How to dilute finishing putty for walls proportions. Putty for cars: how to use car putty with fiberglass and hardener. How to properly prepare a solution using dry semi-finished products

Putty is a pasty special mixture that includes different fillers, film-forming components and coloring pigments. It is used to level and eliminate cracks in ceilings and walls. In order to apply putty efficiently, you need not only to know how it is done, but also to properly prepare the mixture.

Rules for mixing putty

Available universal instructions, suitable for mixing putty from different manufacturers at home. It includes a number consistent actions. The difference may be in how much clean water is added to a predetermined mass of putty.

Stages of mixing putty:

1. Prepare the container and fill it with water.
2. Measuring the weight of dry putty per liter of water, which is collected in a container.
3. Thoroughly mix the solution for the time indicated on the putty packaging. The batch should sit for 5 minutes.

The proportion indicated on the packaging is optimal, however, in some cases this consistency may be unsuitable for any purpose. specific types works So, to apply thick layer Putty should be made into a thicker solution. It will allow you to level out problem areas walls or ceiling, because it will not fall off the surface. On the other hand, to treat drywall with putty, a thin layer is needed, which means the mixture must be more liquid.

Note! If you need a thick putty, keep in mind that it hardens much faster than liquid putty. After hardening, the putty becomes unusable. It is more economical to mix the putty in small portions.

P The puttying process must be carried out quickly, before the mixture hardens. This will help prevent the putty from turning into stone, which is very difficult to remove from the container in order to free it for the next batch.

Types of putties

Putty is divided into types according to the type of application. In view of this, it can belong to the group of basic (starting) compositions or to the group of finishing ones. Basic types of putty are used in cases where it is necessary to level out a surface difference of 10 to 15 mm. Basic composition levels out differences of this kind and prepares the surface for final leveling.

Starting putty It is characterized by large particle fractions, due to which the surface as a result of processing has a rough texture that easily absorbs moisture. For this reason, the starting putty can be diluted very easily and quickly. clean water. If there are large differences in the surface, the putty is applied in several layers, each of which is designed to make the surface smoother.

As for finishing compounds, they are used to eliminate minor differences, within 5 mm. If the walls and ceiling are more or less even, without significant differences, then there is no particular need to apply starting putty to them. However, in this case, you need to pre-treat the walls and ceiling with a primer. Such measures will increase grip finishing material with the surface. In addition, this will save putty consumption. Dilute finishing putty not as simple as the basic one. Must be used to knead it construction mixer or an electric drill with a whisk attachment.

Note! Not every electric drill will work with an attachment, even if it fits the chuck.

The working tool for mixing finishing putty must have a power of 500 watts or more. This tool is suitable for kneading a small amount of material. For permanent job you need to choose a device with a power of at least 1.5 kW. Also, the more revolutions a drill can make, the better. U professional specialists The toolkit includes a universal construction mixer, which they use only for diluting putty.

Note! You need to start kneading at low speeds, eventually expanding the kneading area by deepening the whisk. You can increase the speed only after the consistency of the putty becomes more or less homogeneous.

Then the solution should be left for a few minutes and mixed again. As a result, the batch will be more homogeneous.

1. The container in which the kneading will be carried out must have a connection between the wall and the bottom at a right angle. The bucket can be plastic, enameled or household galvanized. The use of basins and any other types of containers with rounded corners at the bottom is unacceptable.
2. To clean the drill attachment from putty, you need to place it in a container with clean water, and then rotate it in both directions using the reverse function. Then the water should drain from it; for this, the drill is usually placed on a bucket in a position horizontal to the floor.
3. The walls of the container should be wet when dry putty gets on them. In addition, you should always have a spatula no larger than 12 cm at hand. You can use it to remove putty stuck to the edges of the bucket.
4. For kneading, do not use too cold or hot water, when drying, the material will fall off the surface. The water should be clean and at room temperature.
5. The hardening time of the putty is on average 40 minutes, so it is better to do the mixing during this time in order to have time to work it out as much as possible, without unnecessary material and labor costs.

