Blueboard is a gypsum-core board used for walls and ceilings alike. The same size as drywall, it undergoes the same installation methods. The main difference between blueboard and drywall, however, is a coating on the blueboard paper that bonds with plasters, making it easy to apply a skim coat without the need for a metal mesh support system. The skim coat is a coat of plaster, created of multiple layers that form a hard surface on the blueboard, protecting the board from damage and making the board easier to paint.
Instructions
1. Measure the height of the walls at the outside corners and then cut a #900 mesh corner bead to match with a pair of tin snips. Press the mesh over the corner; use a carpenter's level to ensure that it's plumb, and then staple it into place using an electric stapler.
2. Tape the seams of the blueboard with a strip of self-sticking fiberglass tape placed along each seam length.
3. Mix the plaster in a five-gallon bucket using a cage-style mixer attached to a 1/2-inch drill. Set the mixing speed to 900 RPM and proceed with mixing between two-to-five minutes, until the plaster is smooth and spreadable.
4. Apply a thin layer of the plaster to the blueboard with the flat of the large spatula. Hold the spatula at a 15-degree angle and spread the plaster evenly. Spread the plaster first with an upward stroke, maintaining a firm bottom edge to the spatula, and then reversing your stroke, move over the spread plaster to fill in any voids left on the upstroke. Rake the spread plaster with a scarifier to create a scratch-coat that will hold the next coat against the boards. Wait 10 hours for the first coat to dry.
5. Apply the second coat of plaster onto the first using the same spatula, held at a 30-degree angle. Instead of an up-and-down motion, use an X-shaped motion when spreading the plaster to add a slight texture to the wall. Once covered, wait another 10 hours for the plaster to dry.
6. Hold the spatula at 45 degrees and apply the third and final coat to the blueboard. This coat will create a smooth final finish, covering the voids left by the X-shaped application, while retaining a very slight texture, yet remaining smooth. Use an arching motion for the final coat and overlap arc edges to keep the surface smooth. Smooth further with a trowel after plaster application.
Related posts
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...
Use a plaster trowel to apply veneer plaster or other plaster compounds to a surface.A plaster trowel is a tool specifically designed to apply plaster, a substance composed of gypsum and lime, to...
Fill in a hole in plaster board.Wallboard, or plaster board, is the most common building material for walls today. The benefits of plaster board over traditional plaster are many. It is cheaper, e...
Completed Venetian plaster projectVenetian plaster refers to both a blend of plaster and the method for applying it. In general, Venetian plaster will have a smooth, polished look, as opposed to t...
Patch up holes in plaster walls with fiberglass mesh tape.Cracking or crumbling plaster walls are a nuisance to the structure and beauty of a wall. Though it may be tempting to replace damaged pla...
