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I Need Help Plastering!!
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Matt
Just Arrived
Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 2:09 pm Post subject: I Need Help Plastering!! |
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How easy is it to plaster a wall? I have a low budget and i was going to give it a go.
The wall is original brick work not a new wall.
Hope someone can help.
Matt 
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
 Moderator
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Posts: 9838
Location: Scotland (Map)
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| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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EEK!!! Plastering isn't as easy as the experts make it look Matt. My husband and I once tried re-plastering a ceiling in one of our bedrooms and it was a complete disaster.  We were only plastering over existing plaster and even although we smoothed it all out first, washed it down and them took great care to smooth the new plaster on it was (erm....how can I put this?) a mess. 
I think there are probably products nowadays in the DIY stores that will make the job easier to tackle but I still think I's rather leave it to the folks who know exactly what they're doing. It could work out more expensive in the long run to tackle it by yourself.
Oh Btw WELCOME to GardenStew!!!!! 
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Frank
Happy Gardening
Administrator
Joined: 25 Jan 2005
Posts: 8477
Location: Malmö, Sweden
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| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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I'd agree with Eileen Matt, I have heard horror stories about people attempting to plaster walls themselves. From what I can gather it is definitely not something to be taken lightly. Having said that though I don't know how handy you are so maybe you could be an exception Welcome to the community 
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Happy Gardening
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dooley
Official Garden Turtle
Joined: 03 Jul 2005
Posts: 2987
Location: Arizona, U.S.A (Map)
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| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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Where is this brick wall? Is there a reason you need to plaster over it? I would just clean it and leave it as a focal point if it is not in bad shape. I have never plastered anything, but I imagine it would be hard to get it smooth. I've seen concrete smoothed with a long board like thing. Maybe it's the tools that you need. Could you ask at Home Depot or some place like that? They might know what you would need and they rent some tools. Dooley
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wannabe
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 1317
Location: Springfield, Illinois (Map)
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| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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I have never worked with plaster. We had old plastered walls in one and we made it as smooth as we could and covered it over with paneling. Welcome Matt, glad to have you here. Wannabe
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manolok
Just Arrived
Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Bath (UK)
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| Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject: It isn't that difficult at all |
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Hi Matt,
First of all I must say; do you really want to plaster it? A brick wall can be much nicer than a plaster one if you treat it properly. Some cleaning and maybe varnish will give it a great look.
However, you know why you want it plastered.
I’ve just finished plastering a hall way ceiling and it was hard work. However plastering a ceiling is more difficult than a wall.
It isn’t as difficult as it may sound, but it isn’t easy either. A little practice will get you plastering soon.
The most difficult bit (for me) was the smoothing part of the job.
Once you’ve finished laying the plaster all over the wall, you need to let it dry a bit about 2 hours (take in account that if you started in one side of the wall and it takes you 2 hours to finish the whole wall the part where you started is ready to smooth it).
You’ll need a float to smooth it. Experienced people use the same trowel, I tried to do it with the trowel and end up with a chunk of the plaster on the floor.
To smooth it you have to wet it, I used and old spray bottle (from some soap product) filled with water. And then just start smoothing, it isn’t a quick job it’ll take you long while till its smooth and looks good.
So good luck and let us know.
manoloK 
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windowb
Just Arrived
Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Utah
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| Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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Matt,
I would have to agree with a lot of the people posting. Why plaster the wall? In my experience people would rather take off the plaster and have the brick showing. It would make for a very nice design touch to any room. Maybe you could post some pictures to help us see your vision.
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Tony
Window Blind Center
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CritterPainter
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Posts: 1128
Location: Washington State
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| Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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I can't see anywhere your location? In my part of the planet, we use wallboard. Over brick, you could use panel adhesive or attach wood strips for nailers to attach the wallboard/drywall. I've taped and textured my entire addition, so if you need anymore info on this, just ask!
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Mary
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reggaefan
Official Poet Laureate
Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 2520
Location: Zone 8b Louisiana (Map)
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| Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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I think a brick wall is one of the harder surfaces to work on from my experience. By the way welcome to Garden Stew
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Richard
"We have met the enemy,and it is us." POGO
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house21
Just Arrived
Joined: 08 May 2007
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 1:28 am Post subject: |
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Hi
To be a real plasterer, you need few years practice.
But if you are brave here you go 
Get PVA mixed with water and brush it on the wall.
Get undercoat plaster and you might need 2 coats to cover the brick work and make it ready for the final coat.
The undercoat is much easier to work with,but keep in mind that both dries up really fast-5-10 min.
Wait 1 day for the undercoat to dry up and then you need to skim the wall with plaster.Spread the plaster at 0.5 cm depth.Then follow the instruction Manolok gave you.
Btw. if I was you I would rather take Windowb'advice.
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rquelle
Just Arrived
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Belmont, CA
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 8:25 pm Post subject: plastering not easy, but you *can* do it yourself |
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As the other posters note, plastering is not easy - a pro makes it look so, but that takes a lot of practice. The substitute for practice is time, and plastering is hard because you are under an intense time pressure. The solution is to eliminate that.
On a brick surface, you're going to need a brown (scratch) coat, followed by the finish coat, so you'll have some time to practice . Be sure to check to make sure the brick is unsealed - if sealed, you'll have extra surface prep, probably priming with a sanded primer.
On top of that, the plaster is gorgeous. Think Santa Fe, or a Tuscan villa.
Good luck.
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