How to plaster walls with cement mortar

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Cement mortar plastering is a tried-and-true technique that produces smooth, long-lasting surfaces that are ready for painting or wallpapering. While this process is simple, in order to get the best results, you must pay close attention to details and follow certain procedures.

Whether you’re building a new home or remodeling an old one, knowing how to apply cement plaster correctly will save you time and guarantee a polished finish. You can transform your walls and take on this task with confidence if you have the right tools and some knowledge.

Step	Description
Surface Preparation	Clean the wall from dust and debris, and apply a primer for better adhesion.
Mixing the Mortar	Prepare a cement mortar by mixing cement, sand, and water until you achieve a smooth consistency.
Applying the First Layer	Apply the first layer of mortar to the wall, using a trowel to spread it evenly.
Smoothing the Surface	Use a straightedge or float to smooth the surface, removing any excess mortar.
Applying Additional Layers	Apply additional layers as needed, allowing each to partially dry before the next application.
Final Smoothing	Once the last layer is applied, smooth the surface with a float for a clean finish.
Curing	Allow the plastered wall to cure by keeping it slightly damp for several days.

Contents

Rules for performing plastering work
Preparatory stage
Preparation of walls made of ordinary and facing bricks
Preparatory work for plastered walls
Reinforcing mesh and methods of its installation
Guide beacons and their installation
Video on the topic
Plastering walls with cement mortar.
Cement plaster
TECHNOLOGY OF APPLYING CEMENT-LIME MORTAR TO A WALL

Rules for performing plastering work

Plastering is not difficult at all if you follow the right order of operation. This is, after all, a tried-and-true instruction.

This kind of finishing is affordable for all because the material is not very expensive. A common question is whether cement mortar can be used to plaster aerated concrete (see. Of course you can (Plaster for Cellular Concrete: How to Choose). There will only be a slight variation in the plane preparation system.

Preparatory stage

Plastering freshly constructed walls requires a preparatory step in addition to older walls. In this instance, regardless of the material they are constructed of, every wall must be ready. Making sure the plaster lasts as long as possible is the goal of the preparatory phase.

Preparation of walls made of ordinary and facing bricks

There is essentially no preparation needed for a wall that was recently built using regular bricks. Using an ax, remove all large irregularities so as not to apply too much plaster layer.

However, you still need to make sure the wall is level first. You will then be able to see how the base is made right away.

First you need to stretch the fishing line diagonally. Then you will immediately see deviations from the plane and determine the required layer.
If the layer is less than 2 cm, then you can skip leveling. It is even quite possible to do the work without a reinforcing mesh.
If the layer is over 5 cm, then you should level the wall before plastering. Quite often, plasterboard is used for this.

Take note: If the brick wall isn’t damp enough, the cement mixture might slide off of it.

The general consensus is that facing bricks should not be plastered. However, there are moments when you want to try something different, like installing tile on a wall. You must plaster it first in order to do this (see. Let’s think about plastering brick walls. You will need to exert a little more effort for this.

There are numerous ways to resolve this issue:

The most popular is wall lathing. There is nothing complicated in its manufacture. To do this, aluminum wire is wound onto nails driven into the seams between the bricks.
If the wall area is not large, then, using a notched trowel, a thin layer of tile adhesive is applied to its surface. After 24 hours, you can plaster the wall.
The best solution is a plaster mesh fixed to the wall. We must not forget that the brick surface must be treated with a primer.

The process of preparing concrete walls	Concrete blocks, like facing bricks, are difficult to plaster. Here you can also resort to the help of glue or mesh.
Work on preparing cinder block walls	With cinder block walls, everything is much simpler. For a stronger bond of plaster to the surface, they only need sufficient moisture.
Preparatory stage for shell rock walls	Preparation of shell rock walls is similar to cinder concrete walls. They only need abundant moisture.
Preparatory work for a wooden wall	To prepare a wooden wall, it should be primed and a plaster mesh should be fixed to it.
Preparatory work for walls made of drywall	Very often there is a need to plaster plasterboard surfaces. Most often these are the walls in the bathroom. Here you can only get by with priming the surface of the walls.
Preparatory work for walls made of different materials	Very often you can encounter a situation where walls are built from different types of materials. Often the walls are partly brick, partly limestone, etc.d. In some cases, the depth of unevenness can be 20 centimeters. First you need to prime the wall and fix the plaster mesh on it. The next stage includes leveling the walls with cement composition. Work can continue after the plaster has completely hardened.

Preparatory work for plastered walls

It is universally acknowledged that one of the most challenging jobs is priming walls that have previously been plastered.

Note: the challenge lies in the fact that you must remove the old plaster first. Despite the fact that it is not enjoyable, it is imperative to beat it off. Only after finishing this process can you move on to the wall preparation stage.

