Gyproc easifill
Discussion
morning
I have a problem with pitted and mottled plasterboard walls. Not terrible but not what I want to paint over. I need to smooth the entire wall.
They just have old white emulsion on them
I asked a plasterer if he would skim it for me.
He advised I could do this my self buying a few bags of gyproc easifill. Skim the entire wall with a roller and smooth out with a knife.
Has anyone done this? The spread said it's the easiest way for the diy'er who doesn't plaster
Can you just go straight onto the painted wall with the filler?
Does it need a mist coat after?
What grit sandpaper and would you use an orbital sander?
Thanks in advance
I have a problem with pitted and mottled plasterboard walls. Not terrible but not what I want to paint over. I need to smooth the entire wall.
They just have old white emulsion on them
I asked a plasterer if he would skim it for me.
He advised I could do this my self buying a few bags of gyproc easifill. Skim the entire wall with a roller and smooth out with a knife.
Has anyone done this? The spread said it's the easiest way for the diy'er who doesn't plaster
Can you just go straight onto the painted wall with the filler?
Does it need a mist coat after?
What grit sandpaper and would you use an orbital sander?
Thanks in advance
I haven't done this but have seen plenty of videos of people doing it on youtube when I was renovating my stairs and landing recently. Our walls were a mess when we stripped off the old wallpaper and what I did was strip the paper, use sanding mesh to sand all the tears and nibs off the plasterboard paper which had ripped then I used Zinsser Gardz as a sort of primer to stick what little bits there were left to the walls and to be fair it did a great job.
I then used Knauf Fill & Finish Light to skim the walls but I didn't mix it down to a thin mix I just put it on the walls with a taping knife and to be honest I wish I'd have watered it down to a yogurt like consistency and rollered it on to the walls like I'd seen on the videos. Overall my walls look decent but not anywhere near as good as you'd get with a plaster skim. I think the key is being careful when you're using your knife/trowel to not leave lines in it but I'd definitely give it a go as if you lay it on too thick you can sand it down easily.
I then used Knauf Fill & Finish Light to skim the walls but I didn't mix it down to a thin mix I just put it on the walls with a taping knife and to be honest I wish I'd have watered it down to a yogurt like consistency and rollered it on to the walls like I'd seen on the videos. Overall my walls look decent but not anywhere near as good as you'd get with a plaster skim. I think the key is being careful when you're using your knife/trowel to not leave lines in it but I'd definitely give it a go as if you lay it on too thick you can sand it down easily.
I've used Easifill to do some fairly extensive patching work (chasing for cables, cracks, etc.), but not an entire wall. It's pretty easy to apply and get fairly level, and easy to sand. I think I used 180 grit paper.
The room I did was previously painted with silk emulsion. As I tried feathering the edges, it just peeled off in strips. I ended up scraping it all off before using the Easifill.
Polycell make a product specifically for skimming. I used this in my last house to smooth out freshly-plastered walls, as it was done by a DIY plasterer rather than a pro. I think it was called Polyskim back then. This stuff was much easier to apply and sand, but only suitable for up to 3mm depth. For a shallow skim on complete walls, I'd be using this stuff rather than Easifill.
Still be a lot quicker to find another plasterer though, if your guy doesn't want the job.
The room I did was previously painted with silk emulsion. As I tried feathering the edges, it just peeled off in strips. I ended up scraping it all off before using the Easifill.
Polycell make a product specifically for skimming. I used this in my last house to smooth out freshly-plastered walls, as it was done by a DIY plasterer rather than a pro. I think it was called Polyskim back then. This stuff was much easier to apply and sand, but only suitable for up to 3mm depth. For a shallow skim on complete walls, I'd be using this stuff rather than Easifill.
Still be a lot quicker to find another plasterer though, if your guy doesn't want the job.
I'd sand by hand, Easifill is very soft and machine sanding will probably give an uneven finish.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/aluminium-hand-sander-2...
https://www.screwfix.com/p/aluminium-hand-sander-2...
clockworks said:
Polycell make a product specifically for skimming. I used this in my last house to smooth out freshly-plastered walls, as it was done by a DIY plasterer rather than a pro. I think it was called Polyskim back then. This stuff was much easier to apply and sand, but only suitable for up to 3mm depth. For a shallow skim on complete walls, I'd be using this stuff rather than Easifill.
Still be a lot quicker to find another plasterer though, if your guy doesn't want the job.
B&Q have an own-brand (Dial) version in both rough and smooth surface variants. Works well: I've just used it for a small room. I was using an old Polycell SmoothOver to apply having used that over artex a couple of properties back. There is a definite knack to applying it but the tool makes it much easier. Not sure if they sell their own tool but you can get Polycell ones on AmazonStill be a lot quicker to find another plasterer though, if your guy doesn't want the job.
jo-1l0lv said:
morning
I have a problem with pitted and mottled plasterboard walls. Not terrible but not what I want to paint over. I need to smooth the entire wall.
