Plastering DIY or disaster?

bengraves38

Can i do it myself?

I realise that plastering is a skilled trade but if i take my time could i make a decent job of it?

Any tips or hints?

Cheers Ben

Browntoa

I took time, still made a pigs ear of it !!!

martindow

I found it incredibly difficult too. If it is just a patch and you can use the flat plaster each side to get it smooth I could do it. If it is a large area I found it was well worth paying someone who knew what he was doing.

sarah_elton

I have a friend who's a plasterer and he finds there's nothing worse than having to fix DIY efforts. I would never even try it, knowing how much I struggle to get a smooth finish when I polyfiller a hole!!

owls

Agree with the above, the amount of times ive been to a job to re-do a diy atempt at plastering.
depends what sort of standard you want it done to.A small area possibly but its a practice thing im affraid.

will2208_2

In my opinion, as a reasonable diyer, it depends on the size of the area. I've recently bricked up 2 fireplaces, then plasterboarded over the brickwork and plastered over the top. I've then used lining paper to hide any imperfections. Even though I say it myself it looks really good.
The plaster on one wall in the lounge was falling off the wall, so I removed it all and plasterboarded. I filled the gaps, then used lining paper and it looks good too. Practice makes perfect

weekendwarrior

I know a couple of people that have folloewd the advice here- DIY plastering and had very good results.

You will never know unless you try

nelly_2

bengraves38 wrote:

Can i do it myself?

I realise that plastering is a skilled trade but if i take my time could i make a decent job of it?

Ben

Thats the thing with plastering, you cant take your time the plaster dictates how much time you have because it sets.

Moneymaker

It's tricky. The one and only time I tried, I ended up painting the wall with "Artex" to hide my disaster!

HugoSP

If you've got lots to do it may be worth enlisting someone to show you the basics. Pay him for a few hours then try to pick it up under his wing.

If you've just got the odd wall, get someone in to do it.

Plastering onto plasterboard is probably easier for a DIY. next is rendered surfaces without any plaster (depending on how long ago it was rendered), then ceilings. Ceilings are a sod of a job for anyone but a seasoned pro. I will do small ceilings but bigger ones probably need a couple of people.

ReadyBet

http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3245595/The_How_To_DIY_Guide_To_Plastering/Product.html

I just got this dvd on plastering will let you know how good it is once I've watched it.