A new year begins, and with it you decide to put into practice new plans, carry out those tasks that you had postponed and make a reform in that old wall of your house or to fix irregularities in that wall outside your home. And now? Where to start and how to plaster the wall?
First of all, you must pay attention to some factors and find out about some methods, so that the renovation is exactly the way you wanted. So, if you are in doubt and want to learn the correct way and what materials to use for plastering a wall, continue reading this article.
What does it mean to plaster a wall?
Many people have heard of this term, which has become part of the daily life of those who work with works, but do you know what a plastering wall is? The plastering wall is a thin layer of mortar that has the purpose of preparing the wall to receive the paint or other coating, leaving it smooth and flat.
It is necessary to be very careful with the quality of the material and the quantity used, since its improper handling can result in cracks in the walls, infiltrations and aesthetic imperfections. Knowing this, there are also two other steps to reach plastering, which are still little known to those who have never done this task. They are: the roughcast and the plaster.
Hatchback
The roughcast is the first step on how to tow the wall. It consists of the first layer of mortar applied directly to the masonry, in order to provide adhesion between it and the coating. It has a rough surface to facilitate the penetration of the next layer and is generally 5 to 7 mm thick. It is made with cement, coarse sand and water, a trowel or specific equipment is used for the application.
Plaster
The plaster is the second layer of the plaster and comes after the application of the roughcast, and can be placed 24 hours after it. It regulates the surface structure and prepares it so that it then receives the plaster or the laying of ceramic pieces (plastering is not necessary for this). After its application, the wall must be smoothed.
Plastering wall: materials needed
Having understood the initial process of how to plaster the wall, it is time to start preparing the materials to carry out the renovation. Do you know what material to use, if it is better mortar or plaster?
As much as the mortar is the most common material for plastering and the most used by technicians in works, there is also the option of plastering the wall with plaster, having both their pros and cons, so as not to be in doubt, we will analyze them below.
Mortar
If you have chosen to use this type of plaster, it is necessary to go through the first two steps mentioned above: roughcast and plaster. The main positive points are because it is very resistant and has greater durability, supporting the action of water and protecting against infiltrations, ideal for external walls that come into frequent contact with rain and humid places in the house and that may cause molds, such as in the kitchen or bathroom.
Plastering with this material creates better acoustics than plaster, reduces indoor temperature and is easily drilled for furniture or decoration installations, allowing for a more varied type of finish.
However, like everything in the world, it has negative points, as the final cost turns out to be very expensive, because it requires the application of three layers, which demands more time and involves more materials. In addition, if not done correctly, cracks in the wall may appear.
Plaster
Plastering the wall with plaster, unlike mortar, does not require the application of two previous layers (roughcast and plaster), and can be placed directly on the masonry. Its positive points are its low cost, precisely because it does not consume so much material and takes less time to be made, being the easiest and most practical.
In addition, the plaster gives a good finish to the wall, a fact that many believe does not occur in the plastering with the mortar, covering it completely and leaving it without irregularities. Its negative points, on the other hand, are its lower resistance to water and other external factors, since it is made only of plaster and water, at the risk of future cracks in the wall.
There is a need for regular maintenance and some limitation on where it should be applied, and it cannot be in damp places or with frequent leaks. There is also its thickness, which is very thin (5mm), which can affect the acoustics of the place. So, in order not to have this problem, it is necessary to make thicker layers and an optimal planning.
Another precaution when using this material is in relation to metallic objects close to the plaster, as they can get rusty and even harm the painting.
How to tow wall in practice?
Once you have decided on the material to use, you will now have to decide: will you buy it or do it yourself? In the case of the first option, move on to the next topic, but if you want to learn how to prepare the render, read the tutorials below.
How to make mortar
To render the plaster on a wall located inside the building, you must follow the measure 3 + 3 + 1, as in the example below:
- 3 buckets of sand;
- 2 buckets of lime;
- 1 bucket of cement and additive;
- Water.
For the plastering of an external wall, outside the house, measure 2 + 2 + 1 should be used, as in the example below:
- 2 buckets of sand;
- 2 buckets of lime;
- 1 bucket of cement and additive;
- Water.
The way of making it is simple, just mix the ingredients and stir with a shovel to move the dough until it has a consistency of flour. After mixing well, just add water gradually until it forms a homogeneous mass and is ready to render.
How to make plaster
Plaster is very simple to make, just mix the plaster with water, more or less in the same amount each. As plaster bags are usually sold at 40 kg, there will be about 36 liters of water to be added.
Always put the water in the container first, then add the plaster gradually, until it covers all the water and leaves a very compact coloring. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes and then start stirring the dough, starting from the corners of the bowl and only the part you are going to use, as the plaster dries quickly and when stirring everything at once, its quality may be impaired.
How to plaster wall with mortar
Now it’s time to really get your hands dirty and plaster the wall. The first step is to determine which walls you want to renovate and calculate the amount of mortar or plaster you will be using. That done, for plastering with mortar, you must apply the two layers of coating previous to the plastering.
After that, it is time to check the condition of the surface, if it is smooth or irregular and then put the dough on the wall in the approximate amount you will need to cover it. When the wall is not at the regular level, it is necessary to “taliscar”, that is, place taliscas in the masonry to define the thickness that should be the plaster of the wall. If the wall is too crooked and with very deep holes, you will need to pass two hands of the dough, with an interval of about 24 hours between them.
Once the first part is done, with the help of a construction ruler, remove the leftovers from the dough, trying to leave the wall smooth and regular, with the same level at all points. Completed this step, take a trowel and pass over the dough already without the excess and to give the finish, use a foam suitable for this and pass on the extension of the wall.
How to plaster wall with plaster
Plastering the wall with plaster is an even simpler process. After preparing the plaster and making the application on the desired walls, pass it on the trowel over the surface of the wall, smoothing it in the process. As plaster is a material that dries very fast, you will not be able to take too long to make adjustments to the wall, or it will dry in an irregular and misshapen manner.
Final care after learning how to plaster a wall
As previously stated, the external walls of the house, which are exposed to the outdoors, have greater contact with rain and moisture coming from the roof of the house. Therefore, in this case, the best option is to coat the wall with mortar, which is more resistant. However, for even greater care, it is possible to waterproof after completing the step-by-step how to plaster the wall.
Before applying the waterproofing product, sold in any construction store, you must sand the entire surface of the wall so that it is smooth to receive the product. With the help of a steel spatula, remove the loose and cracked parts of the wall, sand it and remove the dust resulting from this action, now just apply the waterproofing as instructed on the packaging.
And ready! Now you know how to plaster a wall that needed a makeover. Liked the content Leave a comment with your questions and suggestions below.
