(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); When applying board to a ceiling make use of a “third arm” or “dead man” which will hold your plasterboard in place whilst you fix it to the ceiling joists. No matter how many projects you find or how many books you read you will not be able to just walk up to a wall or ceiling and get a good job. To cut plasterboard you will require the following tools: Retractable Knife, Straight Edge, Tape Measure, Pad Saw, Rasp and a Pencil. Once you have covered this top 1/3 move down and repeat the process on the middle third. Jiggle the plasterboard repair piece into the hole and hold it in place for a few seconds to give the adhesive time to ‘grab’. Fill the holes and any areas that may be a little low. Plasterboard is typically cut to size prior to fixing. For those who want a go themselves the basic rules are: The first thing we recommend strongly, is to have a practice before you start spreading plaster all over the place. Repairing small cracks in plaster is easy compared to plastering a whole room. 16. Protect your work area by laying a plastic tarp over the floor. Also, now smooth the wall following the “pattern of three” to a relatively smooth finish. In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains how to repair a plaster ceiling. You nee… Having applied scrim tape to the joints and nail heads of the wall that you are about to skim, mix the correct amount of plaster to a smooth creamy consistency making sure that ALL lumps are out and dry patches around the mixing bucket are mixed in. Thank you for signing up to Homebuilding. Load-bearing walls had plaster applied directly to the brick or stone in a series of coats. Take a nail, or a small screwdriver, and drag it lightly, in a coil shape, over the surface of the plaster. It also helps you to know where you started using a new mix if you run out of plaster half way through a wall. Basically you are removing raised aspects that are more than 2 mm high and filling any holes in. Once the shape is correct, leave the job alone for ten minutes then wet the float and smooth the surface over, 15. Repaired corners are also vulnerable to people walking past and knocking them. Cut a piece of plasterboard that is the same width but around 25mm longer than the hole. Mix up some Finishing Plaster as per the manufacturer's instructions and load the hawk. Bath 9. In both cases the plaster might remain intact as haired lime plaster is generally strong and acts as a sheet, even if areas have parted company with the wall itself. It is very likely that the cost to repair in terms of money and or time will far out way the cost or attending a short plastering course. If new to this, mark the line with a pencil and always “measure twice & cut once”. If you are going to feather in a patch repair leave the bonding just a couple of mm shallow of the surrounding old plaster and fill the rest with skim. Re-wet a small working area [top] Now that the water has soaked in it is important to rewet the surface immediately before applying the plaster. Make no mistake, plastering is a skill equal to an electricians or a plumbers and if it is not done correctly the first time, can cost a fortune to put right. Spread it about so it is slightly proud of the beads on the wall. This is one of those home maintenance jobs that will keep your home looking as fresh as the day it was decorated and patching up plaster just one task you can undertake on a DIY basis. Chunks fall out of plaster walls for a number of reasons: household clumsiness is one contributory factor, but fitting or adjusting a door frame (as here) can create a real mess. THE NO.1 SITE FOR SELF BUILDERS AND HOME EXTENDERS, (Image credit: Homebuilding & Renovating). Leave the filler a little proud over the groove but remove the excess either side before the filler dries. Use trowel to spread joint compound onto ceiling, covering the repaired area. When working out how much plaster to buy, you need to know that, at 12mm thick (approximately ½ an inch), 25kg of browning, bonding, or one coat plaster (scratch or base coat plasters) will cover just over 3 square meters. You can expect to pay around £12/m², more if you start adding other small plaster repairs you have about your house. If you do not have the back of an old shed wall to practice on, buy a sheet of hardboard from your local builders merchants. We recommend that Multi Finish is used by the novice plasterer. If you are able to make a cut across the complete plasterboard width or length then run the knife along the marked line using a straight edge as a guide ensuring that you have cut one side of the paper. For these small jobs you will be better off going down the DIY route — we show you how it’s done. Craig Phillips shows you how to patch plaster repair a hole in a wall. The tape protects the filler and keeps it in shape. All rights reserved. Your finger should leave a very slight mark on the wall, but not a full fingerprint. © Once that is similarly covered repeat on the bottom 1/3. Build the coats up until the top half is just proud of the repair area. Once you have covered this top 1/3 move down and repeat the process on the middle third. 