They just have old white emulsion on them
I asked a plasterer if he would skim it for me.
He advised I could do this my self buying a few bags of gyproc easifill. Skim the entire wall with a roller and smooth out with a knife.
Has anyone done this? The spread said it's the easiest way for the diy'er who doesn't plaster
Can you just go straight onto the painted wall with the filler?
Does it need a mist coat after?
What grit sandpaper and would you use an orbital sander?
Thanks in advance
I wouldn't do the whole wall just fill the many indentations with the filler with a wallpaper scraper & then use a 1/3rd sheet sander with not the finest but the next one up (80 grit perhaps?)I have a problem with pitted and mottled plasterboard walls. Not terrible but not what I want to paint over. I need to smooth the entire wall.
They just have old white emulsion on them
I asked a plasterer if he would skim it for me.
He advised I could do this my self buying a few bags of gyproc easifill. Skim the entire wall with a roller and smooth out with a knife.
Has anyone done this? The spread said it's the easiest way for the diy'er who doesn't plaster
Can you just go straight onto the painted wall with the filler?
Does it need a mist coat after?
What grit sandpaper and would you use an orbital sander?
Thanks in advance
https://www.toolstation.com/aluminium-oxide-green-...
Paint over with watered down emulsion & you'll see some further bits to attend to (esp if you use a strip light from the side) Fill again as before & sand by hand with fine or used 80 grit paper
Paint a couple times more with non watered down emulsion and it will be pretty good
Alucidnation said:
Easy fill is way too soft to sand down properly whatever the grit.
If you do decide to go that route, it also dries very quickly if you put it on too thin.
A light touch and he'll be fine & keep it quite wet and thin skims will also be fine.If you do decide to go that route, it also dries very quickly if you put it on too thin.
Product info below
Gyproc Easi-Fill is a lightweight plasterboard joint filler and finish, formulated for easy mixing and sanding, and consistent setting time. It may also be used for many other internal adhesive and filling applications. Gyproc Easi-Fill combined setting and air drying gypsum based material for bulk filling and finishing of joints.
Key Features
High coverage rate
Easy to mix
Minimal drying shrinkage
Allows application in only two coats
60 minutes working time
Final coat can be applied after 120 minutes
Complies with EN 13963, type 3B
Application
Gyproc Easi-Fill is used for all stages of plasterboard jointing- for pre-filling gaps and holes and for fixing of beads. It has very low shrinkage, allowing a finished joint to be achieved in only two applications. It can be used by hand or in quick-release type finishing boxes from the speed tape range of mechanical jointing tools (note that it should not be used over an earlier coat of and air-drying product such as Gyproc Joint Cement). Gyproc Easi-Fill should not be used for jointing of Glasroc MultiBoard or FireCase (S).
Installation
The powder should be added gradually to clean water in a clean mixing vessel, stirring continuously until a smooth creamy consistency is achieved. Apply Gyproc Easi-Fill to the joint to embed the tape and immediately overcoat to fully fill the tapered board edges and just feather out onto the board surface. Allow to set for 140 minutes-then apply the finishing coat, feathered out beyond the first. After the coat has dried sand lightly to remove trowel marks. Apply Gyproc Drywall Primer to the whole surface to prepare the surface for painting, apply the decoration with the minimum delay.
Buy one of these https://www.toolstation.com/swivel-sander-head/p12... and mount it on a decent roller pole
Give the walls a quick sand and sweep after - how do they look ?
If they need a complete skim then it is FAR FASTER to get a plasterer in
If you have more time then money - easifill will work - I use a plastering trowel and hawk, never tried any other method
Although I believe there are several DIY products that might be easier to use (I recall seeing ads).
The problem with using a fine coat of easifill is painting afterwards - a FAST roller works, go slowly / repeatedly over the area and it will lift the easifill off the wall and you'll get a great woodchip effect !
Give the walls a quick sand and sweep after - how do they look ?
If they need a complete skim then it is FAR FASTER to get a plasterer in
If you have more time then money - easifill will work - I use a plastering trowel and hawk, never tried any other method
Although I believe there are several DIY products that might be easier to use (I recall seeing ads).
The problem with using a fine coat of easifill is painting afterwards - a FAST roller works, go slowly / repeatedly over the area and it will lift the easifill off the wall and you'll get a great woodchip effect !
At v8rxz
At the moment no one is allowed in the house so cant have the plasterer in.
