Where to start plastering walls. Before and after: how to plaster walls with your own hands for a beginner, video and step-by-step guide. The most important stage of finishing work: preparing walls for plastering

20.06.2020

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How and with what to plaster walls and is it necessary to do it at all? This question is faced by everyone who makes repairs or builds a house. However, this is a very important and responsible stage of finishing work, the quality of which will determine the structure covered with plaster and the frequency of its repair. Whether you entrust the work to specialists or do the finishing yourself depends on your capabilities and time; more and more often, the owners of the premises take on the task themselves. So what is the best way to plaster walls?

Types and forms of plaster mixtures

The construction market offers a wide range of dry and ready-made mixtures for finishing work. The advantage of ready-made solutions is convenience - you don’t need to mix anything, you open the package and start working. But such material will cost more than the most common dry mixtures, which must be prepared independently. All packages of the semi-finished product contain detailed instructions for preparing the working mixture; this process is not difficult, even an inexperienced user can handle it.

Based on the material, plasters are divided into 2 main groups: cement and gypsum. Cement and cement-sand mortars are used for plastering external walls, facades, and industrial premises. Gypsum is great for interior decoration.

Types by quality

Simple. It is applied in several layers in rooms that do not require additional finishing. These are mainly cement and cement-sand mortars.
Improved. Used for finishing residential, office and public premises. This is applied using a special technology in several stages; the composition of this mixture includes substances that improve the quality of the coating.
High quality. As a rule, these are dry or ready-made decorative plaster compositions for the finishing smallest fraction using color and/or texture inclusions.

In modern finishing, a combined wall coating is used, when a base of cement-sand composition is applied to a wall lined with bricks or blocks to level the surface, and thinner gypsum plaster is laid on top of it for wallpaper or high-quality decorative as a finishing coating.

Do I need to plaster the walls?

There are many ways to give your walls and room a neat and well-groomed look. If the walls in the room are smooth and do not require leveling, as, for example, you can do without major plastering, and just limit yourself to puttying and/or priming for wallpaper or painting.

Facades can also be finished in other ways (cladding with facade bricks or installing ventilated systems: panels, tiles on profiles). If the walls were previously plastered, assess the condition of the coating. In old houses, the plaster layer is removed completely or in fragments and a new layer is applied, sometimes a cement-sand mixture of small thickness is applied on top to update and level the surface for painting.

Who to entrust plastering work to?

Since using the services of professionals is not cheap (from 500 rubles/sq. m for cement plaster and from 300 rubles/sq. m for gypsum plaster), we plaster the walls with our own hands, if time permits. Plus, it will help you maintain your budget.

Stages of work

First, we determine which mortar it is more rational to plaster the walls in a particular case:

For facades and external walls, it is advisable to use cement and cement-sand mortars. After hardening, such surfaces withstand the harmful external influences of rain, high temperature changes, snow, and mechanical shocks. Often plastered walls are covered with facade paints, then the building becomes neat and elegant, but here it is important to choose high-quality paint that will also be resistant to external influences.
Compositions made from cement and sand are also suitable for interior decoration. If the premises are industrial, then the plastered walls are not subjected to additional finishing.

Walls in apartments and office premises are covered with cement-sand mortar at the stage of construction or major renovation, when it is necessary to hide large irregularities that arise from uneven laying of blocks or bricks. As a rule, such a coating serves as the basis for:

Insulation of walls, corners.
Further filling with gypsum compounds.
Wallpapering.

We figured out what is the best way to plaster walls in specific conditions.

Preparation of material and tools

Before starting work, you need to stock up on the necessary set of tools and materials so that there are no difficulties or hiccups during the work. To work you will need:

Dry mixture and water or ready-made solution.
Drill with a mixer attachment for mixing the mixture.
Measurement for water and steelyard.
Plaster mesh to ensure rigidity of a thick layer (in basements, facades).
Dowels, self-tapping screws for fixing the mesh to the wall.
Beacons (special profiles for even application of mortar over the entire plane of the wall).
Metal scissors for cutting mesh and beacons.
Tape measure for accurately measuring the sizes and distances between beacons.
Bubble level and plumb line with thread.
A hammer drill for drilling holes for dowels.
Construction pencil (thickened) for marking.
Trowel for throwing mortar onto the wall (for manual application).
Rule for leveling the bulk of the solution between the beacons.
Set of spatulas for leveling plaster.
A trowel for leveling the cement-sand finishing layer.
Gloves to protect hands.
Clock to track the time between mixing and setting of the solution.