Note! During the kneading process, it is not recommended to turn on the mixer or drill at high speed. This is due to the fact that the putty will be filled with an unnecessary amount of air. And this will lead to the formation of bubbles on the surface of the wall or ceiling being treated.

If you have any questions on the topic, be sure to write your comments on the article. Specialists working on the site will kindly answer them and give you appropriate recommendations.

Video

The process of preparing the solution is clearly demonstrated below:

Tsugunov Anton Valerievich

Reading time: 3 minutes

Putty is a building substance in the form of a paste intended for leveling ceilings and walls before further finishing. It contains film-forming elements, coloring pigments and fillers that have the properties of filling and eliminating cracks, as well as leveling uneven surfaces. To accurately level the surfaces in the room where repairs are being carried out, it is first of all important to know how to dilute the putty and maintain the correct mixing proportions. In addition, you must be able to use putty correctly, know the methods and technology of its preparation, mixing features (consistency density), important rules application and work with this mixture, as well as understand the types of putty.

Types of putty

• Putties prepared for use. Sold ready-made in plastic buckets. The peculiarity of this substance is its short shelf life.

• Dry mixture - intended for mixing. Sold in bags and is the most common use. The advantage of dry mixes is the low and affordable price, convenient transportation, the ability to prepare any degree of viscosity you need, as well as a long shelf life. The disadvantage of dry types of materials is that the resulting mass must be applied to the surface as soon as possible after mixing to prevent it from hardening.

Types of Binder

• Cement. Putty with a cement base is characterized by high water resistance, and it is intended for use in rooms with high levels of humidity. The disadvantage of such a substance is precipitation after application to the surface, after which it is necessary to apply additional layer. Also, this type hardens relatively slowly, which is why small microcracks may appear.
• Polymer. This type is the best and high-quality coating, but because high price fakes are common.
• Plaster. This species does not settle. It can be applied thin layer. The disadvantage of this type of substance is the fear of temperature and moisture changes.

1. Capacity. To knead, you need a capacious plastic bucket or any conveniently shaped container. If there is no plastic container, you can use any galvanized or enameled container. But a plastic container is best suited, as it is very convenient to knead in it.
2. Next you need to prepare clean water room temperature free of debris, dust and rust.
3. In order to dilute the mixture efficiently, the most the best option use a drill with an attachment. The drill should have a soft start mode so as not to splash the room, and rotation in both directions. The ideal speed for stirring the mixture would be 600 rpm, which will help mix well and saturate the mixture with air bubbles. If you don’t have such a drill, you can rent one from a supermarket or a tool supply company for any period of time you need. If drill options are not possible, you can stir by hand, but this is a very labor-intensive process.
4. You will also need paint brush, a container of water and a small spatula.
5. A container of water intended for washing the drill attachment.

How to dilute putty, step-by-step instructions

1. It is necessary to fill the mixing container with water in the amount indicated on the packaging.
2. Next, you need to wet the walls of the container, as they should be wet.
3. Pour putty into the water in the amount according to the instructions.
4. The mixture should remain in water without stirring for 5 minutes, it should become limp.
5. Next, you can begin the stirring process. If necessary, add additional mixture or water.
6. Wash off any unused putty from the edges of the bucket. This can be done with a spatula or brush. Stir further, moving the nozzle from the drill clockwise and counterclockwise, down and up.
7. Pull out the drill and dip it in a container of water, turning it on at low speed to wash the attachment (if this is not done in time, the attachment will remain in the putty).
8. The resulting consistency needs 15 minutes to brew, after which you need to add a few tablespoons of PVA glue, which will strengthen the consistency, add elasticity and softness.
9. Mix again and you can use the resulting solution for its intended purpose.

