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plastering is the first step in building painting. If you want the painting result to be desirable, you must first prime the walls before picking up the brush and roller.
Plastering comes in various types. The choice of primer depends on the surface to be painted. Learning how to Plaster walls can empower you on your journey of interior painting!
But how many types of primer are available in the market? How is each prepared and suitable for what space and surface? How is plastering done, and can amateur painters also do plastering?
In this article, we answer the above questions.
Read on to find out more.
What is plastering?
If you’re tired of the look of your home or thinking about renovating an old environment, painting is the first and most cost-effective solution. House painting involves various stages, which we’ve outlined step by step in an article with the same title.
The first step in the house painting process is plastering. Over time, walls may develop cracks or scratches. To repair these damages, painters use a material called primer.
Primer is a paste-like substance available in brown or white colors. Depending on the surface intended for painting, the type of primer is chosen.
This material provides the necessary adhesion for filling cracks and repairing scratches on walls or even wooden and metal surfaces. The adhesive nature alongside the paste-like consistency of this substance makes primer an ideal choice for repairing old walls.
Benefits of plastering
plastering walls is not just about beautifying and preparing the surface. If you want your building painting to be done in the best possible way, plastering is necessary. Among its other advantages are:
– Strengthens the wall and increases the lifespan of the paint.
– Provides a uniform surface for painting.
– Prevents peeling and changes in the appearance of the wall.
– Better application of wallpaper on the wall.
– Moisture insulation.
Types of primer
The choice of suitable primer depends on the type of surface. Primers are divided into various types based on their composition and function, which we’ll mention here.
♦ Plastic Primer
Knowing that plastic primer is suitable for walls painted with plastic paint isn’t difficult! Making plastic primer is also an easy task. Simply mix some plastic paint with primer paste. If you feel the primer lacks adhesion, add a bit of wood glue to it.
If the primer becomes too stiff, dilute it by adding more paint or water.
♦ Oil Primer
In addition to wall painting, oil-based paint can also be used for painting metal and wooden surfaces. plastering walls intended for oil paint requires oil primer.
To make oil primer, you’ll need the following materials:
– Glossy oil paint
– Primer powder (chalk)
– Linseed oil
– Turpentine
To prepare this type of primer, simply dissolve glossy oil paint in a quantity of chalk powder. Then, add some linseed oil and turpentine to it. Once you achieve the desired adhesion, you can use the oil primer.
♦ Acrylic Primer
Another name for acrylic primer is all-purpose primer. This primer is readily available in stores. High adhesion, durability, and fast drying are some of the characteristics of acrylic primer. This primer is mostly used in indoor spaces.
♦ Wood Primer
Wood primer can also be made using wood glue. The composition of the wood glue mixture depends on the thickness and adhesion required for the primer.
To make wood primer, you’ll need the following materials:
♦ Chalk (Powdered chalk)
Chalk has a texture similar to flour and forms the base of wood primer.
♦ Size
Size is a paste-like substance used for adhesion in wood primer. Add 10 grams of size for every 100 grams of chalk.
♦ Iron Oxide Powder (Akra Powder)
Akra powder is used to change the color of wood primer. This powder, derived from the fine particles of iron oxide, has a red color. Akra powder easily dissolves in water.
♦ Coffee Powder
This substance is used to change the color of wood primer. Coffee powder is brown, and it can produce colors such as cream, beige, olive, bone, brick, espresso, and chestnut.
♦ Wood Glue
Wood glue is also used in making wood primer. The composition of wood glue mixture depends on the thickness and adhesion required for the primer.
♦ Sawdust
Adding sawdust is essential for achieving a texture similar to wood in the wood primer.
Mixing Primer
After selecting the type of primer, it’s time to prepare it. The most important step in primer preparation is mixing. If the wall to be painted has a small area, there’s no need to make a large amount of primer.
However, if you’re painting a large area, you’ll need to prepare a considerable amount of primer. The key points in primer preparation are as follows.
You should mix the ingredients of the primer together in a container. Choose the container size according to the amount of primer needed.
For mixing the primer, it’s better to use a suitable tool. The primer should be mixed in a way that creates a smooth surface. If the volume of primer is large, you should use a mixer. If you don’t have an industrial mixer, you can use a power drill with a mixer attachment.
Method of plastering
If you want a flawless painting job, plastering is essential. Once you’ve prepared the primer and it’s ready, it’s time to apply it to the wall.
The method of plastering is not difficult. For this task, you’ll need the following items:
– Primer
– Paintbrush or roller
– Cloth
– Sandpaper
After gathering the necessary supplies, follow these steps.
1. Smooth out all protrusions, scratches, and cracks on the wall using sandpaper or a putty knife. Make sure to have a steady hand while doing this.
2. After smoothing the wall, wipe away all dust, dirt, and grease using a cloth. The wall must be thoroughly clean before starting the primer application.
3. Use a putty knife to apply primer to scratches, dents, and cracks on the wall. It’s best to apply a thin first coat of primer.
4. If you want a clean-looking wall, apply primer twice. Once the first coat is dry, sand the wall smooth.
5. Apply the second coat of primer and wait for it to dry completely. After the second coat of primer has dried, you can start painting.
Plastering Plaster Walls
Plaster walls are commonly chosen for plastering. The use of plastic primer for smoothing plaster walls is common. Using primer can increase the lifespan of the wall paint and protect it from damage and moisture.
Plastering Gypsum Ceiling
For plastering gypsum ceiling, a simple mixture can be used. Water and gypsum powder are another alternative to other materials in ceiling priming. After mixing gypsum powder and water, apply the solution evenly to ensure proper adhesion. Additionally, as mentioned on the Top Painters website:
“Plastering with Joint Compound for Gypsum is performed to connect panels and fill gaps. The primer first provides instructions for mixing on its packaging. Try to check the packaging itself and it’s possible that the mixing ratios are provided there.
Mixing
Mix 10kg of joint compound powder with 9 liters of water. Additionally, the water used should be clean and free from impurities. Some areas may have high mineral content or salt, which can affect the quality of the joint compound. Avoid using water that has debris in the workshop. Drinking water is usually suitable or (4 parts powder + 3 parts water) ratio can be used.
Island mixing
We choose a suitable container for mixing. A “K-Plass” container for joint compound is both metallic and non-corrosive, and it is rectangular in shape, making it easier to clean. Its lifespan is longer if used correctly and it is also comfortable to handle. After pouring the water, we gradually add the joint compound (in a spraying manner), allowing it to absorb the water. This process is called island mixing. Once the compound absorbs some water, we start mixing it until a creamy consistency resembling yogurt is formed. It shouldn’t be too loose or too stiff. When lifted with a putty knife, it shouldn’t fall off easily, nor should it be too rough. Once a creamy yogurt-like mixture is achieved, we can start plastering.”
Work Cleanly!
Before starting the plastering, think about covering your belongings and the floor of the house. Additionally, it’s better to disconnect keys and sockets to avoid the hassle of cleaning them later.
Using chemicals in primer production can cause skin irritations. So, it’s better to wear gloves when making primer.
Summary
The method of plastering makes your job easier for painting buildings. Painting buildings may seem like a professional job, which is true, but with some training and experience, you can acquire the necessary skills for this task.