Plaster can yield an attractive finish for your walls.
Plastering is a technique requiring a certain amount of skill, and can take several years to successfully master. Many people can pick up the art quickly, however, especially if they've had previous experience in painting or decorating. Plaster used on walls is usually made from a combination of gypsum, sand and water. Applying plaster to stripped plasterboard walls is probably the easiest way to test out your plastering skills.
Instructions
1. Remove any items of furniture from the room you want to plaster. Lay plastic sheeting so it covers the floor.
2. Turn off any radiators in the room where you are plastering. The heat from radiators can cause the plaster to dry out too fast, which can lead to cracking.
3. Switch off the electrical supply. Unscrew the casing to any wall outlets in the room, using a screwdriver. Tape the wires inside firmly against the outlet so they don't get in the way during plastering.
4. Mix the plaster. Check the packet for specific instructions on prepare the plaster. The plaster is usually added to water and stirred with a stick or spoon until a thick sludge is formed.
5. Place the trowel in the plaster bucket and load the plaster onto the hawk. The hawk is a flat, hand-held unit used to hold plaster. The trowel is the device used to apply plaster to the walls.
6. Apply the plaster to the wall, using the trowel. Hold the blade of the trowel at an angle when applying the plaster. Applying the plaster with the trowel face flat will be ineffectual. For the best results, hold the trowel at as tight an angle as possible without it going flat.
7. Cover the whole wall with plaster, using the trowel set at an angle. Don't worry about it looking messy, as this is normal after the first coat of plaster is applied.
8. Tidy up the wall edges. Dampen the bristles of a large brush and rub against any edge areas where the plaster has spread to adjoining surfaces.
9. Leave the plaster to dry for approximately 20 minutes. Allow around five minutes less if it's a hot day and five minutes more if it's very cold. Leaving the plaster to dry for any longer will result in it drying up and will make it difficult to make any improvements.
10. Add another coat of plaster by repeating Steps 4 through 9. Leave the plaster to dry out for another 30 minutes.
11. Trowel the plaster, using the angle described in Step 5. Use a continuous sweeping motion until the plaster appears flat and even, and any imperfections have been removed. Fill in any hollow areas with more plaster and smooth them out with the trowel. Allow the plaster to dry for 30 minutes.
12. Polish the wall. Wet the bristles of a paintbrush and flick the water onto the wall by arching the bristles and releasing them. Avoid saturating the walls; a light covering of water is usually enough.
13. Hold the trowel at a tight angle and run it over the entire surface of the walls. Move the trowel in both directions to reduce the risk of lines appearing. Apply moderate force so you achieve a smooth finish without pulling plaster off the wall.
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