Hi Blaine my old man took up plastering when he was 27 years old in London with another Irish man . He was one of the best plaster I know he taught me it's only now when I think back I was plastering 12 years before he started plastering still to this day he taught me so much he is now gone 24 years ago but Blaine you are so honest and good I like your videos you are good plaster I would let you plaster my house and I am plastering 40 years mate
Sorry to hear about your dad!! I would have loved to work with him - he’d probably teach me more than I’ve ever learnt. It’s the old boys you learn the most from! Thank you for your confidence. I really appreciate that and I appreciate you always watching and commenting…thanks! It means a lot 👍👍
I good rule of thumb is to fill in the middle first because usually the middle is either bowed in or out, if it’s bowed in and you start in the middle the bottom and top will gauge the straightness in the middle and if the middle is bowed out your strait edge will remove all the plaster from the middle and on your next coat you can build all of the wall areas up at the same time and be sure all of the wall is fairly straight it’s quite simple
Hiya Blaine, you plaster pretty much identically to how I was taught 40 odd years ago. I have done all aspects of the trade and used all materials, I have to ask you mate, why don't you use a board and stand for your gear instead of stopping to load your hawk from a bucket? You know the score pal! It'll speed up application and you'll have somewhere to put your brew!
Thanks for your honesty Blaine , it’s good to know that even the pro’s don’t always get it right first time! I’m a carpenter/plasterer learning more every day, your videos have been a great help, I wish I’d watched this one before trying (for the first time) to back coat at skim my own extension- I basically attached vertical battens up the large walls and used them for a back coat guide- fortunately for me it worked a treat but I was sweating big time!! Keep posting mate!
I served my plastering apprenticeship 53 years ago at 15 . Learnt lots of different aspects of plastering from the old guys. I packed it in 20 years ago. Now due to my business going bust I find myself back on the tools @ 68 years old to pay my way. Guess what, I’m relearning due to today’s modern materials. And I can honestly say it’s the hardest job in the industry. 👍👍
Hi Blaine, great video, this is what plastering is all about, just been able to skim dosen't make you a plasterer, been plastering since i was 17, now 42 come across so many guys who have no idea or confidence in how to float a wall, even had one guy ask me to float for him so he could skim it after. we are to reliant on dot and dab to get a wall flat theese days. here's to all the old boys knocking up bags of browning in the bath with a shovel👍😆
So true my friend! I much prefer float and set to be honest. Such a better finish with a solid background…it’s the proper way. Not only that…but I’m again shite at Dot & Dab ha 😂 Thanks for watching. Cheers
99% of what I know about plastering I learnt from this channel & having a go at it. To date I've only plastered one 12 x12 foot room from brickwork & I'm really happy with the results. Speaking as a beginner, I found using the straight edge & the speed skim one handed worked best for me but it's very important to grip it in the middle, not to one side. This allowed me to flatten the wall without digging in too heavy on one side. As my confidence increased & I got more relaxed with the tools I was able to progress to using 2 hands. Thanks for your help Blaine
I feel so immensely pleased you addressed this because in your other video I was dumbfounded by the way you flattened the wall over a long run. Thank you!
Been a plasterer for 20 + years now and you are completely right. The first wall i ever rendered was an internal curve 🤣 talk about being dropped in it from the deep end 🤣🤣. The best bit of advice i ever got was " relax and work with the plaster/render" not against it. The other thing is your timing which will come with time you will know when you are ready for the second coat or how long to work with your product as temperatures and humidity play a factor. Good advice Blaina and nice vid 👍
@@gianthills Our modern houses are usually all plasterboard/ dry wall and then skimmed with finishing plaster. But older properties have a backing plaster or base plaster that is skimmed over. Old lath and plaster ( mainly ceilings) were strips of timber over the beams with a small gap between and then plastered over which had horse hair in to make it stable. Hope this helped👍
@@guysilverback7755 I see. From what I can tell, drywall and plasterboard are not the same. Drywall uses tape on the seams while plasterboard doesn't. I'm guessing drywall is just cheaper than plaster walls, yet UK is big into plaster. Is there very little new construction there?
