Leveling the walls with plaster coating

Responsible work on the interior decoration of the apartment is divided into several stages. One of the most important steps is to level the walls with plaster, a leveling layer. This stage is very important, as the further course of the entire repair and the final appearance depend on the quality of the plaster. In addition, plaster protects the surface of walls and ceilings from moisture and performs a sound insulation role.

How to align the walls with plaster so that it is flawless? There are several techniques for making plaster, which vary in complexity and application of materials. This crucial stage should be approached with all seriousness, for this we recommend that you seek help. Qualified Master application specialists are ready to perform repairs of any complexity, as well as plastering work, saving you time.

The value of the leveling layer of the wall (plaster)

Often, the walls of an apartment or room (especially old panel buildings) have irregularities, which complicates further work. Plaster is the best way to eliminate irregularities and prepare the walls for the last stage.:

Plaster is used not only to mask internal defects, but also to fill and eliminate external cracks.

Final finishing. Modern interior design solutions often use decorative mixes or a simple leveling layer for the final wall decoration.

Types of plaster

“There are two types of leveling layer․”

• Plain. The plaster used to line the walls strengthens and levels the surface, as well as protects it from moisture.
• Decorative. Plaster is intended for interior and exterior decoration of walls and surfaces.:

Simple plaster

Plaster must comply with the climatic conditions of the construction site, fire safety requirements, room temperature and humidity conditions, technological requirements of production, as well as protect building structures from environmental influences.:

In accordance with the above criteria, several types of plaster are distinguished.

• Waterproofing
• Gas insulation
• Sound insulation
• Heat-resistant
• X-ray protector

Types of plaster by quality characteristics

According to the degree of quality assessment, simple plaster can be

• Usual. It is used in rooms (buildings) where careful surface treatment and leveling is not required. the total thickness of the plaster layer does not exceed 12 mm.:
• Improved. Plaster of this quality is usually used in residential and public buildings, industrial buildings and utility rooms of elite buildings (in special cases) for plastering facades of buildings without special architectural design.:
• High class. This type of plaster is used for facades of buildings and structures with high finishing requirements. For high-quality plaster, the surfaces of walls and ceilings must be strictly vertical or horizontal. The plaster is made by installing lighthouses, the distance of which from the wall determines the thickness of the plaster. The average overall thickness of high-quality plaster is 20 mm.:

Mixtures used for simple plastering

Plasters are made from the following mixtures

• The cement-sand mixture is made on the basis of cement, sand and chemical additives that enhance the adhesive properties of plaster. cement-sand plaster is used to repair both the inner and outer surfaces of walls. Due to its qualitative properties and durability, this type of plaster can be considered the best, proven over the years. Of the disadvantages, only the property of poorly absorbing moisture can be noted, which is why water droplets accumulate on the plaster layer and mold and fungi form.
• Lime plaster with a mixture of sand. This type is most common for plastering the surface of walls in residential areas. Lime mortar does not tolerate moisture well, so it is not recommended to use it for leveling walls in bathrooms. In addition, lime is a rather toxic substance and can be harmful to health even when preparing the mixture. :
• Complex mixtures. These types of mortars are made of limestone, cement and sand and are designed for any room (with high humidity, moderate humidity and dryness), as well as to protect the exterior walls of the building from environmental influences. Plaster is used for plastering interior walls built of concrete, bricks and concrete blocks. The only disadvantage of this type of plaster is the relatively high cost due to the cement content.
• Clay mixtures. They are used for plastering work on both interior and exterior wall surfaces. Due to this and many other factors, clay is once again beginning to be regarded as one of the most effective building materials.:
• Gypsum mixtures. This type is mainly used to align the interior walls of a building. fine granules of gypsum plaster make it possible to quickly and efficiently level surfaces. This mixture also has a low thermal conductivity.:

One of the disadvantages is the high cost.

Decorative plaster

Decorative plaster can be of different types. Each of them has its own application technology and must be used for a specific surface.:

Types of decorative plaster

There are four main types of decorative plaster

• Structuring plaster. It contains granules of different sizes, up to 3 mm, creating a "fur coat" effect. Using different types of pistols, you can get different patterns.:
• It has a high plasticity, which makes it possible to obtain very interesting decorative elements from plaster.:
• Mineral plaster: With this type of decorative plaster, various types of stone such as quartz, granite, marble, etc. are added to the mortar.:
• Venetian plaster: This type creates an imitation of marble or malachite walls.

Mixtures used for decorative plaster

Plaster is mainly used from two different mixtures.

• Water-based plaster. The environmentally friendly decorative plaster is water-based, provides heat resistance up to 90°C, has high permeability and excellent moisture resistance.:
• Water-based plaster. It has high wear resistance, durability and good adhesion of the coating to aggressive environments.

- epoxy resin. Plasters made of epoxy resins are used only in the case of interior decoration - polyurethane. Plaster on this basis can be used both inside and for facades.

How to choose plaster

The choice of a plaster mix should be approached with great responsibility, since the service life of the decorative finish directly depends on the quality of the plaster. If you are not sure which plaster solution is most suitable, we recommend that you contact Master specialists who will help you make the right choice and carry out the plastering work.