Ordinary cement plaster does not cause any particular trouble, it easily comes off in large layers. Much greater efforts will have to be made to remove plaster from cement mortar. Somewhere it easily comes off in large pieces, and somewhere it is difficult to beat off even with a hammer drill. But no matter how difficult it is, the old plaster will have to be removed. After all, it will cause great inconvenience and prevent the application of a new plaster layer.
But, by right, the most difficult is considered to be removing paint from a concrete wall. But even in our time of high technology, there is only one proven method – any sharp tool and a supply of patience. Where the paint holds most firmly, it is beaten off with a small hatchet. Undoubtedly, this is a complex and monotonous process that requires enormous effort, but it must be completed.
If you have a cement-lime plaster mortar, then it should also be removed. Some say that this should not be done, but in this case the adhesion of the surfaces will be minimal. Therefore, you will have to clean the plane.

Reinforcing mesh and methods of its installation

Installing reinforcing mesh or plaster will result in a stable and elastic plaster on the wall. It stops cracks from forming as a result of the building contracting and the drying out of the plaster. The mesh contributes to the plaster coating’s increased mechanical strength. It is thought that a cell size of 20 by 20 mm is ideal.

A good reinforcing mesh must have a special anti-corrosion coating.
To secure the metal plaster mesh, metal dowels must be hammered into the wall in a staggered pattern. The distance between them should be 30-40 centimeters. Next, use special scissors to cut off a piece of reinforcing mesh of the required size.
Mount the metal mesh correctly from bottom to top. The plaster mesh, due to its elastic properties, is quite easily attached to dowels driven into the wall and fits tightly to the surface being treated. The next step involves winding a special tying wire on top of the mesh. Screw onto the dowels, repeating the outline of the letter Z.
You can also use pieces of beacons. In this case, two people must straighten the reinforcing mesh on the wall, and another one secures it with a dowel – with nails on which beacon particles are placed in advance.
To properly join two parts of the mesh, they need to be positioned with the edge of one part of the mesh slightly overlapping the other part. This is necessary to ensure the integrity of the strengthening of the plaster and increase its resistance to mechanical damage.

Guide beacons and their installation

From early childhood, all individuals are aware of the definition and function of a beacon. However, not everyone is aware of how crucial beacons are to repair efforts. In the meantime, this is a crucial part that acts as a guide for plastering tasks.

Beacons in construction are rigid points installed on the wall using a level. Often they are made from nails, slats or from dried up mounds of cement mortar applied to the wall. But construction professionals consider perforated metal profiles to be the best beacons. They can be easily purchased in all construction stores. They are called very simply – beacons.
Beacons are made by manufacturers of different thicknesses. They should be selected based on the thickness of the future layer of plaster. It is also important to consider the rigidity of the profile when choosing beacons.

The beacon is stiffer the thicker it is.

There are two ways that beacons can be attached:

Dots of cement, putty or tile adhesive are placed vertically on the wall surface. We attach a perforated beacon to them. Using a building level, it is leveled. If the length of the level is not sufficient, then a rule should be applied to the beacon, and a level should be applied to it.
Using a hammer drill, holes measuring approximately 10 millimeters are drilled clearly vertically, according to the markings on the wall. Cone-shaped wooden blocks are hammered into them. This shape is very convenient for screwing beacons.
Using a thread stretched between the upper and lower beacon elements, the entire row of bald patches is exposed.
Level them with a regular hammer or hacksaw. Then, on the wooden planks installed in a row, the lighthouse profiles are installed with screws.
The areas between the patches should be filled with cement mortar. This installation method is excellent for walls with significant unevenness.
The first method is not effective in this situation, since these walls will not be able to hold a large amount of mortar. It is recommended to make the gap between the beacons smaller than the length of the rule by about 10 centimeters.
With the first option for installing beacon profiles (see. Installing beacons for plastering without problems), you should wait until the mortar with which the beacons were fixed has completely dried. Only after this can you start plastering.

Creating a smooth and long-lasting surface on walls can be accomplished simply and efficiently by using cement mortar for plastering. You can make sure the plaster adheres properly and offers a strong base for any further finishes by using the right techniques.

Knowing the proper mixing ratios, application techniques, and drying times is crucial whether you’re working on an exterior or interior project. By knowing this, you can prevent common problems like cracks and uneven surfaces.

Plastering with cement mortar can completely change your walls with the correct technique, giving them a polished, long-lasting finish that will not fade.

Using contemporary plastering techniques to apply cement mortar to walls guarantees a robust, long-lasting finish that improves the look and safeguards both internal and external surfaces. When used properly, this technique produces a level, smooth layer that is perfect for additional decoration and offers a solid base for any finishing work.