Plastering is the process in which a plaster product is applied to a “raw” or substrate surface such as a bare brick wall in order to achieve a acceptable finish prior to applying a coat of paint.
The most successful manner in which plastering is done is by hand the plasterer (a plasterer is the person that applies the plaster material to the required surface and works with it by spreading it over the surface in order to produce a specific finish) makes use of various plastering tools such as a float, cornering tool and a plaster trowel along with various other tools, applying the plaster in this age old way a cleaner, smoother, more even surface is achieved. Solid plastering requires the use of a backing coat of a mortar or paste type consistency binders may be cement, lime or gypsum.
There are 3 primary types of plastering materials you can use:
Lime Plaster
Because lime plaster “breathes” it allows moisture to evaporate before causing damp damage thus making it perfect for buildings with known damp problems.
Gypsum Plaster
Although gypsum plaster is compatible with brickwork it is recommended for internal surfaces, gypsum plaster (used in conjunction with plasterboards) dries more quickly than other plaster types; it should not be used in buildings with known damp problems and will take a long time to dry in cold weather or cold climates.
Cement based Plaster
Cement plaster may be used indoors and outdoors, when used as waterproofing it can be useful. However getting the mixture just right may prove problematic as a too strong mixture will not bond with the surface thus becoming brittle and pulling away, luckily a pre mixed plaster cement product is now available at your local hardware store, also should even building movement or slight shifting occur cracks in the surface may appear.
If you are considering doing your plastering yourself it is always a good idea to prepare the surface that requires plastering by using a brush to loosen and remove any loose materials and to begin with small sections at a time also keep in mind that plaster does not adhere to surfaces that are unstable, damp or surfaces that have wall paper on them unless the surface has been properly prepared prior to plastering.