PUTTY PLASTER AND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ITS APPLICATION

Gładź szpachlowa i wszystko, co trzeba wiedzieć o jej nakładaniu

The putty is one of the basic elements of construction chemicals. It is used in almost every construction or renovation. By itself, it is used to smooth the surface of ceilings, external and internal walls, both in the form necessary for mixing (usually in powder) and in the form immediately ready for use. Can we do it ourselves? What is it and where should we start with it? We will try to answer all these questions in our article.

APPLYING PLASTER – ALONE OR WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A PROFESSIONAL?

The putty is not the most complicated to apply – it is enough to do it so that the effect of the work is satisfactory. So you need to know what you are going to, but also how to prepare for the whole process to make it effective. Nevertheless, you can easily make it on your own , without using the services of an industry specialist.

PREPARATION IS KEY

As for the finishing coat , we need to properly prepare for it before applying it, so that the whole process is not in vain and that nothing is damaged during it. We must make sure that:

  • secure all the equipment in a given room – the finishing coat freezes in a relatively short time – even in its smallest droplets. Therefore, it would be undesirable for us to get inside (but also outside) of any piece of equipment or furniture. The best solution is to get rid of each of them for the duration of the renovation (for example, by moving them to another room). It is not always possible (this is the case with the floor, for example) – so it is worth taking care of the use of a protective film and thoroughly covering all elements endangered with dirt with it;
  • prepare the substrate – in order for the plaster to be stable and durable, it must be placed on a substrate free of any contamination. So let’s make sure we get rid of any grease, dust and dirt; it is also important to remove paint residues that can lead to loss of adhesion (which is crucial in the case of plaster);
  • cover the substrate with a primer – at the beginning you should know that it is not always necessary – but it will never hurt. This type of preparation is able to significantly increase the adhesion of the plaster, which will make it more durable and safer.

After all the preparations are done, we can start applying the plaster properly.

PROPER APPLICATION OF PLASTER – STEP BY STEP

The first step in applying the finishing coat is to mix it up properly – but this only applies to powdered products. If we have purchased a ready-made mixture, we will not have to mix it – as its name suggests, it is ready to be applied immediately after opening the container with it. However, if we have to mix, let’s make sure to obtain a solid consistency, necessarily free of any lumps. It is best to mix with a drill with a special tip. We should also not forget about the appropriate proportions on the water-mortar line, always following the manufacturer’s recommendations.

We should start our work by getting rid of any cavities by filling them with plaster. We have to make sure that each of them will be properly, accurately and tightly filled – any air bubbles that could be in it could lead to the finishing coat falling off, i.e. something absolutely undesirable by us. Right after filling the cavities, we can start the proper filling.

Let’s start them from a specific point – the walls should be smoothed from the bottom up, and the ceiling – preferably from the window. Always try to start with the most difficult places to access, paying special attention to them. Let’s not forget about the right amount of plaster – its thickness should not exceed three millimeters. Its greater value, especially on each side of the room, may lead to a decline in its surface area. Practical, but also visual.

After applying the finishing coat, it is always necessary to sand, which will additionally smooth the surface and eliminate all kinds of scratches and irregularities that could arise in the entire process (which are practically inevitable). If we want to apply two layers of plaster, remember that the first one must dry thoroughly , and then we will have to clean it additionally before we put the second one on it.

SUMMARY

Even if the finishing coat and its use are of key importance in modern construction, we can apply it ourselves – all we have to do is prepare ourselves properly, but we will also simply know that we are heading towards this end result. The selection of the right product (and its type) is also very important in all this. Nevertheless, we should be aware of how important a construction element it is and be aware of when we should actually reach for it.

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