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A Step-By-Step Guide on Applying Plaster to Conceal Damaged Walls

Photo by: Bigstockphoto
Photo by: Bigstockphoto

Plaster – better known as stucco – is a building material used to coat walls and ceilings. It’s a great material for concealing damaged walls or give an outdated living space a refreshing new look! The good news is, you don’t have to hire a contractor to give life back to damaged, old or stained walls. You can use plaster and apply the material yourself with relative ease! In today’s post, we are giving you installation tips and benefits of using plaster to refresh your walls:

Benefits of Hand Plaster Walls

Cheaper than Renovation

Applying plaster over outdated walls is one way to refresh a living space without making a dent on your savings. Imagine how much you would save on renovations with just a coat or two of plaster? Most upscale homes are treated with hand-plastered walls.

Improve Your Space

Whatever style you hope to achieve, you can do that by coating the walls with plaster. It’s a quick, easy and affordable way to breathe life back to dated living space. Because the material is versatile, you can use plaster over the kitchen walls, dining or even the living room walls!

Versatile

From covering dents and damages to unwanted stains, stucco is a great way to conceal a bad patching job or minor mistakes on drywall. You can even re-plaster humid rooms – such as kitchen and bathrooms – quickly.

How to Apply Plaster to Drywall

You will need:

4- inch plastering knives
Joint compound
Plastering tray or bucket
Plastic covering for floor and furniture
Painter’s tape or masking tape
Paper towels and water

Step 1: Prep the Wall

Start by moving furniture away from the room and ripping any obstructions to the walls such as nails, screws, paintings, etc. You want a bare wall to work with.

Then, cover the floor to protect the surface from plaster splatters. You can use plastic sheets and tape to the baseboard with masking or painter’s tape. Get towels and a pail of water for cleanup.

Step 2: Apply the Plaster

Get your plastering tray and add enough joint compound. Then, add about ¼ to ½ cup of plaster on the plaster knife and start applying the material. Start from the edge of the wall and work your way into the middle. Pull the knife towards you as you apply the plaster, pressing down to smear an inch of plaster to the walls. Continue picking up the knife and pulling the plaster across the wall in another direction.

Once you’ve completed a 2’ by 2’ section, take a step back to check if you like the result. You can adjust the thickness of the coat by manipulating the pressure of the knife as you apply the plaster. You can correct any mistakes by wiping it with a damp towel. Then, continue applying the plaster until all the wall is covered with the material. Let the plaster cure for at least 24 hours. However, the time it takes to dry the plaster will depend on the temperature of the room and the humidity.

You can use a smaller knife to coat the edges of the wall too. If you’re looking for a certain texture, you can also use texturizing tools such as sponges and combs. You can even use crumpled tin foil for creating a wide variety of textures.


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