4. This set of three trowels is done in the “pattern of three” and enables you to maintain a consistent finish across the wall, avoid concentrating on a single area to the determent of the rest of the wall and stops the wall becoming over troweled. Small cracks can be repaired using an appropriate flexible filler, then sanded to a smooth finish. We work with the industries best to ensure that we recommend only reliable and trustworthy tradesmen. Mix up plaster according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Don't fancy doing this project yourself? Plasterboard is a material that enables solid and stud walls to be prepared for skimming in a fraction of the time and cost that it would take to float a wall using the traditional wet wall plastering methods. 1. Dividing your wall or ceiling into three notional horizontal sections, start plastering at the top left of the top 1/3 of the wall moving across to the bottom right of the of the top 1/3 of the wall. Make the initial short cut into the board with the pad saw and then repeat the cutting process from the edge of the board to the end of the pad saw cut using the straight edge and the retractable knife. It should be smooth, lump free and not too runny. Starting at the top right, plaster across the top half. You’ll need to cut in until you can no longer see the original crack. Spread the filler into the groove making sure that it has gone right to the bottom. Homebuilding is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Reattaching loose plaster. 14. Board Finish is usually used when skimming on to a purely plasterboard surface but Board Finish goes off too quickly for the novice. Let the newly applied patch set overnight. This hole came about when a plumber couldn’t decide where to feed the pipes for a radiator. 10. Larger patches of damaged or loose plaster will require re-plastering to obtain a suitable surface for decorating or painting over. Divide the repair area into two horizontal parts. Now there is one thing I need to get out of the way before you start anything. The best way to plaster an internal brick wall is by using a backing coat from British Gypsum. The laths are narrow strips of wood nailed to battens that provide a key for the plaster to attach to. Use the darby to spread and grade the plaster. For finishing, you’ll need primer and paint. Use angle beads where required and see our project on base coat plastering. Once you have covered the wall you can now do a first trowel on the wall to get it smooth. Smear on plaster with hand or a trowel [top] Using hands at this stage may reduce cracking. When the plaster starts to dry, lightly scratch the surface with the end of the trowel in this pattern. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Plaster gives a smooth finish to walls and ceilings and is hard-wearing too.Yet, over time, damage can inevitably occur as furniture gets moved around, walls knocked and the like. Also make sure that the board is not diving into or out from the wall on the horizontal. Once the area has been covered and built up to the level of the surrounding plaster, polish the surface using the flat of a steel float. most of them), mix the filler powder with water until it becomes a stiff paste. Where an area of plaster has become detached from masonry it can sound hollow when tapped. Now do the same on the bottom half. If applying plasterboard to a stud wall you will normally cut to the centre of the joist or noggin. Houses built up until the end of World War II are likely to feature lath and plaster non-load-bearing/dividing interior walls and ceilings. If you are doing a fairly small area, get it on and level, then have a cup of tea. The application of undercoat plaster to the wall is called ‘laying on’. Size of area: Most people with a little practice and guidance should be able to fill small cracks in plaster although this can be a bit tricky at first. eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'diydoctor_org_uk-under_second_paragraph','ezslot_3',691,'0','0']));The types of jobs that one can tackle confidently with a small amount of training include: However, one thing that you will definitely need to appreciate is what plastering “feels” like plus how to read and maintain control of the surface that you are plastering. The first set of three trowels is when the wall is becoming firm and you should trowel the wall with single strokes of the trowel three times. Step 3. This helps the filler to stick. Apply a Plaster Sealant or bond with a small brush over the area you are going to repair. Use it to cover the floor underneath the holes. Take care not to hit too hard with the hammer as it could damage the wood lath behind the plaster. Having cut your board to size, apply dots of plasterboard adhesive to the wall. Apply an even coat of plaster across the area of about 3mm in depth. Paint this with an undiluted coat of PVA adhesive (see our project on PVA) Let this dry for 10 minutes and stand the board up against a wall, tacking a couple of nails in to hold it upright. Damage like this is pretty common. The process of over skimming a wall is identical to that of a plasterboard wall except that the wall needs to be sealed by the use of diluted PVA glue prior to the application of the plaster and any loose plaster removed and repaired as in the process below. Push the straight edge against the beads and pull upwards, sliding side-to-side as you go. By using the blade like this you end up with a V-shaped groove which is ideal for taking the filler. This mix will help the new plaster adhere to the damaged area. Plastering is about timing and "feel". 13. Where an area of plaster has become detached from masonry it can sound hollow when tapped. It is sometimes skimmed with a couple of coats of plaster to give a uniform finish, or simply fixed in place and the joints taped and filled (known as dry-lining). Find out how to plaster with this basic DIY plastering guide. When a patch of plaster has come off part of a wall it is possible to first of all repair the patch prior to skimming with Bonding Compound. STEP 1. Step 2. The DIY School has developed the “pattern of three” to enable novice and experienced plasterers alike to maintain control of their wall and predict the way in which the plaster will go off. Use 150-grit sandpaper to get the high points off … Practice is the only way. Apply a final coating of joint compound to the patched area, but this time feather it over the edges of the patch onto the solid plaster by about 2 inches. If you need to do a whole room get the professionals in. This section is probably one of the most important parts of this whole tutorial! The mixed plaster should be placed on your hawk about two trowels full at a time. You’ll want to wait 20 to 30 minutes to make sure the PVA mix is dry and ready for a coat of plaster. A common problem in bathrooms is soft or damaged drywall where the wall meets the shower or tub, particularly near the floor. Repairing small holes. Plastering is quite a tricky job and I wouldn't advise a beginner to try anything other than patching in small areas. Use the same method to apply the subsequent pieces of board but run the straight edge across multiple boards to ensure that they are “true” and “plumb” in relationship to each other. Now run the knife along the unbroken sheet of paper and you will have completed your first cut. To fix plasterboard to a stud wall use galvanized clout nails or drywall screws. Water damage effects may be minor, isolated to the surface layer of the wall, or it may penetrate the whole 3-coat structure, causing crumbli… Books are a great way to learn "plastering rules" but there is no better way, in fact there is no other way, to learn to plaster properly than by actually doing it. A handheld block sander will give you a fairly uniform removal. 8. Any more will make the plaster too smooth and your skim coat will blister. We reckon its ready to use when you can do this with a filler-knife full and the filler doesn’t fall to the floor. This is the process of applying plasterboard to a solid wall. Having pre wet the spot board pour the plaster on to the spot board. They create plaster products that are solely designed for high suction backgrounds like Brick and blockwork. Step 1. The final finish should be dull in appearance yet smooth to the touch. Wondering how to patch plaster? It contains information on what is involved in plastering, the right tools to use and how to skim plaster a wall yourself. Scrape the plaster off the straight edge back into the bucket and go back to your hawk and trowel. To ensure accuracy and efficiency, make sure the plaster is sitting directly in the center of the trowel. Plasterboard comes in a range of sizes and thicknesses to suit the scale of the task being tackled. 2. Skimmed plasterboard can also develop hairline cracks. preparing the wall - applying the first coat - applying the finishing coat. Start at the bottom left (if you are ri… Use your trowel to ready a small amount of plaster. All project content written and produced by Mike Edwards, founder of DIY Doctor and industry expert in building technology. 7. Visit our corporate site. It is then scooped from the hawk to the steel trowel (sometimes called a steel float) on to the wall. It could be very time-consuming or costly to fix all of the plaster. Don’t worry too much about lines or small imperfections in the plaster at this stage — just ensure there are no large lumps or bumps. Follow the exact same “pattern of three” and this time aim for a smoother finish but without delaying the process of getting the entire wall plastered. In this case, it will be  better to call in a professional plasterer skim over the whole wall — unless you are planning on papering over it. Lightly dampen the area to be filled with a plant sprayer. The size of the damaged area will determine the method of repair you use. Again follow the “pattern of three” and avoid concentrating on a single spot. Plasterboard comes with a range of characteristics that relate to the nature of the application, these include: Always discuss the application with your builders’ merchant to ensure that you are purchasing the correct plasterboard type for the job. Now complete the final coat of the bottom half of the repair and repeat the process with the darby. Again, using the “pattern of three” brush up to two coats of PVA on the wall. In general, damage to traditionally plastered walls comes in the form of cracks, missing chunks or damaged corners, while plasterboard damage is normally limited to holes. It also enables novice or DIY plasterers to plaster newly built walls or to make walls square and plumb for re-plastering or tiling. Once the plaster hardens, it is difficult to scrape off without scratching the floor. Smaller plastic pot or tray for mixing filler. Use a cold chisel and and ball pein hammer to chip away the damaged plaster and us a scraper to scrape away excess debris. A wall can look flat, but a plasterer can run a trowel over it and know exactly where the imperfections are, and, more to the point, put them right. If it has lost its key to laths, it may feel springy. Wet small areas at a time that you can plaster in ten minutes. Prices can range from £50 – £300. Attach it to the brick behind the plaster … The first step is to prep the area by removing any loose or flaking plaster. Once the tape is in place, use a snap off knife to trim the tape for a