@@gianthills drywall and plasterboard are the same thing. We can tape plasterboard which was done alot during the 90's. But we do tend to skim walls more than just taping the joints. All our buildings tend to be brick and block built (block inner wall with brick outer wall with 100mm cavity between) and we have housing being built all the time we just don't have as much land to build on as you do across the pond.
43 years in, and my best tip, is do the job as if it's for yourself, I've seen so many changes , ways of doing things , tools, methods. always try your best.
when floating on new block you can tack or dab 4" strips of 12mm plasterboard from ceiling to floor every 3ft or so to use as screeds then pop them out before set
Good info for those who not done float & set I was brought up in that era not dabbing then chap just taking off I think lol 40yrs still at it & still got it 🤟🏻bloke got in touch about doing some he couldn’t find no one all we do is only board skim lol respect t ya Blaine 👍🏻
Well done for sticking with it, however, this was basic stuff when I was an Apprentice in the 1970’s. We were taught Box Screeds,datum points, the whole Plasterers Craft. Most ‘Plasterers’ today are Skimmers, not plasterers. If your left handed, you Float from the right, skim from the left.You need to understand the importance of Heel & Toe. In addition, you are freewheeling the float coat.Run a line of horizontal screed two thirds of the way up the wall then the same just above skirting height. Let it pick up to make it easier, then fill in the area between the screeds from right to left if your right handed, left to right if left handed.Carefully rule off the infill.When completed, fill in the areas above the top screed and below the bottom screed.Once again, rule off.When firm enough, rub up with a Devil Float ( float with nails or screws in) in a figure eight pattern.Finally, run over the wall with a flat trowel cutting in internal angles. I’m in my 47th year and was taught by the best. It isn’t hard, you just need to have someone show you the ropes!
Hi blaine when i was apprentice every house was float and skim but your right it took me about 4 years to learn how to float properly and even then u still get better what i was taught put a screed down right hand then come along top with a screed then along the bottom and then fill the middle in, and at the time i thought am never going learn this but as u know u start ti get better i did a full 5 year apprenticeship and i needed it, saying that u are a good spread and i enjoy your videos we didnt use drills either it was a rake and shovel on a plastic bath
Great video mate, everyone thinks our trade is easy, my master was a 61 yr old Italian called Freddy, that was in 1996!! Rendering was the hardest thing to learn but he guided me through, you were obviously taught by a class tradesman pal, the screed bars are a must as you say!! Not many proper spreads left 👍👍 37 yrs and I'm still learning
Not a plasterer by any means but I can skim. I also did a patch on a wall browning it out and to have another plasterer tell me that he'd let me work along side him was very nice to hear I've been told I'm very good at the skimming but I really need to try the other side too great video as always keep up your cracking work too 👍👍
I was trained on float and set, sand and cement or browning. I appreciate the fact that you have tried to do it, however we used to do top and bottom screeds and then fill and rule. Maybe I'll share a video with you guys,
As a time served plasterer of 30 and a bit years lol, it was mainly floating we used to do for years. No fancy mixing drills, mixed in a bath with a shovel. Hard work it does make you a better plasterer, and you just use the ruling you’ve learnt on to sand cement rendering other wise it’ll look shite when rubbed up. Not much call for it today but I still do some, which can be an advantage as not many younger guys do it or can do. Great vids you do pal.👍🏻
Nice video my friend I use a scratcher prior to the rule off,it just highlights things a bit. Then you can see where the dips etc are. I always study the wall and put a few marks where and discrepancies are in the block/ brickwork , normally about shoulder height or where they old lads moved their level up. I am not a plasterer by trade but been around a good old while. All the best
When I first started plastering I'd trip my trowel in the nice smooth plaster and gouge a strip out of it, and have to redo it and try and get it feathered into the rest of the wall. Was so frustrating until I got the knack. :)
Had this problem today. Put the bonding on top of this hardwall that had been on since the the early 90's and it just dragged. I could not rule it off with my straight edge. It peeled off, so dry. Not looking forward to skimming it tomorrow ha
Blaine, Top video. To all beginners this is all good advice and there is nothing to add and is an honest review of applying backing coats, plastering is hard work and practice (or should that be practise) pays. Blaine I hope the wrists and back are all OK, as that is the bain of a plasterers life. Keep up the good work, you are constantly providing the best quality advice and encouragement and show honesty in how plastering is done.. Good luck to you.