For further decorative finishing of the walls, putty is used. This is a very important moment in the process of cosmetic or overhaul, because the durability and appearance wall decoration. The quality of the putty depends not only on the application technology, but also on the correct dilution of the dry mixture. Therefore, before starting each repair, you should know how to mix putty for walls.

Putty mixtures come ready-made and dry. Ready-made mixtures are sold in plastic containers, and dry building material is sold in powder form in paper bags. Ready-made putty is more expensive than dry putty, and its use is advisable for minor repair work. If you are planning a large-scale repair, it is better to use a powder mixture, which must be diluted correctly. To find out how to properly dilute putty for walls, you need to take a closer look existing species of this building material:

1. Oil-based adhesive composition: moisture-resistant, used for covering walls in rooms with high humidity levels. These putties can be used to coat wood and metal products to protect them from rot and corrosion.
2. Gypsum putty: consists of a gypsum cement base, used for most finishing works.
3. Water-dispersed compositions after puttying form a smooth and durable surface.
4. Multifunctional acrylic putties are used to level the surface and remove cracks from old coatings. Acrylic facade compositions They are used for outdoor work and have high moisture resistance.
5. PVA-based putty is a universal mixture that has antifungal properties.

Dry putty must be diluted correctly, otherwise the coating will crack and crumble. To ensure that the coating is reliable and does not crack, certain conditions must be observed when working with it:

• Properly dilute dry putty, following the manufacturers' instructions, observing the required proportions.
• Before application, remove any remaining old coating.
• In order to ensure good adhesion to the surface, it must be primed.
• After priming, an interval of at least 6 hours should be allowed before starting to putty the surface.
• Apply putty in two layers.
• The first layer should dry exactly 24 hours, then the topcoat can be applied.
• Also, a day must pass after finishing coating before wallpapering or other decorative finishing begins.

Before diluting the putty, you should take into account the type of work for which it is used - starting or finishing, due to this, the consistency will differ.

How to mix putty for walls: proportions

The manufacturer indicates on the packaging how to dilute the putty mixture. When diluting, you should maintain the recommended proportions, do not dilute too much. a large number of mixture, otherwise it will harden quickly. You need to dilute such an amount of material so that it is enough for half an hour of work. When the mixture is already ready and in the process of swelling, you cannot add water to it. The drying speed of the material depends on its thickness and room temperature. The higher the temperature, the faster the putty composition dries, and the less time remains for its application.

Dilution of the putty mixture can be carried out either manually or using a power tool - a construction mixer, a drill with a special attachment, and other equipment with a rotation speed of up to 800 rpm, the optimal rotation speed is 600 rpm.

To dilute the putty, be sure to use a clean and dry container. If an old bucket is used, in which lumps of the previous mixture remain, they will fall into the fresh composition, and these insoluble lumps will render the entire putty unusable. Power tools used for mixing must also be dry and clean, especially when preparing the finishing mixture.

The standard ratio of putty mixture is 25 kg per 10 liters of water. However, the proportions indicated on the packaging by the manufacturer may differ from the standards.

How to dilute gypsum putty

Gypsum putty is used in rooms where there is no high level humidity. For gypsum compositions high speed drying time of two or three days. Gypsum putty pour into a bucket filled 1/3 with water in a thin stream until the powder exceeds the water level by 1/3. After thirty seconds, the powder should settle into the water. Then the solution is mixed with a power tool for 1-2 minutes. If the mixture has not acquired sufficient viscosity, add water or powder while continuously stirring the solution. If you wait at least 1-2 minutes, the mixture will begin to set and you will no longer be able to add one of the ingredients. The solution is stirred twice with a break of one or two minutes. Then the viscosity is checked: the correct consistency should be such that the putty sticks to the wall, but does not remain on the spatula. You should not use the tool when mixing at high speeds: air will enter the mixture, which will form bubbles during application to the surface.