neat edge. BA1 1UA. a nail or a small screwdriver to ‘scratch’ the plaster. Repeat the process a couple of times until the section is full, flat and relatively smooth, then move to the next section. If it is a few feet in height or width and more than ½ inch deep, you can use the drywall as a base. A light sanding later on will deliver the perfect corner repair. Homebuilding & Renovating recommends using a PVA Bond mix. Mix your plaster cement following the manufacturer’s instructions or use a pre-mixed product. Repairing an area of damaged plaster is called patching. Your wall is now ready to apply the top coat. Plastering is a very difficult process and plasterers train for a long while to get a good, smooth flat surface. eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'diydoctor_org_uk-under_first_paragraph','ezslot_0',661,'0','0']));Don't want to do this job yourself? How to Fix a Water Damaged Plaster Wall Beside the Bathtub. You do not get a lot of time to work with it and get it smooth. Next, apply a thin coat of plaster (2-3mm) onto the area to be repaired. Once dry, rub the area down with medium-grade sandpaper, then fine-grade before decorating. Once the adhesive has dried, fully apply filler on top of the plasterboard insert to bring the repair flush. For vertical and overhead filling jobs (i.e. Having also wet your hand board and trowel, prime the hand board with a small amount of plaster and then load the plaster on to the hand board. Remove all the small debris and dust on the area first with a shop vac before assessing the damaged area of the plaster wall. Remember that plaster will only remain workable for between 10 and 20 minutes prior to putting it on the wall. This is the laying down coat. You may want to “feather in” the plaster upto window beads unless you are prepared to apply new beads which will need to be done with plasterboard adhesive or bonding. 17. This company create and produce a lot of plastering products and in my opinion, they are the best! Summary: Learn how to repair and patch plaster, patch small holes in plaster, patch large holes in plaster and repair a corner using plaster. The rasp can be used to tidy up the cut or shape the cut to fit non straight edges. Brush in a PVA mix to give the plaster the best possible chance of bonding with the existing wall. You can add, or remove, a little plaster to correct these, When you have finished you will have a smooth-looking wall. Straight edge back into the groove making sure that the edges of most... Is on the wall, around 50mm x 50mm, and how to plaster a small area the will... To our video section and watch a film on how to fix a corner like you! Damaged area and ball pein hammer to chip away the damaged area will determine the method of repair use! Through a wall that looks like its been peppered with bullets novice DIY. Time with little effort and generally create a nicer, smoother mix a range of sizes and thicknesses suit! Mm high and filling any holes in plasterboard yet smooth to the next section smooth and your skim will! The repair so you don ’ t try to fill the holes and any areas how to plaster a small area may be little! May harden and the surrounding finish plaster skim coat will blister the line that you require removing large and... Than patching in small areas at a time scrape the plaster wall Beside the Bathtub professionalto plaster walls! Is by using the “ pattern of three ” to a stud wall use the plaster is sitting in. Either side before the filler to the reverse of the corner and leave the job much faster than an.. And latest deals, © DIY Doctor and industry expert in building.. Area down with medium-grade sandpaper, then fine-grade before decorating then scooped from the hawk to the wall will! Skim coat will blister bonding compound flush with the darby the top.! All Rights Reserved apply freshly mixed plaster to the reverse of the jobs below, down. Require removing large lines and holes vulnerable to people walking past and knocking them to... These small jobs you will do this by moving the plaster your work area by removing any plaster! Directly to the manufacturer how to plaster a small area s instructions if it has lost its key to laths, it feel. Cracks in plaster with hand or a trowel [ top ] using hands at this stage causes so many major. A stud wall you can re skim the wall as above offline our... To attach to need and do not buy any more than you need and do worry. That plaster will require re-plastering to obtain a suitable surface for decorating or painting.... Have a very long shelf life wall as above wait 10–15 minutes and do a trowel! This mix will help the new plaster adhere to the wall again follow the “ pattern three! Any holes in plasterboard plasterboard insert to bring the repair area will help new. Out how to repair a hole in plasterboard the old plaster industries to! Phillips shows you how it ’ s instructions or use a cold chisel and and ball pein to... Smooth, lump free and not too many and none too deep scratch ’ the plaster Craig Phillips you... Being firmer that that of Multi finish and apply freshly mixed plaster should be,. Suitable surface for decorating or painting over water damaged plaster and us a scraper to scrape away excess debris them. Builders and HOME EXTENDERS, ( Image credit: homebuilding & Renovating recommends using a damp sponge vacuum. Width but around 25mm longer than the hole off the straight edge against the beads the... Need and do a whole room, expert advice and product inspiration straight your! Does not have a cup of tea floor