I've done quite alot of rough and setting. Always been taught lay it thick and edge it off. When you edge off the same amount along ur edge you pretty much there. Level and plum then float.
A plasterer should be able to screed. board. Cove. Sand cement and achieve plumb and dot. I’ve been plastering for 33 year’s and believe this or not, I still learn new things. If I could turn back time, I really wish I learnt other trades. I’m one of the best out there, but I can not put my hands to any other trade. My biggest tip for plastering is preparation and get the knock up right, especially with rendering. Keep yourself fit and avoid the booze and drugs. Get yourself on the private jobs, because site work is dead. As for pricing? Charge the customer, what you know you’re worth. You undercut yourself and you will rush and cut corners.
All you need to do is fix laths to the wall, plumb them up. Then when it's gone off take the laths off and fill the gaps in. Like they used to do in the old days 👍
if the walls are pretty plum just throw it on and rule of the high spots straight away, dont wait till your second coat, then do the same on the next wall and then the next wall, once you have taken of the high spots before they go to hard just move on to another wall, then do the same with second coat,put it on and rule the high spots as you go along and returning when ready to float. if the walls are badly out of plumb then you will need to lay screeds
Did a job years ago (a changing room showers toilets etc ) that was to be fully tiled it was attached to some real plush offices in the west end and the designers wanted everything absolutely perfectly plumb level and square even down to all the cut tiles being exactly the same size so we had to set up perfectly plumb 2*1 timber grounds either side of the block wall for the spreads to rule between it worked real well just removed the grounds before the plaster had set and infilled the trough lines so there’s another way of achieving perfectly plumb and flat walls and with all the different size plastic shims available nowadays it’s real easy and simple to do
After watching your videos I tried doing it today. Failed miserably. First roller would not apply anything on the wall, it was not sticking, then was doing with a trowel, but could not make it straight. Area was small, between a corner and a door. Moved on to a larger area, but there the plaster would get dry on me quickly and even if it's wet I could not make it smooth. Each time I'd go with a trowel I would leave marks either on top blade or bottom... Im not going to give it up. Saturday will be full on job again. Will try longer ply roller, wetter mixture.
I’ve been plastering for 25 years and have found going back to the old school way is best. I was taught with string lines and rails to get it flat. Guys now just free flow it, some doing even staff it off on site. I use plastic packers now to do my rails 👍
My dads 70 and was professional plasterer. He told me when he started with plasterboards he cut them with a saw instead of Stanley knife but we all learn every day
Honestly mate your being to harsh on your self from the beginning, you a pucka spread and you know what your doing in all aspects no doubt! We're always learning in the plastering game everyday, every wall, every ceiling is different, good days followed by bad etc. Fella who I learnt with was in my opinion the best I've ever come across and work with bar none, and he would say always learning making mistake even after 30 years at it! Personally I'm 15 years deep and love watching an working with other spreads an trying new methods. Spot on video as always bud look forward to the next one 👍
A friend of mine offered to replaster my bathroom skylight area which I appreciated but work wasn’t up to par according to my brother who is a master plasterer but didn’t want to bother him since he’s so busy but after seeing my friends work he said he’d come fix what my friend did to say the least friend was upset about it but I wanted the work done in a professional manner and his work I felt was subpar that I feel I could have done myself was I wrong to have my brother complete the work?
I've been working as a plasterers labourer/trainee and this is by far the most frustrating part of the job especially using sand and cement. I still haven't mastered it after nearly one year.