There are several main factors to consider when choosing the type of plaster.

Working conditions: Cement and gypsum-based plasters are suitable for interior work, and plaster with Portland cement is used for rooms with high humidity.

There are no special requirements here, as brick and concrete walls can be leveled with either plaster or cement-sand-based plaster.:

Application features. Gypsum mixtures are more plastic, so it is more convenient to work with this mixture-it is easy to apply and dries quickly. cement mixes are a little more difficult to work with-they are less elastic and not very easy to handle. Various materials are added to modern cement mixes to increase plasticity and ease of application. However, due to their durability and quality, cement mixtures are widely used.

Cost and value: cement plaster is characterized by low cost, but at the same time high consumption. Although gypsum mixtures are expensive, they are more economical, so the total cost of plastering is low.:

Manufacturer. In most cases, such mixtures are prepared without calculating the exact proportions of the ingredients, which, of course, affects the quality of the plaster and the coating itself.:

What determines the cost of plaster

Calculations of plaster consumption should be carried out after preparatory work, after removing the old finishing material and installing lighthouses. the cost of plaster depends on a number of factors:

• The presence and degree of wall deflection: the size and number of irregularities on the surface
• If there are cracks, they should be pre-coated with a thick layer of plaster.
• Type of material used

Plaster beacons will help not only to accurately align the surface, but also to determine the amount of deviations in order to calculate the required amount of dry plaster mixture. On the packaging, the manufacturer always indicates the main characteristics of the mixture, including its cost per square meter. when buying a material, it is better to round up the specified cost. You can use the remaining added mixture for other work.:

When and where it is forbidden to carry out wall alignment

It is not recommended to carry out plastering work outdoors if the average air temperature is below -5 °C. If it is colder outside, plaster is allowed using the following solutions.

• use special antifreeze (wiping) modifications.
• add lime
• dilute the mixture with chlorine water

The quality of the leveling layer of the wall is affected not only by frosts, but also by high temperatures. At a temperature of + 30°With and above, experts recommend plastering the facade before 10 a.m., and then after 6 p.m., when the air temperature is not so high.:

Currently, there is a wide range of plaster mixes available, but before choosing, it is necessary to study the composition and find out what restrictions exist and at what temperature plastering can be carried out.:

Other important prerequisites

It is also important to observe a number of other conditions that ensure the proper quality of the plaster.:

• air humidity: at least 60%, and the humidity of the walls should be no more than 8%
• The surface must be slightly moist before applying the mixture.
• a break in work of more than 1-1. 5 hours is unacceptable.
• In order for the plaster layer to dry evenly and slowly, the walls should be protected from direct sunlight in hot weather.

Compliance with the terms and conditions is a guarantee of high-quality plaster:

What happens if you don't follow the rules?

Failure to comply with the conditions may lead to the following problems

• if the dry surface is not moistened with a special impregnation or at least with water, the plaster does not adhere well to the wall and may come off too quickly.
• The plaster layer may crack.
• There may be irregularities on the surface.

As a result, the plaster will not have the required quality and will not perform its main function, namely to level the wall surface and prepare it for the next stage of repair.

It is better to plaster in spring or autumn, when there are no sudden changes in the weather, with the help of a master and only with properly selected mixtures that correspond to the characteristics of the room. It is necessary to strictly follow the instructions and rules that guarantee high-quality plaster.:

The execution of plaster. The order of plastering works

“According to the plaster technology, the work can be divided into several stages:”

• Prepare the surface. This is done to increase the adhesion of the plaster and reduce the degree of moisture absorption.:
• Install lighthouses or a plaster grid. Check if the installed profile is straight using a long straightener and pliers.
• Apply the mortar to the walls. Plaster should be distributed with a straightener in zigzag movements from bottom to top. To remove excess plaster, the straightener should be held at an angle. Remove excess plaster with putty. Smooth the plaster again from bottom to top with straight movements, collecting excess plaster. The operation should be repeated until there is no excess solution left. When you're done, check the smoothness of the surface by applying the straightener to the wall at a different angle.
• Align it. The work must be done before drying. Plaster with a more watery composition is prepared for leveling and applied to the wall using a leveler.

Each of the above stages of plastering is important, in turn. It is recommended to carry out plastering work simultaneously in all rooms of the apartment:

Tools

The following tools are used for manual plastering of walls:

• Falcon. It is used to keep the mixture handy during operation.:
• Pasta (spatula). Using the tool, the mixture is distributed directly over the work surface.:
• Spatula: used to apply various mixtures to the wall:
• Flat. It is used to check the evenness of the wall and the accuracy of the installation of lighthouses.:
• Corrector: A multifunctional tool used to spread and smooth the mixture.:
• A spatula with a sharp end. The sharp end allows you to hide cracks, minor defects and remove excess plaster.
• A plaster scraper. It is used for final scraping and leveling of plaster.
• Using a bucket, the mixture is distributed over a large surface. this allows you to significantly speed up your work.: