Diy Plastering
Discussion
I recently went on a plastering workshop which only lasted a few hours, however, the principles behind straightforward plastering are easy to get to grips with and you will probably be able to get a decent finish if you take your time and watch a few YouTube videos and carefully sand it down when you are done. I wouldn't attempt to plaster a room but I'd definitely have a bash at a patch repair as you describe.
princeperch said:
I recently went on a plastering workshop which only lasted a few hours, however, the principles behind straightforward plastering are easy to get to grips with and you will probably be able to get a decent finish if you take your time and watch a few YouTube videos and carefully sand it down when you are done. I wouldn't attempt to plaster a room but I'd definitely have a bash at a patch repair as you describe.
This.Full wall? no.
I taught myself to plaster ceilings (needs must on a previous house renovation) to get rid of artex. Apparently ceilings are harder than walls but I hate doing walls, I find ceilings relatively straight forward now but to be clear if isn't an easy job at all.
I managed a nice finish on most of the 14 ceilings I did, some needed a bit of fettling afterwards but all of them were better than the plasterer we paid for the first one!
I managed a nice finish on most of the 14 ceilings I did, some needed a bit of fettling afterwards but all of them were better than the plasterer we paid for the first one!
B17NNS said:
You'd be far better dubbing out the chases with bonding just shy of the finished level. Then use easy-fil and sand. far more DIY friendly.
This. If nothing else, make sure you use bonding (think its called thistle hardwall on the bags) to bring the thickness up. Trying to use finishing plaster will not go well!eniacs said:
Get on with it. Buy plaster, buy mixer, buy trowel. Get it done...
You may be good (like me - ok acceptable) or you may be bad and you'd best get someone in to do it again!
That's the approach I took, tried on a small downstairs toilet ceiling. Worst case, take down ceiling single plasterboard and pay someone.You may be good (like me - ok acceptable) or you may be bad and you'd best get someone in to do it again!
It went well so carried on doing progressively larger ceilings.
minivanman said:
(think its called thistle hardwall on the bags)
Hardwall is fine but you won't be needing impact resistance for a chase. Bonding is a bit cheaper too.I encourage anyone to try DIY tasks because with most of them you can stop half way through for a cuppa or a think or to do a bit of research. Multi-finish is a different animal. It sets when it sets. You need to know how to work it and when to work it and just as importantly when to not touch it. You need to know how to control suction. How to get it back if you start to lose it. It's all feel that comes with experience.
Is it learnable to a high standard as a DIYer? Absolutely. Will you get a decent result without the right knowledge and equipment. Not a chance in hell.
Just overfill with easi-fil and sand back with a block. With patience, care and hardly any talent the repair will be invisible
princeperch said:
I recently went on a plastering workshop which only lasted a few hours, however, the principles behind straightforward plastering are easy to get to grips with and you will probably be able to get a decent finish if you take your time and watch a few YouTube videos and carefully sand it down when you are done. I wouldn't attempt to plaster a room but I'd definitely have a bash at a patch repair as you describe.
I did something similar, a morning course at b&q for a few tenners. Bought a few bags of multifinish and practiced on an old piece of plasterboard then moved onto an alcove, an airing cupboard, a small bedroom wall then lounge walls; going from quick skim on the early jobs to bare brick on the lounge. Did the bathroom including window recess and ceiling over the last few weekends. I'm pretty pleased with the finish- I've seen better but I've also seen much worse - and one lounge wall included filling in a doorway and there's no cracking 3 years later :-) Went on a two weekend plastering course couple of months ago, worth doing as it’s handy to do smaller skimming jobs.
I would agree with B177nns etc - use bonding and keep it shy, use easifill and sand back. Unless you’re able to feather it in, trying to use multifinish will be hard work and you might well run out of time and find the multi has gone off. Nb hardwall is for high suction backgrounds and for more resilience, bonding for low suction eg PVA’d etc.
I would agree with B177nns etc - use bonding and keep it shy, use easifill and sand back. Unless you’re able to feather it in, trying to use multifinish will be hard work and you might well run out of time and find the multi has gone off. Nb hardwall is for high suction backgrounds and for more resilience, bonding for low suction eg PVA’d etc.
If you are going to fill before skimming (or instead of skimming) poundland Do a fantastic pot of filler. It's made by 121 I think and is very workable and almost clay like in its texture. It is easy to use and sand. You may need a few pots but at a quid each , who cares (a similar product at screwfix/Toolstation is just under 4 quid a pot I think)
minivanman said:
B17NNS said:
You'd be far better dubbing out the chases with bonding just shy of the finished level. Then use easy-fil and sand. far more DIY friendly.
This. If nothing else, make sure you use bonding (think its called thistle hardwall on the bags) to bring the thickness up. Trying to use finishing plaster will not go well!For all those on here who fancy giving DIY plastering a go, or who have been on a course or been doing bits and pieces over the years, as a former plasterer turned tape/jointer my one piece of advice is to buy a decent 'broken in' stainless steel plastering trowel, the finish will be a lot better and will also make the job easier for you.
The plastering tutor must have said that 1000 times. He kept on putting his trowel down and shouting 'everyone look - all the edges of this trowel don't touch this table- do you see that'. I don't know what would happen if he lost or broke it, he would be inconsolable I should think.
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