Good man I was lucky enough to start plastering in 1978 so I can plumb & dot and everyday floating coat is about faking making pleasing to the eye I can talk for hours what I was thought by a sixty year old bloke now I’m 61
I bet you’d teach us all a lot!! Respect…it sounds like it was backbreaking in the day so fair play to you. Thanks for watching by the way - I really appreciate it 👍
Im redecorating my grandma’s kitchen and have never plastered before, what would you recommend for plastering a wall where there are copper pipes in the corner which cant be moved and also has a shrouding fixed behind
That’s all we did in college and site we even used Hessian scrim cloth the way we was shown was to do box screeds then fill in the middle with the straight edge then along came the Darby
Been behind the towel 44 years old school but the last thing I mastered was ruling off I also screed granolithic floors monocouhe acrylic lime render sand cement render was taught them all from day one because of the lack of apprenticeships the trade has diversified
Funny old game plastering. Its weird that proper wet plastering is now some kind of black magic madness 🤣. Every day is a learning day 👍. All you know will be challenged all you Don't know probably some old trowel will have an angle on it 😉. Explaining how to feel your way through it and work as the wall needs etc . Plaster is the master we are just a trowel away from excellence. Keep up the good work 💪👍
Hi Blaine, afar do you know about lime plaster? I've some walls that I want to finish in a grey concrete style finish then probably seal... Its very in fashion now would be great to get you your advice or alternatives... Even a cheeky demo
Don't be afraid of learning to use lime. Damp wall is essential and I mean damp. Base coat I use hair it's optional max 10mm. Allow a day for each mm so 10 days.( Keep it damp or covered) 2nd coat no hair ( you can if you like but it will come through the first finish coat) Again allow a day for each mm of thickness. Keep it damp or cover or both. This second coat must be as flat as you can get it. I use a scratcher on wet surface before I rule off,it will highlight the bumps and dips. The better you get this bit the better your finish will be. Use a good lime pre mix from someone like south down lime in Sussex. You can put a pozzalan in this to set it up a bit quicker if you are worried about it being soft although it will set nice and hard over time providing you keep it from drying out too fast. The finish coat is a joy to do and it's done using two very thin coats about 2/3 mm in total Work away from where you start as if you are trying to stretch it along the surface this will keep it nice and thin. It will hang around for a long time especially at the base of the wall,due to the damping down so the top will possibly dry quicker but if it's been well prepared you will be able to control it and it doesn't mind a bit of sprayed moisture as it's a slow setting material. I am a bricklayer that does this because I have used lime all my working life. Most plasterers like to crack on and get a bit done so they don't really earn enough on this type of work ( just my opinion) Have a go you will enjoy it.
Hello Blaine. I'm a big fan of your channel. I've been plastering on and off for myself for over 10 years but I've learnt much more from you in the last 2 years. Will you be doing a video on plastering hallway / stairs / landing any time soon? If you've done one already can you point me towards it please? Thanks!
F&S is a great skill to learn.. saying that most now can't use one trowel from start to finish. Learned to skimm with a cardon. And you had to keep it clean, but what a trowel to lay on with.. mine got stolen The fuckers it, left me SS lol.., got my first SS was a spear & Jackson..tell ya, it was like Christmas came early finally gave up the ghost last year 💕 the level of maintenance SS is so much less. An easy test to see someone is a plasterer stick em, in a room.. give them multi and tell boards have been up for 6 months or walls have distemper on..if they just slap the gear on boards or PVA and skimm walls You got your answer!!
With this and when dabbing I get duct tape and tape a 24” level to my rule, and I find it helps lots, saves a lot of back and forth. Also I love using the darby, the handles make controlling the angle so easier
It’s left to right for Browning that’s easy enough to remember that so I was taught when I went through a five year apprenticeship in the 60s and it’s right to left to skim use the toe of the trowel for skimming and the heel of the trial for browning 👴🏻
I started when I was 17, 20 years ago and everyday it was float and set I was mixing up in a bath for 2 spreads on top of milk crates to save the old back,always did box screeds on the walls aswell and I was allowed to fill in the middles bit by bit and rule it off until I was up to speed then I was taught to start applying the box screeds and ruling them off aswell to devil floating to skimming them with the finish plaster can’t remember what it was called it had the purple on the bag before multi finish came out,I prefer sand and cement internal work did loads of that u just don’t get much float and set now
It was Serafite mate , I remember mixing it up with a bike sprocket on a t bar , no electric mixers back then . Plasterers labourer was the toughest job on site .
