Sooner or later, almost every plaster wall and ceiling develops cracks - if not in the broader expanses, then at least where flat surfaces join one another. Wind pressure on the house, structural expansion and shrinkage, traffic vibration, and household activities all contribute toward weakened plaster. Before any redecoration can take place, the inevitable patching must always be done.
 
How to fix big cracks
First, clean away all material that appears loose in and around the crack. If it's a fair-sized crack, crack to its deepest part, then undercut it so that it's wider underneath than on the outer surface.

How to fix smaller cracks
Little cracks can simply be brushed clean. With a spray, a sponge or rag, thoroughly dampen all surfaces of the crack. If this is overlooked, moisture from the new plaster will be absorbed into the wall, leaving the patch powdery and weak. Press the mix into the bottom of the crack, build up slightly more than necessary, smooth off the excess, and let it dry for 2 to 4 hours. Then use sandpaper to smooth off the excess. If you are going to paint later, a few strokes with fine-grit sandpaper will finish it off nicely.

How to patch holes
The general procedure for patching holes where plaster has fallen from the wall is the same as for patching cracks: undercutting, cleaning, dampening and applying new plaster. 
 
How to repair a bulge
To repair a bulge, first create a hole where the bulge appears. Do this by rapping the bulge with a hammer until the loosened plaster falls out. Be sure to knock or pry away any loose plaster around the hole so as to have sound plaster at the edges of the patch.

If you don't want to to the job yourself and you are looking for well-priced, professional and friendly plasterers in Redbridge, give us a call.

Plasterer Redbridge covers east London and Essex, offering you our plastering, rendering and external wall insulation services. Get in touch on: 020 8088 0926

There's an art to plastering a wall well, and the use of the proper tools is essential. These include a plasterer's trowel, a corner-shaping tool, a hawk, a darby, a screeding rod, a brush and a bucket. To order the materials you will need, figure the size of the area to be covered. The undercoat is a mixture of sand, prepared gypsum plaster and water. 

If this already sounds like hard work, let us take care of it for you. Call Plasterers Redbridge on ​020 8088 0926.
 
If you still want to give it a go, here are the tools that you will need. 
1. Trowel: a plasterer's trowel is a must. This has a long brace bar on the top side. It costs a bit more for this trowel, but it's worth the price.
2. Hawk: this is the classic mortarboard device. Use one made of aluminum and save wear and tear on yourself. The wooden type is much heavier. Load with plaster and hold in the left hand while the right does the work (unless you're left-handed!)
3. Darby: a two-handled smoothing tool to level large flat areas. It is held flat against the wall as it is moved along and levels out any bumps.
4. Screeding Rod: a straight-edged wood or metal stick to level off rough plaster applications. One end is usually held against guides as the upper end scrapes excess plaster back onto board for reapplication.
5. Water Brush: this, and a bucket of clear water, must be kept on hand for finish plaster coating. The brush spreads as well as dashes water over the surface being troweled smooth.
 
How to mix the plaster
To mix, use either a wheelbarrow or shallow wood box and mix the sand and plaster, dry, in one end. Tilt the mixing box with the dry mixture in the upper end and put water in the low end. Then draw the mixed sand and plaster into the water a little at a time, mixing constantly. If water is added into the dry mix, or all of it is pulled into the water at once, lumps are formed which can't be easily broken up. Mix to a heavy creamy consistency. Add more of the dry mix or water, as necessary.
 
Apply the base coat. The final coat of finishing plaster is mixed with water without sand and applied. Plaster is applied from a full trowel on upward strokes, using light pressure only. 

As you can see, plastering is a skill that needs to be mastered in order to have smooth walls that will bring years of pleasure. We don't recommend giving it a go, if you are not a handy and meticulous person.

If you want the job done right and you are looking for plasterers in Redbridge, or nearby, give us a call on ​020 8088 0926.

We cover Essex, east London and more. For friendly, reliable and professional plasterers, look no further.

Plastering | Rendering | External Wall Insulation

If you are looking to decorate a room, or several rooms, in your property, it is always advisable to consider whether your rooms would benefit from being plastered or skimmed before painting or wallpapering.

Plastering ceilings
If you are looking for your ceiling to be plastered, we offer this service to both commercial and residential properties in Redbridge and surrounding areas. If you need both ceilings and walls plastered, it is usual for ceilings to be set with plaster before work on your walls commences.

Plastering walls and a ceiling will give your room a smooth finish and ensure that when painted – the colour will come through flawlessly. 

Plasterers for new build properties
We also offer our plastering services to project managers looking after new build projects.

In the case of new builds, plaster will be applied directly to plasterboard.  Our professional plasterers will guarantee that all plasterboard screw heads will be countersunk and the joint between boards taped. Metal angle beads will be used to ensure a crisp finish around external corners
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What is the process of applying plaster to the walls?
Once the plasterboard is in place, we apply the first layer of plaster. All blockwork walls will have one coat of sand and cement render, known as a scratch coat. This layer is left to set and then scratched, using a float with nails in it. It is done is a swirling fashion to provide a stable key for the next coat. When these two coats have been applied and the surfaces are flat, the top-coat of plaster is applied. ​This will be a smooth layer that you will be able to paint or wallpaper over to complete the look of your room.

Our plasterers are quite happy to remove old plaster or to fix new plasterboard. However, this will all add to the time they spend on the job and increase the final bill.

Before our plasterer starts, it helps if you can clear the room out and cover anything that can’t be taken out of the room — plastering is a messy job.

Our plasterer will also need access to a water supply. Aim to provide a route to the water source that doesn’t involve traipsing plaster and mess through your entire house — and cover carpets too.

If you are looking to change the look of your Redbridge property and you need a plasterer, give us a call today on 020 8088 0926.