How to dilute finishing putty

The finishing putty differs from the starting putty in having a finer grain and is more elastic. It is used for the final leveling of walls, and its consistency should be more liquid than gypsum mortar or starting mortar. To dilute the finishing putty, you must use a dry, clean container. The powdery mixture is poured into it, but do not immediately pour water in to avoid lumps forming. This is very important because the finishing putty mixture is applied in a very thin layer (1mm) and any lumps will be noticeable. Correct proportions dilutions of the finishing putty are seven trowels and a small amount of water. After this, the composition is thoroughly stirred, then the remaining part of the powder and water are poured into the resulting homogeneous mass. The mixture is left for three to five minutes to swell, then stirred again. The resulting composition should not be too liquid, but not too thick. To mix the finishing putty, it is better to use a mixer with a spiral attachment; the stirring process should be smooth.

If you need to knead a second batch, you should use a different container so that residues from the previous mixture do not get into the new batch, or use a different container.

How to dilute putty without a mixer

If you don't have it at hand special tool, you can dilute the putty manually. This method is applicable for preparing a starting coating, which is not particularly demanding on the mixing method. For this, use an ordinary bucket or other container without rounded corners. IN plastic container pour a portion of putty powder, then add warm water, gently stir with a stick. It is worth paying attention to the fact that, unlike mechanical method When mixing manually, it is water that is added to the powder, and not vice versa. If you add the powder to water, the mixture will set in lumps, which are difficult to stir to a homogeneous consistency by hand, while this is possible when using a power tool.

Then the rest of the putty is poured out and, if necessary, diluted with water to the required consistency. The composition is mixed using a spatula. When the mixture becomes homogeneous, it is left to swell for 5 minutes, then mixed again.

Conducting renovation work, it is very difficult to do without putty. This material helps to get rid of imperfections on different surfaces and ultimately make them completely smooth.

The putty is easy and convenient to use, but there are certain rules and nuances when working with it that you need to know and take into account.

Features of mixing compositions

In order for the walls and ceiling in the room to have a beautiful and even appearance, the main material for their treatment will be putty. It is this mixture that allows you to achieve the desired result. In cases where working surface It’s small and there’s not a lot of work involved; you can purchase a ready-made mixture, which is diluted in the correct consistency and ready for use.

If you need to cover all the walls, and maybe even the ceiling, it is much more profitable to buy a dry mixture, dilute it and carry out repair work.

Based on the types of work that will be performed, starting and finishing putty can be used. If the mixture is diluted for rough work, the composition will have a certain consistency.

There are two options for obtaining the finished solution:

• using power tools;
• preparing the solution manually.

If you have a construction mixer available, then the work of preparing the putty solution will go quickly, efficiently, and most importantly, a large amount of work can be done at once. For this you will need a dry and clean container into which water is poured, and only then the dry mixture is added. You need to read the amount of ingredients on the package and adjust the composition as you cook.

When the ingredients are ready, use a mixer to mix them for at least two minutes.

As soon as the solution is obtained, it is recommended to leave it for fifteen minutes and mix again after the expiration of the period. When working in this mode, it is important to set the tool to a speed no higher than 800, otherwise the finished mass will be saturated with oxygen more than normal, which will make its structure porous, and therefore not strong.

Diluting putty manually differs from automatic mixing. First of all, you need to pour the solution, and then add water and mix everything thoroughly. The infusion process in this case is only three minutes, after which everything is mixed using a spatula and the material is ready for use.

The finishing putty is mixed in almost the same way, forming the optimal consistency, not liquid and not too thick.

For woodworking, it is especially important to mix the solution correctly, because it is necessary to create the structure of the material, and then form the desired appearance of the surface.

If during plastering there is concern that the surface may crack, it is advisable to use fiberglass, which has a very thin but strong structure and prevents any changes in the structure of the wall.

What should the solution be?

The final result of the repair will depend on the quality of the putty and the ability to dilute it correctly. In order for the work to proceed quickly and efficiently, the consistency of the putty must have elastic and plastic characteristics. Ease of application to the surface is one of the main qualities that allows you to quickly carry out all work.

