Plaster for patching

danrv

Mr.Generous said:

I'd be tempted to cut the gap to a square, then stick plasterboard onto the block and skim that. Very easy and cheap way of sorting it.

I've put the first sand/cement coat on now.
A bit of 9.5mm Handiboard may be thin enough to stick on though.
The skim will be a challenge. Not had much success with that in the past.

stuart45

That looks fine. You just need another coat of sand/cement (slightly weaker mix) that leaves you about 3mm for a skim.

FreeBear

danrv said: The skim will be a challenge. Not had much success with that in the past.

For me, a SpeedSkim was a game changer. Slap the plaster on (don't worry about getting it level). Flatten off with the SpeedSkim with one pass horizontally and one vertically, stop for a coffee. Mix a second batch of plaster, slap it on, and level off with the SpeedSkim. Have another coffee. As the second coat starts to go off (firm enough to resist a light touch), go over with the finishing trowel. Use a wide brush dipped in water to work the edge of new & old, and feather it in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eIUFo0Vqx0 - Blaine Gray appears to know his stuff, and I'll often look up his videos when stuck.

danrv

FreeBear said:

danrv said: The skim will be a challenge. Not had much success with that in the past.

For me, a SpeedSkim was a game changer. Slap the plaster on (don't worry about getting it level). Flatten off with the SpeedSkim with one pass horizontally and one vertically, stop for a coffee. Mix a second batch of plaster, slap it on, and level off with the SpeedSkim. Have another coffee. As the second coat starts to go off (firm enough to resist a light touch), go over with the finishing trowel. Use a wide brush dipped in water to work the edge of new & old, and feather it in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eIUFo0Vqx0 - Blaine Gray appears to know his stuff, and I'll often look up his videos when stuck.

I take it different sizes of SpeedSkim would be needed depending on wall size.
Theses patches are on 90cm - 1m sections. 
I only have an 11" finishing trowel which should be enough but I can see how a SpeedSkim would make it easier.

FreeBear

danrv said: I take it different sizes of SpeedSkim would be needed depending on wall size.

Just did a ceiling today with a 600mm SpeedSkim. Got a 1200mm as well, but find it a bit too cumbersome. Might use it on a wall later as it will bridge a door opening quite nicely.

danrv

FreeBear said:

danrv said: I take it different sizes of SpeedSkim would be needed depending on wall size.

Just did a ceiling today with a 600mm SpeedSkim.

I wouldn't know where to start with a ceiling.
I'm just painting over the Artex at the moment but the downstairs loo would be an opportunity to try.
The ceiling has a bit of water damage near the soil pipe.
 

stuart45

It's all about practice with the wet trades, and getting the feel of the tools.
When the Speedskims first came on the scene a lot of the older spreads wouldn't use them, but nowadays as people have accepted they are quicker, and younger ones start off their training using them they are a normal tool.
I'm surprised someone didn't think of the idea years ago, as you wouldn't render a wall and rule it off with a trowel, or screed a floor without a long straight edge.

FreeBear

danrv said:

FreeBear said:

danrv said: I take it different sizes of SpeedSkim would be needed depending on wall size.

Just did a ceiling today with a 600mm SpeedSkim.

I wouldn't know where to start with a ceiling.
I'm just painting over the Artex at the moment but the downstairs loo would be an opportunity to try.

With a ceiling, start at the top and....

If you want rid of the artex, I can recommend X-Tex to strip the stuff off. Not always a good idea to skim over artex as you don't know how well it is bonded. Have seen a few cases where a ceiling has been skimmed and the plaster fall down after a few days/months.

danrv

stuart45 said:

I'm surprised someone didn't think of the idea years ago, as you wouldn't render a wall and rule it off with a trowel, or screed a floor without a long straight edge.

Yes. A simple idea, really.
Being able to flatten a larger area in one go. 

danrv

FreeBear said:

danrv said:

FreeBear said:

danrv said: I take it different sizes of SpeedSkim would be needed depending on wall size.

Just did a ceiling today with a 600mm SpeedSkim.

I wouldn't know where to start with a ceiling.
I'm just painting over the Artex at the moment but the downstairs loo would be an opportunity to try.

With a ceiling, start at the top and.... .

So that's where it is 😀
It's probably the corners and edges that I'd find tricky. The finishing trowel leaves a line in the plaster. 
A review of the SpeedSkim mentioned that the corners of the blade would do this.
Helps to round them off.