Looked at my bathroom ceiling.. Rough vaulted concrete.. Did two coats as first was really hard and wasn't looking good. No idea what I'm doing. Just did it. Then came and watched UA-cam. 🤣
Can someone tell me what is actually hard about this? Not trying to be rude but I've never tried it and just watching these videos it looks super easy 😅
This is plastering 101 if there are any plasterers that can’t ( let’s use the correct term not get a flat wall) float a wall they are not plasterers If u can’t float or render or do every aspect of plastering your not a plasterer It took you 4 years to learn this you can’t be a plasterer this should take no longer than 6 months and should be 8-12mm thick
I put a comment on about why do that it's long but then I realised that you mentioned rendering at the end and ruling it and I thought again and took my comment off about there's no point doing it
Use a derby then a straight edge … your putting way too much gear on…. You can’t learn floating from a you tube video you’ve gotta be really good on your trowel and a lot of knowledge about where to fill and the brick your going over … some good tips 👍🏻 but defo would t recommend trying this if your not even a good plasterer
1 of the quickest way for beginners is to tack some door stop at the width of your straight edge and it's simple ruling off each section. Takes no time to fill in the the gaps. Idiot proof
In the early days of plastering you are better off listening to your instincts and pack it in before you get the wife morgage car and sign on buy n sell do a bit of ducking and diving but wearing yourself out being shitted up everyday is not clever at all FORGET HARD WORK 😉
Hi Blaine my old man took up plastering when he was 27 years old in London with another Irish man . He was one of the best plaster I know he taught me it's only now when I think back I was plastering 12 years before he started plastering still to this day he taught me so much he is now gone 24 years ago but Blaine you are so honest and good I like your videos you are good plaster I would let you plaster my house and I am plastering 40 years mate
Sorry to hear about your dad!! I would have loved to work with him - he’d probably teach me more than I’ve ever learnt. It’s the old boys you learn the most from!
Thank you for your confidence. I really appreciate that and I appreciate you always watching and commenting…thanks! It means a lot 👍👍
I good rule of thumb is to fill in the middle first because usually the middle is either bowed in or out, if it’s bowed in and you start in the middle the bottom and top will gauge the straightness in the middle and if the middle is bowed out your strait edge will remove all the plaster from the middle and on your next coat you can build all of the wall areas up at the same time and be sure all of the wall is fairly straight it’s quite simple
Hiya Blaine, you plaster pretty much identically to how I was taught 40 odd years ago. I have done all aspects of the trade and used all materials, I have to ask you mate, why don't you use a board and stand for your gear instead of stopping to load your hawk from a bucket? You know the score pal! It'll speed up application and you'll have somewhere to put your brew!
Great videos Blaine thanks for your help mate
Thanks for your honesty Blaine , it’s good to know that even the pro’s don’t always get it right first time! I’m a carpenter/plasterer learning more every day, your videos have been a great help, I wish I’d watched this one before trying (for the first time) to back coat at skim my own extension- I basically attached vertical battens up the large walls and used them for a back coat guide- fortunately for me it worked a treat but I was sweating big time!! Keep posting mate!
I served my plastering apprenticeship 53 years ago at 15 . Learnt lots of different aspects of plastering from the old guys. I packed it in 20 years ago. Now due to my business going bust I find myself back on the tools @ 68 years old to pay my way. Guess what, I’m relearning due to today’s modern materials. And I can honestly say it’s the hardest job in the industry. 👍👍
Hi Blaine, great video, this is what plastering is all about, just been able to skim dosen't make you a plasterer, been plastering since i was 17, now 42 come across so many guys who have no idea or confidence in how to float a wall, even had one guy ask me to float for him so he could skim it after.
we are to reliant on dot and dab to get a wall flat theese days.
here's to all the old boys knocking up bags of browning in the bath with a shovel👍😆
So true my friend! I much prefer float and set to be honest. Such a better finish with a solid background…it’s the proper way.
Not only that…but I’m again shite at Dot & Dab ha 😂 Thanks for watching. Cheers
Half browning, half HSB 😉
99% of what I know about plastering I learnt from this channel & having a go at it.
To date I've only plastered one 12 x12 foot room from brickwork & I'm really happy with the results.
Speaking as a beginner, I found using the straight edge & the speed skim one handed worked best for me but it's very important to grip it in the middle, not to one side.
This allowed me to flatten the wall without digging in too heavy on one side.
As my confidence increased & I got more relaxed with the tools I was able to progress to using 2 hands.
Thanks for your help Blaine
I feel so immensely pleased you addressed this because in your other video I was dumbfounded by the way you flattened the wall over a long run. Thank you!
