How to level the walls with plaster?

Repair is a delicate business and requires a responsible approach. To keep it fresh for longer, when you do it you need to do everything qualitatively. Aligning the walls is one of the most important and complex works in the repair. Usually this is done with plaster. But if you do not want to invite a master for such work, it is worthwhile first thoroughly to find out how to properly level the walls with plaster. To do everything accurately, you need to carefully study the issue and consult with knowledgeable people. About how to level the walls with plaster, we will tell in the article.

A little about the material

Plaster is a construction mixture based on gypsum, lime or cement with sand. It can be white and colored. Serves for finishing. If it is decorative, it is the last stage of repair.

If it is noise- or waterproof, heat-shielding or special, then on top of it you need to glue the wallpaper or paint with a paint for interior decoration or for external surfaces (they are highly resistant to moisture, temperature extremes, ultraviolet rays and wind).

Before you level the walls with plaster, you need to decide which one is right for your work.

Types of coating

Decorative plaster has several more varieties:

• Textured;
• Structural;
• The Venetian.

The first 2 species form a rough surface, for which they are called "relief". And the latter covers the wall perfectly even layer and makes it smooth.

According to the binding agent used, the plaster is divided into:

• Acrylic (the main substance is acrylic resin, such a building material possesses high elasticity, it can be painted in any color, but it is sold only in ready-made form and has the ability to quickly crack from the effects of UV rays);
• Mineral (the cheapest type of mixture, which is based on cement, it tolerates the sun's rays well, is suitable for rooms with high humidity and streets, but is afraid of mechanical damage and strong water pressure);
• Silicone (in it, the binder component is a synthetic resin, available in the form of a ready mix and different colors, is resistant to damage and rays, it is used to cover walls in any room and street, since it forms a strong layer);
• Silicate (water glass, which lies in its base, increases water-repellent properties and resistance to mold and rottenness, is the most reliable type of coating, can be serviced without overhaul for more than 30 years).

What plaster to level the walls, each solves itself based on the characteristics of the surface, the material, as well as the room. Any of the described is ecologically safe.

Preliminary preparation of walls

Alignment works are performed after all the work on laying electrical cables, pipes and other materials has been completed. Before you level the walls with plaster, you need to clean them from the old layer of wallpaper, paint and other materials, and also to level the surface. This can be done with the help of special solutions and spatula, as well as construction skins.

Further it is necessary to check the walls for irregularities and verticality. To eliminate the roughness, you can resort to a metal grid, which is attached to the surface with the help of nails. Also, it must first be cleaned of dirt and dust, otherwise the mixture simply will not hold.

If the wall was covered with plaster, you need to tap it with a wooden mallet to identify the areas where it has fallen behind the wall, and remove it completely in these places. If there are cracks on the surface of the coating, they can be cleaned with a damp brush. But all the mold (if it exists) needs to be completely removed together with the part of the coating, because otherwise it will grow further, destroying the coating.

After this, it is necessary to treat the surface with a primer that does not allow the first to absorb moisture from the plaster. After drying primer for a full and high-quality finish, it is necessary to cover the walls with putty to completely level the wall for plastering. It is sold as a powder for dilution with water, and in the form of a ready mix, which is applied by a spatula directly on the wall. It is especially important to comply with all stages of preparation, if the final layer is a decorative coating, since it will not hide the shortcomings of the surface, if it was not processed.

An Important Moment

Plaster and putty are two different mixtures. Many people confuse them or do not see the difference. The first is designed to handle a large surface area, and the second - to adjust for minor defects (cracks, seams, etc.).

Verification of verticality

Before you level the walls with plaster, you need to find out how smooth the vertical surfaces are. This is done in many ways, professional builders and finishers for this have special sophisticated tools that give accurate results. At home, you can use a straight rail from the ceiling to the floor or a plumb line. Such a tool should be perfectly straight and not bend. The rail is applied parallel to the wall, and the maximum gap between them will mean the most necessary layer of material for alignment.

The method with a plumb line is somewhat more complicated. It is necessary to hammer a nail under the ceiling, tie a lace with a load to it and visually or with the help of measuring instruments determine whether the wall and the lace are parallel to each other.

Alignment with plaster

When all the previous work is done, before you level the walls with plaster, you need to prepare a mixture. How to build plaster, which is sold as a powder, is written on the packaging. If you bought ready, then observe the storage conditions, otherwise it will dry up quickly. Next, using a spatula, we cast the molds from the top down and use an instrument called "rule" to flatten the coating. If it does not exist, you can do it with other tools, but it does not work out that smoothly.

During the work, it is necessary to use protective equipment - mask and goggles, so as not to inhale powder or vapors (there may be an allergy). And also should take into account the maximum thickness of the applied layer - it is indicated on the package, and different brands may be different.

Alignment with plasterboard

There are several other ways how to level the walls without plaster. Often resorted to a method that involves the use of drywall. Drywall is 2 sheets of cardboard, between which is dry gypsum. It does not leak moisture and keeps the shape well for a long time. Mounted with metal profiles or mounting glue. Seams between sheets are covered with building compounds. It is usually easier to glue wallpaper, than on other surfaces, especially concrete. The advantages of this method are the lower costs of the time, low pollution of the apartment and the possibility to level the walls with any irregularities.

But it also has drawbacks: drywall can not be used for wet rooms and on the street, it is difficult to lay a tile on it, because it is too smooth, and cement-based glue can not hold properly. Also, it is better not to resort to gypsum plasterboard in the premises of a small area, because it takes away space.

Visual alignment

The walls can be aligned visually. In this case, global work is not required, it is possible to level the surface with building mixes only in the corners and under the ceiling. And at the finish finish the skirting boards will be glued at the correct right angle, which visually aligns the walls.

How to level the walls after the plaster, if necessary

The drying time of the coating depends on the thickness of the layer. So, a layer with a thickness of about 1-3 mm will dry for 1-2 days, but the finish of the outer walls with a plaster of 5-10 mm can be dragged on for a month, during which the coating completely dries.

If the wall covering with plaster was the finishing step before painting or wallpapering, then after completely drying it can be sanded with a construction sandpaper (sandpaper). It will remove all the flaws and make the wall perfectly smooth, if it was not. The main thing is not to overdo it so as not to erase too much.

If the plaster is decorative, then the sandpaper can be cleaned with sandpaper, but very carefully and only with great need, since you can erase the color layer and have to cover again. If the material contains marble chips or other additives to create unevenness, then additional processing is not required.