If the material sticks to the spatula and curls into a tube instead of being evenly applied to the surface, it means it was not spread correctly.

When spreading the putty, it is important to do it carefully, without missing any dry areas, so that pebbles or hardening do not form in the future.

In order to properly dilute the required mixture, you must carefully read the instructions, where the manufacturer, taking into account the characteristics of its material, suggests the amount of ingredients and the required proportions.

When renovating a room, you may need a thicker or thinner solution for certain jobs, so you need to know the conditions for obtaining it.

When carrying out the dilution process with your own hands, it is important to keep the container clean where the putty and spatula will be mixed, because any debris will cause the solution to dry out much faster and part of the mass will remain as fossils on the walls of the container. In this case, it is not advisable to make too much solution, because after twenty minutes it will still begin to dry out.

To ensure that the finished putty surface does not crack, you need to treat the wall well and make the necessary solution.

When we're talking about about finishing putty, the technology for mixing it is almost the same, but in this case you need to take even more care of the cleanliness of the container and tools. During mixing after settling, you need to check the nozzle for any debris, and while mixing, make sure that there are no solids in the mass, pieces that are not mixed.

After each dilution, the nozzle is completely washed out, as is the container in which the dilution is made.. In order to properly make a mixture for wall putty, you must follow the instructions on the packaging and follow the technology, in which the equipment must be clean and the materials must be specially selected for a specific type of surface.

Proportions

In order to properly dilute the putty, you need to read the recommendations that the manufacturer leaves on the packaging. It is important to work with a moderate amount of the mixture so that it does not have time to harden. After initial mixing, the putty must be set aside to allow it to swell. At this point, under no circumstances should you add water to the container.

To know how quickly the finished mixture will dry, you need to take into account the temperature in the room and the thickness of the resulting solution. The thicker it is and the higher the temperature, the faster the putty will dry.. You should pay attention to these nuances so as not to waste unnecessary amounts of materials.

Putty for walls should be diluted based on proportions. Usually they use a 25 kilogram bag and take ten liters of water to mix it.

If there is a need to apply several layers, then it is important to make the solution so that it dries more slowly. For this function it is used river sand, which must first be cleaned of debris and dirt. The proportion of its addition to the putty is equal to its mass part - by mixing the components in a 1: 1 ratio, you can get the desired effect.

Stir the dry mixture using a nozzle, and after mixing, pour a tablespoon of PVA glue into the container. With this component, after settling, the mass will receive an even greater percentage of elasticity and softness, which will help to more comfortably cope with the task of plastering the walls.

After settling with the glue for fifteen minutes, you need to mix everything well again.

Having putty from different companies available, you can mix it, the main thing is that it is either starting or finishing. Expensive mixture can be mixed with a cheaper one, which will ultimately give a fairly strong material, which will serve well on the wall surface. There are no mixing proportions as such; it all depends on the amount of available materials and the area of ​​the room for repair.

How to breed?

The process of diluting plaster begins with the preparation of equipment that may be needed in the work. It is important to clean and wash all components, because the putty does not tolerate dirt and dries quickly in case of any contamination.

From the tool you must have:

• Mixing container. Any bucket that can be washed quickly and efficiently and where it will be convenient to mix the solution several times will do.
• Power tools, into which the nozzle will be inserted. This could be a screwdriver or a drill, to which the corresponding part is selected.
• Putty knife. Better get your tools ready different widths so that you can conveniently mix the mixture, apply it to the wall and level it.
• Water. Need to use clean running water, without impurities, without foreign odors and unusual color.
• Dry putty solution. For a certain stage of work, either a starting or finishing putty is selected.

If all the tools are ready, you can begin the process of mixing the finished solution and applying it to the wall surface. Using an attachment speeds up the process significantly, but you can do a pretty good job without it.