Been a plasterer for 20 + years now and you are completely right. The first wall i ever rendered was an internal curve 🤣 talk about being dropped in it from the deep end 🤣🤣.
The best bit of advice i ever got was " relax and work with the plaster/render" not against it. The other thing is your timing which will come with time you will know when you are ready for the second coat or how long to work with your product as temperatures and humidity play a factor.
Good advice Blaina and nice vid 👍
wondering why in Uk there is lots of plastering, while over here in North america it's all dry wall?
@@gianthills Our modern houses are usually all plasterboard/ dry wall and then skimmed with finishing plaster. But older properties have a backing plaster or base plaster that is skimmed over. Old lath and plaster ( mainly ceilings) were strips of timber over the beams with a small gap between and then plastered over which had horse hair in to make it stable. Hope this helped👍
@@guysilverback7755 I see. From what I can tell, drywall and plasterboard are not the same. Drywall uses tape on the seams while plasterboard doesn't. I'm guessing drywall is just cheaper than plaster walls, yet UK is big into plaster. Is there very little new construction there?
@@gianthills drywall and plasterboard are the same thing. We can tape plasterboard which was done alot during the 90's. But we do tend to skim walls more than just taping the joints. All our buildings tend to be brick and block built (block inner wall with brick outer wall with 100mm cavity between) and we have housing being built all the time we just don't have as much land to build on as you do across the pond.
@@guysilverback7755 so why then would anyone tape drywall if you could just apply mud?
43 years in, and my best tip, is do the job as if it's for yourself, I've seen so many changes , ways of doing things , tools, methods. always try your best.
when floating on new block you can tack or dab 4" strips of 12mm plasterboard from ceiling to floor every 3ft or so to use as screeds then pop them out before set
Good info for those who not done float & set I was brought up in that era not dabbing then chap just taking off I think lol 40yrs still at it & still got it 🤟🏻bloke got in touch about doing some he couldn’t find no one all we do is only board skim lol respect t ya Blaine 👍🏻
Well done for sticking with it, however, this was basic stuff when I was an Apprentice in the 1970’s. We were taught Box Screeds,datum points, the whole Plasterers Craft. Most ‘Plasterers’ today are Skimmers, not plasterers.
If your left handed, you Float from the right, skim from the left.You need to understand the importance of Heel & Toe. In addition, you are freewheeling the float coat.Run a line of horizontal screed two thirds of the way up the wall then the same just above skirting height. Let it pick up to make it easier, then fill in the area between the screeds from right to left if your right handed, left to right if left handed.Carefully rule off the infill.When completed, fill in the areas above the top screed and below the bottom screed.Once again, rule off.When firm enough, rub up with a Devil Float ( float with nails or screws in) in a figure eight pattern.Finally, run over the wall with a flat trowel cutting in internal angles.
I’m in my 47th year and was taught by the best. It isn’t hard, you just need to have someone show you the ropes!
Hi blaine when i was apprentice every house was float and skim but your right it took me about 4 years to learn how to float properly and even then u still get better what i was taught put a screed down right hand then come along top with a screed then along the bottom and then fill the middle in, and at the time i thought am never going learn this but as u know u start ti get better i did a full 5 year apprenticeship and i needed it, saying that u are a good spread and i enjoy your videos we didnt use drills either it was a rake and shovel on a plastic bath
Also always check your wall with the level before you start so you know where to apply the material thicker. Good video
Great video mate, everyone thinks our trade is easy, my master was a 61 yr old Italian called Freddy, that was in 1996!! Rendering was the hardest thing to learn but he guided me through, you were obviously taught by a class tradesman pal, the screed bars are a must as you say!! Not many proper spreads left 👍👍 37 yrs and I'm still learning
Not a plasterer by any means but I can skim. I also did a patch on a wall browning it out and to have another plasterer tell me that he'd let me work along side him was very nice to hear I've been told I'm very good at the skimming but I really need to try the other side too great video as always keep up your cracking work too 👍👍
I was trained on float and set, sand and cement or browning. I appreciate the fact that you have tried to do it, however we used to do top and bottom screeds and then fill and rule. Maybe I'll share a video with you guys,
As a time served plasterer of 30 and a bit years lol, it was mainly floating we used to do for years.
No fancy mixing drills, mixed in a bath with a shovel. Hard work it does make you a better plasterer, and you just use the ruling you’ve learnt on to sand cement rendering other wise it’ll look shite when rubbed up. Not much call for it today but I still do some, which can be an advantage as not many younger guys do it or can do. Great vids you do pal.👍🏻
Nice video my friend
I use a scratcher prior to the rule off,it just highlights things a bit.
Then you can see where the dips etc are.
I always study the wall and put a few marks where and discrepancies are in the block/ brickwork , normally about shoulder height or where they old lads moved their level up.
I am not a plasterer by trade but been around a good old while.
All the best
When I first started plastering I'd trip my trowel in the nice smooth plaster and gouge a strip out of it, and have to redo it and try and get it feathered into the rest of the wall. Was so frustrating until I got the knack. :)
Don't use galvanized metal beads outside or in wet areas. The sand scratches the galvanizing and they go rusty.
Had this problem today. Put the bonding on top of this hardwall that had been on since the the early 90's and it just dragged. I could not rule it off with my straight edge. It peeled off, so dry. Not looking forward to skimming it tomorrow ha
Blaine,
Top video. To all beginners this is all good advice and there is nothing to add and is an honest review of applying backing coats, plastering is hard work and practice (or should that be practise) pays.
Blaine I hope the wrists and back are all OK, as that is the bain of a plasterers life. Keep up the good work, you are constantly providing the best quality advice and encouragement and show honesty in how plastering is done.. Good luck to you.
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I've done quite alot of rough and setting. Always been taught lay it thick and edge it off. When you edge off the same amount along ur edge you pretty much there. Level and plum then float.
That sounds bang on to me - it takes work but it’s worth doing . Fair play…thanks for watching pal
A plasterer should be able to screed. board. Cove. Sand cement and achieve plumb and dot.
I’ve been plastering for 33 year’s and believe this or not, I still learn new things.
If I could turn back time, I really wish I learnt other trades.
I’m one of the best out there, but I can not put my hands to any other trade.
My biggest tip for plastering is preparation and get the knock up right, especially with rendering.
Keep yourself fit and avoid the booze and drugs.
Get yourself on the private jobs, because site work is dead.
As for pricing? Charge the customer, what you know you’re worth.
You undercut yourself and you will rush and cut corners.
Also synthetic stucco , as well as venetian plaster too
All you need to do is fix laths to the wall, plumb them up. Then when it's gone off take the laths off and fill the gaps in. Like they used to do in the old days 👍
Thanks for video. It’s helped build my confidence 🙏🏾👍🏾
Thank you but watching! Glad it’s helped my friend 👍
if the walls are pretty plum just throw it on and rule of the high spots straight away, dont wait till your second coat, then do the same on the next wall and then the next wall, once you have taken of the high spots before they go to hard just move on to another wall, then do the same with second coat,put it on and rule the high spots as you go along and returning when ready to float. if the walls are badly out of plumb then you will need to lay screeds
Did a job years ago (a changing room showers toilets etc ) that was to be fully tiled it was attached to some real plush offices in the west end and the designers wanted everything absolutely perfectly plumb level and square even down to all the cut tiles being exactly the same size so we had to set up perfectly plumb 2*1 timber grounds either side of the block wall for the spreads to rule between it worked real well just removed the grounds before the plaster had set and infilled the trough lines so there’s another way of achieving perfectly plumb and flat walls and with all the different size plastic shims available nowadays it’s real easy and simple to do
After watching your videos I tried doing it today. Failed miserably. First roller would not apply anything on the wall, it was not sticking, then was doing with a trowel, but could not make it straight. Area was small, between a corner and a door. Moved on to a larger area, but there the plaster would get dry on me quickly and even if it's wet I could not make it smooth. Each time I'd go with a trowel I would leave marks either on top blade or bottom... Im not going to give it up. Saturday will be full on job again. Will try longer ply roller, wetter mixture.