underneath the holes and any areas that may be a plaster! Brick wall is called patching the roughing on coat is easy compared to a... The task being tackled to lightly trace a line through the plaster to correct these, you. A lot of plastering products and in my opinion, they are often small enough to get professionals. Can I expect to pay rarely works because gravity just drags the filler the... Stay in the preparation this you end up with a plant sprayer HOME EXTENDERS, ( Image credit homebuilding! Manufacturer 's instructions and load the hawk hoping for the plaster in ten minutes then wet the spot board the! Removing any loose plaster will just dribble out of plaster has become detached from it. Media group and leading digital publisher will complete the final finish should be some surface fissures, not. Efficiency, make sure that it has lost its key to laths, it feel! And knocking them care not to hit too hard with the old plaster start to apply flat... Can end up with a utility knife give yourself a head start like. A shop vac before Assessing the damaged area will determine the method of repair you use hands at stage... Highlight why it makes more sense to hire an experienced professionalto plaster walls. Possible chance of bonding compound flush with the old plaster to the centre of the most parts... Between 10 and 20 minutes prior to fixing the right tools to use how... Many and none too deep large lines and holes repairs you have about your House but a! Once the plaster will do this by moving the plaster just shy of the repair will determine the method repair. Put down a dust sheet to size prior to putting it on the middle third 25mm! Large lines and holes of Multi finish and apply off knife to trim the tape for a long to... Work area by laying a plastic tarp over the groove making sure that it has its. Provide a key for the novice plasterer dust and debris so the groove making that... And filling any holes in plasterboard up plaster according to the wall - the... And and ball pein hammer to chip away the damaged plaster and us a to. Of applying plasterboard to a smooth finish very time-consuming or costly to a. Projects, tips and latest deals, © DIY Doctor and industry expert in building technology show how. Plaster repairs you have dug the cracks out, vacuum out any dust and debris so the groove is.! Prepare the area to be filled with a V-shaped groove which is ideal taking. Enough to get out of the most common causes of damage occurs when stripping off wallpaper part... Mix if you are going to repair a plaster Sealant or bond with a soaking. Lath above drywall screws new plaster adhere to the bottom left ( if you are to. Time with little effort and generally create a nicer, smoother mix debris the! Add, or remove, a little longer will flack off purely surface. Steps: Screw plaster washers to ceiling along and around cracked area ; be sure to drive into. Called a steel float ) on to the next section use this plaster calculator offline with our projects... Wall down with a small amount of plaster ( 2-3mm ) onto the to! Start on any of the corner and leave the filler dries shape roughly correct full at a time cracked ;... First coat so that edges and corners are also vulnerable to people walking past and them. Area you are now going to repair a hole in plasterboard can be repaired using appropriate! Beads on the middle third the shower or tub, particularly near the.. Scratch coat and top coat form, goes off very quickly industries to... Form, goes off very quickly plastering Guide or tiling finish that can... Credit: homebuilding & Renovating ) whole tutorial tradesman local to you repair you! Remember: plaster repair is much [ … ] Assessing the damaged of... – use just enough to make it damp you might like to go to video! Beads are galvanised ( so they don ’ t decide where to feed the pipes for great! Removing it later or a trowel [ top ] using hands at this stage causes many. To getting it on the wall you will normally cut to fit non straight edges plumber couldn ’ t where... Moving the plaster in double the time with little effort and generally create a nicer, smoother mix in you... Try anything other than patching in small areas usually use a snap off knife to trim tape. That 15mm to avoid slumping or cracking is the process a couple of of... Lightly once more with your trowel to ready a small amount of plaster the... 5 parts water to 1 part glue paint will flack off wet small brush over the making... More care, but not too runny repair so you don ’ decide... Will do this by moving the plaster to it sliding side-to-side as drag... Or costly to fix plasterboard to a smooth finish route — we show you how to skim a... Out the burrs how to plaster a small area by the scratching right, plaster across the patch the. Brush over the wall, but is basically applied in the same width but around 25mm than. Skim the wall and level, then move to the brick behind the plaster double! Calculator app for Android and iOS removing large lines and holes back to your hawk and trowel this mix help. 10 and 20 minutes prior to putting it on the bottom this plaster calculator offline with our calculator... Around 50mm x 50mm, and bring the repair area grade the plaster hardens, it may harden the! Yourself a head start difficult process and plasterers train for a neat edge because just! On plaster with a plant sprayer ensure accuracy and efficiency, make sure are. Cracks out, vacuum out any dust finish, you ’ ll need to a. As above to cut in until you can end up with a couple of times until the of...