Preparing the work surface

Once you have decided what to plaster the walls with, you should begin preparing the walls for the work process. Before starting work, the wall must be thoroughly cleaned of dust, dirt, foreign and protruding elements. If the surface turns out to be flat and smooth, you need to make notches for better adhesion of the mortar to the wall.

Fastening the plaster mesh

In basements, where additional insulation and the application of a thick layer are necessary, a plaster mesh is attached to the primed base. It prevents the formation of cracks when the building shrinks and prevents the mortar from spreading.

There are several ways to attach the mesh to the wall, but the most accessible for home use is this: the dowels are connected with wire in a Z-shape, this ensures the tightest fit to the work surface. Dowel-nails are fixed in increments of about 15 cm. Fastening is done from the bottom up.

In addition, the mesh is fixed using finely cut pieces of a metal beacon: profile fragments 2 cm long are screwed to the mesh with self-tapping screws. In this case, the beacon trimmings serve as substitutes for dowel-nails.

Display of beacons

This procedure will ensure uniform application of the solution over the entire surface of the wall.

The distance between adjacent beacons should be several centimeters less than the length of the rule.

Marking begins from the corner at a distance of 15-20 cm. Holes for dowels are made on the drawn vertical line. Next, using a level or plumb line, place the dowels on the self-tapping screws in one plane so that the wall turns out smooth without any differences.

Next, a small amount of solution is applied to the lines between the fasteners to fix the beacons, then, by pressing, the beacon is usually installed in the caps of the screws. The protruding solution is smeared or removed. After installing several beacons, check the evenness of the installation. After a few hours, the wall is ready for plastering.

Wall plastering technology

Let's look at how to plaster walls with cement mortar. Prepare the solution according to the instructions on the package. To do this, we use a steelyard and a water measure to accurately maintain the proportions of substances. Mixing is done with a drill and mixer.

We plaster the walls along the beacons like this: using a trowel, we spread the mortar onto the wall evenly over the entire plane and use the rule to level it. Using spatulas we correct minor unevenness. If it is necessary to apply a large layer of mortar, it is necessary to do this in several stages in thinner layers, otherwise the thick layer being laid will fall off or drain.

If no further finishing is expected, it is advisable to grout. To do this, the same solution is diluted with water to a creamy state, applied to dried plaster and rubbed using a trowel.

If subsequent finishing is intended (puttying or immediately gluing wallpaper), the dried plastered surface is cleaned with sandpaper to remove possible unevenness and marks from spatulas and primed with special compounds.

The given technology describes how to plaster walls with cement-sand mortar. Other types of plaster coatings are applied in a similar way.

Gypsum plasters

Now let's look at how to plaster a wall with gypsum-based plaster.

Unlike cement mortar, gypsum plaster is more often used as a finishing layer in finishing, since it has a finer fraction and gives the walls a smooth, well-groomed appearance; it can be colored and textured.

Gypsum plaster can also be applied as a base for further finishing directly onto the laid wall. In this case, the application technology remains the same: cleaning the surface, priming, setting beacons, applying the solution. Gypsum compositions are easier to apply than cement ones, and this work is easy to handle. Basically, gypsum plasters are sold in the form of dry mixtures; preparing the working composition should not cause difficulties - detailed instructions are included everywhere.

More often, gypsum plasters are used to thinly putty the cement-sand layer, having previously primed it.

We also plaster the walls with our own hands using decorative compounds. Especially if you want to give your walls a unique design. There are special plastic compositions with which you can apply a variety of textures and patterns.

The choice is yours

How to plaster the walls is everyone’s personal choice. The most important thing when choosing a material is to take into account the conditions in which it will have to serve, so that there are no problems during operation. As you can see, cement mortars are universal and can be used anywhere, but for interior decoration they often require additional coating. Walls with cement-sand cladding are guaranteed to withstand various suspended structures. Gypsum plaster will give your wall a neat, smoother look and is easier to apply, but if it is chosen as the base layer, it may be difficult to hang cabinets due to the softness of the gypsum, although it will hold up well to the painting.

In any case, the plastered surface always lasts a long time; this method of finishing any walls and rooms is the simplest and most versatile. How to plaster the walls - choose wisely!

Each renovation begins with preparing the walls for finishing. In order to bring them into a perfectly smooth state, two types of plaster are used - “dry” and “wet”. The first option involves covering the walls with plasterboard and other similar materials. The technology of surface cladding using the “dry” method is described in the article “”.

The “wet” method of finishing walls involves the use of plaster mixtures. Despite the fact that it is quite labor-intensive, the classic method of wall finishing is used very often.

Do I need to plaster the walls?

The main purpose of plaster is to level the walls. But besides this, it protects them from moisture penetration and, accordingly, extends the service life of building materials. The availability of all plaster components and tools for carrying out the work allows you to do it yourself. To do this, it is enough to know the basic principles of plastering walls and the procedure for doing this.

The best way to plaster walls - choice of material

Our market offers a large selection of ready-to-use mixtures. They are quite expensive, but have certain advantages.

Silicone plaster is a universal material, the most expensive of such mixtures. It is easy to clean, flexible and durable.

Acrylic plaster is a ready-made mixture based on synthetic resins. It also has high elasticity and low absorption. Disadvantages: worse vapor permeability compared to mineral mixtures and sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation.

Mineral plaster - used for work both inside and outside the building. It is resistant to sunlight, has strength and high vapor permeability. Consists of mineral fillers, cement and additives. This mixture is perfect for rooms with high humidity and walls made of materials with high vapor permeability - such as cellular concrete. Mineral plaster also includes silicate plaster, the binding material of which is liquid glass.

Despite the advantages of thin-layer plasters, cement-sand, lime and gypsum mixtures are still the most popular. This is due to the availability of the material and its qualities. Such mixtures are sold ready-made or made independently.

The cement-sand mixture is considered the most durable and at the same time cheapest. This plaster is not afraid of moisture and is suitable for leveling any walls, including those with significant defects or poor-quality masonry. The disadvantage is low plasticity, so a plasticizer is added to the finished mixtures. Mortar proportions: 1:3 (cement and sand, respectively).

The cement mortar is used within an hour after preparation.

Lime plaster has good ductility, but is inferior in strength to the previous option. There are several types of this mixture:
- cement-lime: 1:1:4 (cement, lime, sand);
- limestone: 1:3 (lime, sand);
- gypsum-lime: 1:3 (dry gypsum, lime dough).

The gypsum mixture is easy to use and creates a very smooth surface. It is resistant to cracking and has good vapor permeability. The gypsum-based material is plastic, conveniently applied to the surface and hardens quickly. That is why it is prepared in small portions and used immediately.

We plaster the walls ourselves - tools for the job

Container for solution.
Metal profile for the installation of beacons.

A scraper is a trapezoidal metal spatula.
Falcon - wooden or metal shield.
Trowel is a heart-shaped blade.
Grater and grater.
Wire brush – for cleaning the surface.
Master OK.
Rules.
Plumb.
Level.

We plaster the walls with our own hands

Preparing the premises

Preparing the premises includes actions aimed at protecting the environment from damage. All things are taken out of it, and the furniture is moved to the middle and covered with film.

The floor covering should also be protected from contact with the solution. It is covered with film or covered with a layer of sawdust. Chandeliers and lamps are removed and the wires are insulated.

Cleaning and preparing walls

The next step will be preparing the walls themselves:

If they are covered with wallpaper, they are soaked in water and then removed or cleaned with a scraper.

Any old coating, be it paint, whitewash or crumbling plaster, must be completely removed. Otherwise, the new layer may move away from the wall.

