How To Plaster A Wall

How To Plaster A Wall

Plastering is a highly skilled job, so if you’re not sure how to plaster a wall, call in the experts. You’ll find a list of local plasterers in our online directory.

If you’ve decided to tackle the job yourself, you should follow our steps for plastering a wall. It’s always a good idea to have a practice run before you try out your plastering skills on a large area. Before you start, why not have a go at plastering some hardboard, following the steps below?

Step by Step Plastering Guide

Firstly, prepare the room by brushing down the wall’s surface to remove any dust. Apply a good plaster bonding agent, especially if the wall’s made of smooth cement. This will ensure that your plaster sticks and will help prevent cracking.

Mixing the Plaster

Next, mix the plaster. It should come with full instructions on the bag, so make sure you follow these carefully. Take time to mix the plaster thoroughly, making sure there are no lumps. You should have a thick, creamy consistency when you’ve finished. Only mix as much as you’re going to use as plaster sets in no time at all, and you don’t want to be left with hardened plaster that you can’t use. Never try to add more water to hardened plaster - it simply won’t work!

Now you’re ready to start plastering. Apply the base coat using smooth strokes, working up from the bottom of the wall. There’s a knack to applying plaster to a wall - remember to keep your trowel at an angle so you don’t pull the fresh plaster back off the wall as you work! The coat you’ve applied should be around 2mm thick.

When you’ve finished, you can start to smooth the surface. You can do this when the plaster is beginning to harden. This is easier to do in summer, when plaster remains pliable for longer. If you have any holes or unevenness, use a thin skim of plaster to level things out.

Finishing Off The Plastering

When the last coat of plaster has dried - this should take around 40 minutes - you can start work on polishing the plaster. Flick water across your plasterwork with a paintbrush and using a wet trowel, gently smooth back over the surface of the wall. Use sweeping strokes to fill in any holes or imperfections. Now you should have a perfectly plastered wall!

A professional plasterer will be able to do this job for you, ensuring a quality finish to your walls. Use an online tradesmen directory to look up local plasterers in your local area.