HOW TO PLASTER

Repairing plaster walls is not a difficult task. All you need are right tools, materials and instructions and the holes in your plaster wall will disappear in no time. The articles found in this section provide detailed instruction on how to fix damaged plaster walls, and will help you gather the right tools and buy the right compound you need to get the job done.

Steps:

1 Use trowel to place mound of veneer plaster onto hawk
2 Scoop up some plaster with the trowel, making sure it’s centered on its blade
3 Smear plaster onto the wall with the trowel using an upsweeping motion
4 Turn over the trowel and work the plaster down
5 Maintain even pressure to produce a thin, smooth plaster coat
6 Continue working your across the wall, using stilts or stepladder to reach high areas

Plastering

When mixing, add the plaster to the water in equal measures, using a clean bucket and clean water. When the plaster is a creamy constituency pour it out onto the spot board (a piece of ply about 1m square) at a comfortable working height. Use the trowel scoop up and load plaster onto

Plasterboard

- Standard plasterboard usually 9.5mm or 12.5mm in depth and in a range of sizes
- Fire lining plasterboard used to increase the fire resistance of a wall
- Moisture barrier board for areas such as bay windows were warm moist air meets cold air causing condensation
- "Aqua" board used in wet areas such as tile backs for showers and bathrooms
- Sound and thermal insulation boards helping to meet the specifications of local building regulations

Mixing plaster - In a bucket, add the plaster to the water (not the other way round). Mix them together thoroughly using the electric drill fitted with paddle attachment, starting slowly and gradually increasing the speed. A tip for beginner DIY plaster masters: the final mix should be firm and be able to stand up on its own, like thickened cream.

Applying undercoat plaster - Empty the bucket of undercoat plaster onto the spot board, and wash the bucket and paddle. Scrape some plaster onto the hawk with the trowel, and use the trowel to scrape the plaster onto the wall. Make sure that the plaster is generally flat; once it starts to dry, scratch a diamond pattern into the surface at 10 or 12 centimetre intervals to help the finish grip, and leave to dry.

Applying finish plaster to ceiling or wall - Mix out all lumps from the finish plaster, then apply the first coat quickly. It doesn't have to be perfect, just consistent. When the plastered wall is dry enough to leave a finger mark but not pull away any plaster, use a wet trowel to flatten out any lines or peaks and use some of your existing plaster to fill up any holes.

Earth plasters are very beautiful, smooth, and soft, and can give your home a very warm and inviting ambiance. They are an obvious choice for straw bale houses or cob homes, but you can experiment with them on different wall surfaces, too.

Ultimately, they are a very low impact and environmentally safe way to make your natural building more attractive and to protect your walls.