First time Plastering Help

Controlee

Mojisola wrote: »

It's interesting that rob says this - the master plasterers I have in the family always say you can tell almost immediately if someone is going to be a good plasterer - they just have a "feel" for the work from the start. That's where the art comes in. The techniques can be taught but the "feel" has to be there first if a high standard is going to be achieved.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking; and as I feel like I have a good 'Fingertip feel', I will give it a shot

keystone

Full marks for enthusiasm and commitment. There's always a but though isn't there? I can't master the art despite trying for n years and don't bother. Spread I use reckons it takes 5 or 6 years (yes that's years) of constant practice to achieve a professional standard once you have learned the basics. The one week course wonders haven't got a chance and bring the rest of the trade into disrepute - mind you thats no difference to "course cowboy" plumbers and leccys really. For once (wash my mouth out) I think you have been given sound advice in B&Q and I'm still recovering from the shock . By all means have a go and learn to do it but if you want this job done quickly then get someone in.

Cheers

Controlee

keystone wrote: »

Full marks for enthusiasm and commitment. There's always a but though isn't there? I can't master the art despite trying for n years and don't bother. Spread I use reckons it takes 5 or 6 years (yes that's years) of constant practice to achieve a professional standard once you have learned the basics. The one week course wonders haven't got a chance and bring the rest of the trade into disrepute - mind you thats no difference to "course cowboy" plumbers and leccys really. For once (wash my mouth out) I think you have been given sound advice in B&Q and I'm still recovering from the shock . By all means have a go and learn to do it but if you want this job done quickly then get someone in.

Cheers

I've got two feet in the pool at the moment as I've bought the plaster: I'm committed I will see if I have that natural ability that people have spoken about

ValHaller

Controlee wrote: »

I'm a very good DIY'er myself as well. I'm 27 and know that in the future I'd like to buy properties which I'd have to do up, and I want the skill sets to be able to do it myself; therefore learning to plaster makes sense for the long run.

I don't doubt that it would be an art to learn, but I am a very quick learner.

The get a good plasterer in and observe.

Stooby2

Have you got a wall in your garage you can practice on? That's what I did and realised plastering wasn't for me. But it might be for you. At least I didn't have a badly plastered wall in the house that was going to cost money to put right!

keystone

Controlee wrote: »

I've got two feet in the pool at the moment as I've bought the plaster: I'm committed I will see if I have that natural ability that people have spoken about

Ahh the enthusiasm, arrogance (in the nicest sense) and optimism of youth. You'll learn bud - the hard way if you won't listen to those a little longer in the tooth with some experience. Crack on then and best of luck!

Cheers

Controlee

keystone wrote: »

Ahh the enthusiasm, arrogance (in the nicest sense) and optimism of youth. You'll learn bud - the hard way if you won't listen to those a little longer in the tooth with some experience. Crack on then and best of luck!

Cheers

I appreciate what you're saying, but with my current finances I can't afford a plasterer, so I thought this was the place to come to receive encouragement and advice.

Mojisola

Controlee wrote: »

I appreciate what you're saying, but with my current finances I can't afford a plasterer, so I thought this was the place to come to receive encouragement and advice.

Well, sometimes the good advice amounts to "don't do it!":)

Have you had a go yet?

jimi_man

Hi

Go for it! I was in a similar position to you having never plastered before and when I added another bathroom to my house, I built some stud walling with plasterboard which needed skimming, so I thought I would have a go myself.

It's a skill, definitely, but so is driving a car, so there is no reason why you can't have a go. DIY is all about doing it yourself, and you will feel so much better looking at something that you have done, and maybe not got such a good result, than if you had paid £250 for a plasterer to come in and do it. Whether you will be any good.. who knows, but if you don't try then you won't know. We seem to be a generation of relying on others all the time instead of being more self sufficient.

Some points I recall from when I did it. Practice first. Get some bits of plasterboard from somewhere and try it out on that. Start small then work up. Plaster is so cheap that you can afford to 'waste' a few bags, so you can learn the basics of mixing it up to the right consistency, practice loading it on the hawk, then the trowel, then getting it on the wall.

Get one of those power stirrers that you can attach to your electric drill; they make life so much easier when you mix it up, especially if you have to do a few bags of it. Make sure the plaster is fresh, I don't think it keeps for very long, couple of months at the outside I think.

There are plenty of videos on YouTube that demonstrate how to do it, with varying degrees of competence. Gives an idea if nothing else.

Above all, have a go first on a piece of plasterboard, at least that way you can find out if you have an aptitude for it, and you will have only wasted a £5 bag of plaster. Though of course as you have limited finances, then getting someone in is not an option, so that makes the decision for you.

I'm sure there are some plasterers on here who can give you proper advice, other than 'get a man in'. Failing that, then try www.diynot.com which is a DIY forum (Oddly enough!) and there is some good info there.

drummer_666

i'm not sure about in bathrooms, but you don't have to skim plasterboard. in america and even in the uk now in a lot of offices plasterboard is painted directly onto.

or if you skim and don't get perfect finish could tile? ok that's money on tiles, but if you say this is a temp job you might want to tile when you're doing it up properly?

I patched up an area in my lounge with plaster and it is difficult to get a great finish. Having said that, I think I've done nearly as good a job as my builder... but he didn't do a great job!