In order for the process to proceed correctly, it is necessary to adhere to a clear action plan:

• Select dry putty of a certain brand in the right quantity, read the instructions and begin the breeding process. The standard ratio is 25 kilograms of powder mixture per 10 liters of water. Each manufacturer reserves the right to change these proportions in any direction.
• Water is poured into a clean container, for a construction bucket it is 1/4, and for a regular bucket it is 1/3 of the total volume of the container.
• Putty should be added to the water, pouring it directly into the center of the bucket until it becomes 1/4 higher than the water level. Some packages indicate the amount of substance that should be added during the first batch.
• You should not immediately start mixing the mass, otherwise some of the material will be scattered throughout the room. After waiting about thirty seconds, you can get to work. During this time, the putty mass will sink under water and will be ready for processing.

• Using an attachment on a screwdriver or drill, you need to stir the contents of the container for at least two minutes until a homogeneous mass is formed, reminiscent of thick sour cream.
• If the resulting mass deviates from the required proportions, it is necessary to pour in a little water or add a certain amount of solution and mix everything again. It is important to achieve the desired result at this stage, because then nothing can be changed.
• After preliminary mixing, the putty mixture is left to swell for a while. The time depends on the amount of material and can range from a few minutes to 10-15.
• When the time is up, all the contents will need to be mixed again. In this case, all the same rules apply as for the first time.
• To find out if the mixture is ready, you need to insert a spatula into it. If he didn’t drown or get stuck, then everything was done correctly.

At home, you don’t always have a nozzle and a power tool with which you can easily and quickly make a putty solution, so you can do this work yourself. Preparing the mixture this way is not much more difficult, although it will take a little longer. In order to mix putty manually, you need to know the sequence of actions, which is slightly different from what was described earlier.

So:

• The first stage will consist of pouring putty into a completely dry bucket, and then adding water. If you do the opposite, you will not be able to avoid lumps and the resulting solution will not fit well on the wall.
• Once the desired consistency has been achieved, the remainder of the putty is poured into the container and water is also poured in gradually. Gradually the dry mass turns into elastic and pliable.
• You need to take seven spatulas of the mixture into a container and pour a little water into it. The resulting mass should be mixed well. Each time you add water, the mass is mixed and brought to the required state.

Putty is used for different surfaces and according to the principle of action it can be divided into the following types:

• cement;
• plaster;
• polymer.

If it is necessary to mix cement putty, then the dry mixture is also placed in a dry and clean bucket, into which water is then added. In this case, it is also worth paying attention to the proportions stated by the manufacturers and, based on them, mixing the solution. The consistency in this case should be similar to thick sour cream.

The same methods are used to work with gypsum putty. Distinctive feature of this material is that it dries quite quickly, because of the time swelling should take no more than three minutes and it is better not to delay the process of working with walls.

For this version of putty, it is especially important to use for preparation required proportions components, otherwise the coating will crack over time. To avoid this, you need to carefully read the instructions and adhere to them, use correct methods mixing, thoroughly clean the walls before use and apply a layer of more than 5 mm.

Polymer putty can be latex, acrylic or polymer cement. Latex option It is sold ready-made, but during storage it often becomes thick, so it needs to be mixed with water in a 1:1 ratio. The preparation of such putty is done taking into account the manufacturers' recommendations, but it is better to look at the consistency of the finished product. If you need to add water, it is better to do it right during the work process.

Acrylic putty It is sold ready-made, so in this case there is no need to waste time preparing it. The cost of such a product is several times higher than the dry mixture, but a number of advantages make it popular and in demand.

Polymer cement putty is sold in powder form and needs to be prepared before use. For a kilogram of mixture you need to take 240 ml of water and mix everything well. The mass should be homogeneous, without lumps. Consistency depends on the type of work.

To fill cracks, you need to make a thick mass, and to apply it to the walls, a more liquid one.

When planning to dilute putty for external or interior work When leveling the surface of walls and ceilings, you need to know some nuances that will make the process of preparing the mass and working with it easier and faster.