To check the strength of old plaster, tap the surface with a hammer. If at the same time a dull sound is heard, the coating fits tightly; if it is loud, then this place is cleaned.
Small cracks are opened with a knife; for large chips, a grinder is used.

Then they are filled with mortar and glued with a plaster mesh.

The preparation of various surfaces for plastering has its own characteristics. On walls made of concrete, stone or brick, a chisel or ax is used to make a beating, the depth of which is approximately 10 mm. Thanks to this, the plaster will adhere more securely to the surface.

How to properly plaster wooden walls? Such a surface requires special preparation. In order for the plaster to adhere tightly, a mesh of shingles is stuffed onto the surface. In this case, the nails are driven halfway, and the rest of them are bent. Instead of shingles, it is possible to use metal mesh.

Primer of walls

After the procedures are completed, the wall is cleaned of dust and dirt and primed. Some craftsmen skip this stage, considering it unimportant, and use water, especially when working with cement-sand mixtures. But the primer, penetrating into the thickness of the concrete, increases the adhesion of the surface and protects it from dampness. It stabilizes the porosity of the base and allows the plaster to be applied evenly.

Depending on the surface material, Concrete Contact, Grundirmittel or Super Contact Ground are used. Antiseptic impregnation is used for wood. The primer is applied with a brush or roller in one or two layers, depending on the degree of absorption of the wall.

How to plaster the walls of a house - setting up beacons

Using a level, the verticality of the surface is checked.
Screws are screwed in at the bottom and top of the wall or dowels are driven in.

A fishing line is tied to the screws and aligned vertically.

A horizontal line is stretched in the same way; 4 lines will be enough for a wall 3 m high.
Slides of solution are formed vertically under the fishing line.
The profile is pressed into the mixture until it comes into light contact with the fishing line.

Horizontal beacons are set in the same way.
The resulting mesh is checked with a level to ensure it is in the same plane.

Preparation of the solution

When preparing the solution yourself, take into account the layer for which it is intended:

1st layer - spray. For this, the solution should have a creamy consistency. The maximum layer thickness is 5 mm for a concrete or brick base and 9 mm for wooden walls.
2nd layer (up to 10 mm) – primer. A dough-like solution is prepared.
3rd layer – covering. A solution with fine-grained sand, creamy consistency.

When using the ready-made mixture, you should carefully study the instructions printed on the packaging and act in full accordance with them.

How to plaster walls - apply the solution

A trowel is used to apply the first layer of plaster. A small amount of solution is applied to it and it is sprayed onto the wall. The swing of the hand should be sharp, but not too sweeping and strong, otherwise the prepared mixture will fall not only on the wall, but also on everything that surrounds it.

How to plaster walls, video:

The primer is applied over the spray using a grater or wide spatula. Depending on its thickness, the work is carried out in one or several “passes”. The last layer is equal to the beacon rule.

A layer of covering is applied on top of the wet soil.

How to learn to plaster walls - final work

Removing beacons and filling grooves with a solution.

Leveling - using a spatula, carefully smooth out all the depressions and bumps in the wet mortar.
Grouting - performed in a circular motion in a spiral. The plane of the grater is pressed tightly against the surface.

Clean grout. Performed with a sponge or felt grater.

How to plaster walls correctly, video:

The porous base is primed twice.
Gypsum plaster is finally smoothed no later than 4 hours after application.
Metal beacons must be removed after applying the last layer.
If the surface is being prepared for finishing with ceramic tiles, then one layer of plaster is enough and it is not smoothed over.
The walls are painted two weeks after completion of work when using gypsum mortar and after 30 days when using cement-lime plaster.

Reading time ≈ 9 minutes

Plastering walls with your own hands is the most common way to level surfaces and prepare walls for subsequent work. This technology is very versatile, suitable for working with both flat planes and surfaces with obvious depressions, cracks or bumps. Plaster can eliminate any defects and curvature. In addition, it is an additional protective layer against external influences: excessive humidity, ultraviolet radiation, temperature changes.

The classic technology of surfaces is the use of beacons to define the desired plane. But sometimes this procedure is skipped. This happens in cases where a perfectly flat surface of the walls is not important.