Have a few on the vulnerable list.
Plus the skim i know only seems to want the bigger jobs....
Ive just seen knauff pro roll light.
Seems expensive but if it does the job i might give this a go.
I think this might be what your referring to.
Do you know if it can go straight on the wall without pva etc. Doesn't say on the website
At the moment no one is allowed in the house so cant have the plasterer in.
Have a few on the vulnerable list.
Plus the skim i know only seems to want the bigger jobs....
Ive just seen knauff pro roll light.
Seems expensive but if it does the job i might give this a go.
I think this might be what your referring to.
Do you know if it can go straight on the wall without pva etc. Doesn't say on the website
You may be better off with a joint cement. You can put this on most walls, even painted ones, it is an air drying product so does not set. It is designed to be sanded to a fine finish and not as grainy as easyfill.
It’s what tape and jointers use as a finishing coat. The only caveat I would note is do not use it to fill big holes/gaps (use easyfill for this)
It’s either in readymixed tubs or powder. Use what you need and keep it moist it won’t set. Put it on thinly.
https://www.diy.com/departments/gyproc-joint-cemen...
It’s what tape and jointers use as a finishing coat. The only caveat I would note is do not use it to fill big holes/gaps (use easyfill for this)
It’s either in readymixed tubs or powder. Use what you need and keep it moist it won’t set. Put it on thinly.
https://www.diy.com/departments/gyproc-joint-cemen...
V8RX7 said:
Alucidnation said:
Easy fill is way too soft to sand down properly whatever the grit.
.
.
It's a filler, it's designed to be sanded, never had a problem and I've used probably 200kg of it
OP,if the pitts & mottles are not too deep you will probably find it easier with the Gyproc Quicksand, buy a bag of the powder rather than the readymix tub (the readymix sets like concrete) you can mix up a decent bucket full and with a lid on it wont set!
It will set on the walls once you have skimmed them over and once dry you can apply a 2nd coat
jo-1l0lv said:
He advised I could do this my self buying a few bags of gyproc easifill. Skim the entire wall...
Skimming an entire wall or ceiling is very easy to do.There is one thing to know.
You need a dustless sander and hoover, or if lot of time on your hand... abranet handheld to a hoover.
Send a few hundred on a decent sander (Mirka et al) and meshed disks.
Edited by hyphen on Monday 23 March 21:36
jo-1l0lv said:
He advised I could do this my self buying a few bags of gyproc easifill. Skim the entire wall with a roller and smooth out with a knife.
Skimming an entire wall is very easy to do.There is one thing to know.
You need a dustless sander and hoover, or if lot of time on your hand... abranet handheld to a hoover.
Send a few hundred on a decent sander (Mirka et al) and meshed disks.
Also I wouldn't apply it with a roller, get a long trowel.
Edited by hyphen on Monday 23 March 21:37
Would you consider lining the plasterboard?
I’m currently refurbishing a very old Flat and have used a couple of bags of Easifill followed by Wallrock Fibreliner, I’ve used a lot of lining paper over the years but this stuff is totally different, hides cracks and indentations and gives an almost new plaster wall finish.
I’m currently refurbishing a very old Flat and have used a couple of bags of Easifill followed by Wallrock Fibreliner, I’ve used a lot of lining paper over the years but this stuff is totally different, hides cracks and indentations and gives an almost new plaster wall finish.
hyphen said:
Skimming an entire wall or ceiling is very easy to do.
There is one thing to know.
You need a dustless sander and hoover, or if lot of time on your hand... abranet handheld to a hoover.
Send a few hundred on a decent sander (Mirka et al) and meshed disks.
2nd this.There is one thing to know.
You need a dustless sander and hoover, or if lot of time on your hand... abranet handheld to a hoover.
Send a few hundred on a decent sander (Mirka et al) and meshed disks.
Edited by hyphen on Monday 23 March 21:36
I just purchased the Mirka Abranet, it's not perfect but it's worth every penny. Should have got it ages ago
jo-1l0lv said:
Evening
Appreciate all the replies
@ c02000
You seem quite certain there that this is ok. You seen this done? Would you pva the wall first?
Cheers
I have done it many times & actually doing it now with no issues, hand sanding will make a little dust but will take time, machine sanding will be a lot qicker but very dusty (& noisy!) I have used the pre mixed joint filler too but using easyfill of late.Appreciate all the replies
@ c02000
You seem quite certain there that this is ok. You seen this done? Would you pva the wall first?
Cheers
As for painting, watered down emusion will be fine on a roller but going over the same bit while tacky may lift it but I have had no issues.
I didn't use PVA & the only other thing I do is use mesh tape on cracks and use a damp paint brush to get the dust out before filling them.
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