All containers and tools must be clean so that there are no traces of dirt or particles of other building material on them. All additives will cause the putty to harden faster and work with it will be difficult.. You need to wash everything and mix a new portion of the mixture, otherwise dried lumps will damage the finished surface.

Optimal quantity The solution is considered to be enough for a half-hour work process, otherwise the putty will begin to dry out and it will be very difficult to apply. By making the mixture too thick, its service life will be significantly reduced. A very thin solution will spread on the wall, leaving streaks and stains that will be difficult to remove.

If the solution is prepared, settled and mixed again, then no ingredients can be added to it.. It is important to carefully select the dry mixture itself in the store, paying attention to expiration dates, which in this case are of great importance.

When mixing the dry mixture and water using a nozzle, you need to select low speeds, otherwise air will enter the material, the bubbles of which will leave unevenness on the wall surface and will have to be additionally sanded.

You can make the mixture without a mixer, using a medium-width spatula for mixing. In this case, it is important to comply correct sequence actions.

If water is poured in for mixing using an electrical appliance, and then putty is poured in, then manual version everything is the other way around. Having poured a certain amount of putty, you need to add a small amount of water to it. The mixing process is gradual, it is important not to rush and mix all the contents well so that there are no lumps left that will significantly interfere with the process of applying the mixture to the wall surface.

Construction Materials are updated annually; powder versions of putty are being replaced by paste versions, which are sold ready-made. You can and should use them, the main thing is to choose a trusted manufacturer, look at the date of manufacture and, if necessary, dilute them a little with water.

The cost of such products is much higher, but there are no costs for preparing the mixture, you do not need to carry additional equipment, and the work process can begin from the moment you open the container itself.

The starting putty functions as a surface corrector, which is why it is often applied in a thick layer. To make the work more convenient, the work is carried out in two stages. The first involves grouting all cracks and irregularities and pre-treatment walls, and the second one more carefully hides all imperfections and forms an even canvas. It's important to wait completely dry first layer, then apply the second

Leveling the walls and preparing them for decorative finishing- one of the most responsible work, the quality of which determines not only the aesthetics of the room, but also the reliability and durability of the repair. If you make it yourself, it is important for you to know how to dilute the putty - the proportions of the dry mixture and water, mixing methods, optimal consistency depending on the purpose and purpose of use.

The putty mixture should be plastic, elastic, smooth out well and stick to the surface, not flow off it or fall off in pieces. At the same time, it should easily lag behind the spatula and have a uniform consistency without lumps or solid inclusions.

By buying ready-made putty in a hermetically sealed container, you free yourself from the need to think about how to achieve required quality solution - the manufacturer has already taken care of this, all you have to do is mix it well before applying.

But the price ready-made mixtures much higher than dry ones, which require dilution with water directly on construction site, so the choice most often falls on the latter.

It would seem that there should be no problems with their preparation, since the packaging always contains detailed instructions from the manufacturer, which describes the entire process in detail. But, firstly, putty mixtures are sometimes prepared independently from gypsum or cement, and secondly, the consistency of the solution, obtained by strictly following the instructions, is not always convenient for performing this or that type of work.

So:

• If the surface needs serious leveling with filling putty mixture significant potholes and cracks, this will be easier and faster to do by giving the solution a thicker consistency. It is also easier to seal joints between slabs and masonry seams with a thick mortar;

• For finishing putty, the mixture should be more liquid, since it is applied in a very thin layer and is intended to make the base smooth;

• For the ceiling (see Puttying the ceiling in different options) and for the walls, the proportions of the dry mixture and water may also need to be changed in order to achieve better adhesion to the surface.

Experienced finishers are able to determine suitability for a particular purpose by the type of finished mortar and its behavior when applied to a spatula. Those who take on such work for the first time will have to act empirically, taking the proportions from the instructions as a basis and preparing the mixture in small portions.