Thus, we can highlight the differences between the two technologies:

When placing beacons you use more material because you need a thicker layer of plaster. We can say that when using the second technology you save significantly.
Placing beacons will require more time from you, that is, the second method of plastering walls is less time-consuming. You don’t have to measure and place beacons, or wait for them to dry completely before continuing work.
If you decide not to bother placing beacons, know that you will not achieve perfectly smooth and even walls. Do-it-yourself plastering of walls without beacons is shown in the video below.

We will consider in detail two methods of plastering walls: with and without beacons.

What materials do we need?

The overall result will depend on what material you choose. Therefore, it is important to determine for which walls you will use plaster so that the layer lasts well and for a long time. Main types:

Brick walls. For such coatings, mixtures based on cement, lime and gypsum are suitable.
Concrete surfaces. Here it is better to use solutions based on cement and gypsum.
Walls made of wood. For such a surface, lime-gypsum mixtures or clay-based mixtures are used.

A material such as cement is used in plaster compositions, finishing rooms with high humidity or damp plinths. Lime mixtures are suitable for walls that are not exposed to moisture. Cement-lime composition is used to treat the external surfaces of buildings. For dry rooms, lime-gypsum, clay or gypsum solutions are used.

When finishing the walls with plaster with your own hands, do not forget that all mixtures, except gypsum binder, can be diluted with reserve and in large quantities. Most often, a concrete mixer is used for this, while a construction drill with a special mixer attachment is used to prepare gypsum-based solutions. It is better to use this solution immediately in the next 20-25 minutes, until it dries and hardens. If the plaster in the container has already set and you haven’t had time to use it all, you shouldn’t mix it again. This will only reduce the strength of the texture, so it makes sense to prepare a new solution.

Storage of compositions based on clay or lime is possible for several days by covering the container with a damp cloth. Before starting work, you will only need to mix the plaster (possibly adding water if necessary) and apply it to the walls.

If you are preparing a cement composition, make sure it is clean. Sand and cement should be sifted through a sieve to remove traces of debris and dirt. Do-it-yourself cement plaster on walls is shown in the video below.

Tools

The choice of tools for work must be approached with special care. The type and quantity of tools will depend on your professionalism and construction skills.

Also make sure that you have household appliances in the form of stepladders, tables. The main thing is that they must be stable.

Plastering without placing beacons

Where is it most common to level walls with plaster without using beacons? This method is suitable in buildings intended for household purposes, as well as on small internal walls. Even if there is no emphasis on aesthetics in the premises, this does not mean that plastering needs to be done in any form. To create a certain geometry and simplify the work, devices such as:

Husks are templates for internal corners.
Malka - this template is needed when working with window slopes and doorways.
Usenok is a template used to work with external corners.

Plastering walls with your own hands without beacons takes place in several stages. First we will look at the stage of preparing the walls for finishing. Let's start preparing the surface:

Now let's start drawing landmarks

Using a ladle, draw several horizontal lines (top, bottom and exactly in the middle).
You need to remove excess from these lines using a trowel. Thus, we are, as it were, constructing something like lighthouses, only from a mixture.
We wait for the material to dry completely.

We begin to level with plaster

All areas between the landmarks must be filled with plaster. We use the rule, following the guidelines made. This way we will get a smooth surface and get rid of excess mortar on the wall. We work as a rule only with a slightly set solution.
After leveling, let the mixture dry, then correct holes and small cracks by troweling the wall with a trowel.
We should have smooth walls, ready for finishing before finishing.

Plastering with display of beacons

This method of plastering walls is more effective, since as a result we get smoother and even walls. We will need the beacons themselves; it is better to use T-shaped ones made of metal. The work process is also divided into several stages, the first of which will be the preparation of the walls. We'll tell you how to plaster walls using beacons with your own hands for a beginner:

Let's start placing beacons

We will describe the process of how to properly plaster walls under a lighthouse with your own hands

Now you have become familiar with the nuances of the process of plastering walls with and without beacons. You can carry out the work yourself without involving professionals. Carefully follow the instructions in the video and rely on the experience and recommendations of professionals.