster and ensure the surface is ready for painting or decoration.

It’s critical to comprehend the special qualities of the material and the essential procedures when plastering sand-lime brick walls. This procedure helps the plaster adhere well and guarantees a smooth, long-lasting finish. In order to achieve a clean, even coat, it is important to prepare the surface, apply a bonding agent, and layer the plaster carefully. Every step adds up to a polished and durable outcome.

Sand-lime brick

Composition and features

The most common kind of sand-lime brick is seen in the picture.

The primary characteristics of sand-lime brick vary depending on its composition (learn how to apply putty on walls and ceilings here).

The following elements make up this material:

  1. Quartz sand. It makes up about 90% of the product’s weight and is a natural, environmentally friendly raw material;
  2. Air lime. The second main component of the mixture from which the brick is pressed is also an absolutely harmless and clean product from the point of view of the presence of toxins and other undesirable impurities;
  3. Alkali-resistant and weather-resistant pigments. Added to color the finished product; mostly safe artificial dyes are used.

A vast spectrum of colors is produced by pigmentation.

After pressing this straightforward mixture dry to form the product’s shape, the bar is autoclave treated (autoclave synthesis) at a pressure of 8 to 12 atmospheres and a water vapor temperature of roughly 200 degrees, producing a robust and smooth sand-lime brick.

The following characteristics of this kind of brick are among its benefits:

  • Smooth high-quality white surface allows you to build smooth, beautiful walls;
  • Ecological composition. The material is completely safe and consists of natural components;
  • Good sound insulation properties allow you to successfully use the material not only for the construction of external enclosing structures, but also for the construction of interior and inter-apartment partitions;
  • High strength and reliability allow builders to guarantee 50 or more years of normal operation of facades made of this material;
  • Good frost resistance makes it possible to use sand-lime brick in the Russian climate;
  • Unpretentiousness to external conditions. Surfaces made of silicate material retain their integrity and beauty for a long time;
  • Relatively low price.

With this material, you can construct smooth, superior walls.

The fear of dampness and extreme heat are drawbacks as well. Wells, foundations, furnaces, pipes, and tanks are not built with this kind of brick due to these drawbacks. Because of its qualities and accessibility, the material is used extensively in other construction domains.

Vital! Because of the fine filler, sand-lime brick has a smoother, less porous surface than ceramic brick. It also has a higher density.

Plastering

The plastering technique is influenced by certain characteristics of the material.

The method used to apply plaster to the surface of sand-lime brick is primarily determined by two characteristics:

  1. Smooth and dense texture. Due to this structure, the solution does not adhere well to the material, therefore, during the plastering process, a reinforcing steel mesh must be used, which is firmly fixed to the wall with dowels, and it is also impossible to do without priming;
  2. Fear of water. As a result, the protective plaster layer must be thicker, which, together with poor adhesion of the solution to the surface, complicates installation, extends the work time and increases their labor intensity and cost.

The general method of using the solution is the same as the conventional method.

Silicate walls can be used without a plaster coating due to their high strength and dependability, but there is a catch: because the material is smooth and white, any dirt will show up on it. The walls become gray or earthy in color over time, and because they are constantly wet, the paint may start to chip and peel.

Because of the products’ excellent geometry, you can leave the facades unfinished.

Crucial! Plaster mortar application is essentially the same as the widely used method; the only things that differ are the increased material and labor consumption and the challenge of creating a thick layer of coating.

Installation

Plaster is applied in accordance with the standard plan.

Our experts have put together a detailed guide for this:

  1. We put the wall in order: we knock off the old finish, repair cracks, clean the surface from dirt and dust and apply a deep penetration primer to it;

We prime and organize the wall.

  1. We take a steel plaster mesh and nail it to the wall using dowels with wide heads. We make at least 20 fasteners per square meter of wall area;

The plaster mesh is nailed in place.

  1. On the sides of the wall, at a distance of 30 cm from the corners, we hammer in dowels and make plumb lines. Then we connect the upper and lower pairs of dowels with horizontal threads and adjust them so that the minimum distance to the wall is at least 20 mm. We also mark the diagonals of the resulting rectangle with threads and ensure that they slightly touch, but the vertical position of the plane corresponds to the plumb lines;

There is a minimum of 2 centimeters between you and the wall.

  1. Leave the upper and lower threads stretched and set up beacons along them. To do this, mount sections of a metal profile or rod on the wall along the entire height with a step of 150 cm, the distance to the edges is 30 cm. Fix the profiles with cement mortar;

Put beacons in place using the profile.

  1. Prepare a plaster solution from cement and sand in a ratio of 1:5, you can also add one part of slaked lime or asbestos. When the beacons have dried, throw the solution with a ladle onto the surface between two adjacent profiles, when a portion of the solution hits the wall, a characteristic slap should sound;

Using a plaster ladle, toss the solution.

  1. When the gap is filled, draw a rule along the beacons from the bottom up, removing the excess layer and distributing it over the surface. The main task is to form a base layer with a flat surface, the quality of the surface is not the main thing now;

We use a rule to align the layer along the beacons.

  1. When the wall is completely covered, wait at least 7 hours until the solution sets. After this, carefully remove the beacons;

Beacon traces are easily obscured.

  1. Take a plaster float and apply the solution to the surface like putty, rubbing it into the wall in a circular motion until a smooth, uniform surface is obtained. There should be no flaws or unevenness left.

The walls’ last grouting is done by us.

Vital! When grouting, it is not a good idea to build up the layer. Instead, you can simply wet the area and rub the coating until it is smooth in those areas.

Sand-lime brick plastering is a simple but crucial wall-decoration task. Your walls will look better and last longer if you know what to do and when to do it. A smooth, long-lasting finish can be achieved.

Every stage, from surface preparation to plaster application and finishing touches, is critical to the final product. Carefully observing these steps will guarantee good plaster adhesion and serve as a strong basis for additional treatments.

You can achieve a polished finish that perfectly complements your space by learning how to plaster sand-lime brick, which just requires a little perseverance and attention to detail. Have fun with the décor!

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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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