A Frequently Asked Plastering Question

How long does it take for a newly plastered surface to dry out properly so that it can be decorated or painted?
There are various things that can affect the drying time. For example, if the newly plastered area is in a continuously heated room, then it can dry out too quickly - thus damaging the plastered finish! Warm weather can also affect the drying time. Basically it depends on the background the plaster was applied onto. Brick or blockwork can be from 6 weeks to 20 weeks; whereas plaster applied to plasterboard can be dry in 3 to 4 weeks. www.plastering4u.com

How to Build an Arch

A recent project involved building 2 arched doorways and an arched serving hatch. The best way to form an arch is to use an arched template made from wood (or cut up small bricks as shown in the video), that's wide enough so the blocks can rest on while the mortar sets.
Position the template in the exact spot where you want the arch, and make sure it's well secured. Then lay the blocks along the top of the template and mortar them together. When completely dry, remove the template and the block arch will stand on its own. www.plastering4u.com

Plastering Repairs

Repairing a plastered brick wall

• First remove all the loose material round the area to be patched and undercut the edges, then wire brush the brickwork to remove all trace of loose material. Dampen the area to be plastered.....this will help the plaster "to key"( i.e. adhere to the background)
• Fill in the patch with a backing plaster or sand & cement mix.....Top Tip: slightly overfilling the edges. Rule off the excess by starting below the patch and move it side to side up the patch as you go. If there are any hollows, fill an amount of plaster onto the bare patch and re-rule. Once the plaster has set apply a finishing coat.
• Deep Patching: When the area to be repaired is deep then you may need to apply two layers of backing plaster. Apply the first layer to half the depth of the patch then, when it has partially set, scratch up the surface and leave it to set fully without drying out. Apply a second coat and rule it off. When set apply the finishing coat. www.plastering4u.com

Plastering Repairs

Repairing a lathe & plaster wall
Their are 2 ways to make a repair to a damaged wall. First the lathes and plaster need to be removed to expose the nearest studs either side of the hole to be repaired. New plasterboard can be placed to cover the hole and screwed into the studwork. The plasterboard can then be skimmed using multi-finish or board plaster, care must be taken when making good to the existing wall.
 Another method is to use a galvanised mesh called expanded metal lathe (EML). This can be nailed or screwed to the studwork (as tightly as possible to prevent lagging) and then covered first with a base coat (i.e. carlite bonding) - then a top coat finishing plaster. www.plastering4u.com