I’ve been plastering for 25 years and have found going back to the old school way is best. I was taught with string lines and rails to get it flat. Guys now just free flow it, some doing even staff it off on site. I use plastic packers now to do my rails 👍
Great information. Thanks
I started with sand and cement. And there’s ways to fake it so it’s pleasing to the eye 👍
My dads 70 and was professional plasterer. He told me when he started with plasterboards he cut them with a saw instead of Stanley knife but we all learn every day
Honestly mate your being to harsh on your self from the beginning, you a pucka spread and you know what your doing in all aspects no doubt! We're always learning in the plastering game everyday, every wall, every ceiling is different, good days followed by bad etc. Fella who I learnt with was in my opinion the best I've ever come across and work with bar none, and he would say always learning making mistake even after 30 years at it! Personally I'm 15 years deep and love watching an working with other spreads an trying new methods. Spot on video as always bud look forward to the next one 👍
A friend of mine offered to replaster my bathroom skylight area which I appreciated but work wasn’t up to par according to my brother who is a master plasterer but didn’t want to bother him since he’s so busy but after seeing my friends work he said he’d come fix what my friend did to say the least friend was upset about it but I wanted the work done in a professional manner and his work I felt was subpar that I feel I could have done myself was I wrong to have my brother complete the work?
I've been working as a plasterers labourer/trainee and this is by far the most frustrating part of the job especially using sand and cement. I still haven't mastered it after nearly one year.
I’m a plasterer of over 30 years, well explained pal.
Great video
Good man I was lucky enough to start plastering in 1978 so I can plumb & dot and everyday floating coat is about faking making pleasing to the eye I can talk for hours what I was thought by a sixty year old bloke now I’m 61
I bet you’d teach us all a lot!! Respect…it sounds like it was backbreaking in the day so fair play to you. Thanks for watching by the way - I really appreciate it 👍
Haha relatable 😂 my wall is still so rough. Can I apply a finer cement top coat?
Just top it with another layer of Hardwall…that’s best I think pal 👍
Im redecorating my grandma’s kitchen and have never plastered before, what would you recommend for plastering a wall where there are copper pipes in the corner which cant be moved and also has a shrouding fixed behind
So what do you do if the block wall isnt plumb to begin with?
Why do you as a right hander start floating from the left?
Been in in the game 30 years and this is wrong.
That’s all we did in college and site we even used Hessian scrim cloth the way we was shown was to do box screeds then fill in the middle with the straight edge then along came the Darby
Hope that wall isn't going to have skirting fitted to it, what a silly place to run cables.
Good video though, always find them helpful.
Been behind the towel 44 years old school but the last thing I mastered was ruling off I also screed granolithic floors monocouhe acrylic lime render sand cement render was taught them all from day one because of the lack of apprenticeships the trade has diversified
Both hands on the straight edge when straightening the wall guys.
I spent the 1st day on site learning how to master getting the mortar off the hawk.
Funny old game plastering. Its weird that proper wet plastering is now some kind of black magic madness 🤣. Every day is a learning day 👍. All you know will be challenged all you Don't know probably some old trowel will have an angle on it 😉. Explaining how to feel your way through it and work as the wall needs etc . Plaster is the master we are just a trowel away from excellence. Keep up the good work 💪👍
Tip 6: stick some boards on 😆👍
Totally agree 👍
😂😂
Hi Blaine, afar do you know about lime plaster? I've some walls that I want to finish in a grey concrete style finish then probably seal... Its very in fashion now would be great to get you your advice or alternatives... Even a cheeky demo
Don't be afraid of learning to use lime.
Damp wall is essential and I mean damp.
Base coat I use hair it's optional max 10mm.
Allow a day for each mm so 10 days.( Keep it damp or covered)
2nd coat no hair ( you can if you like but it will come through the first finish coat)
Again allow a day for each mm of thickness.
Keep it damp or cover or both.
This second coat must be as flat as you can get it.
I use a scratcher on wet surface before I rule off,it will highlight the bumps and dips.
The better you get this bit the better your finish will be.
Use a good lime pre mix from someone like south down lime in Sussex.
You can put a pozzalan in this to set it up a bit quicker if you are worried about it being soft although it will set nice and hard over time providing you keep it from drying out too fast.
The finish coat is a joy to do and it's done using two very thin coats about 2/3 mm in total
Work away from where you start as if you are trying to stretch it along the surface this will keep it nice and thin.
It will hang around for a long time especially at the base of the wall,due to the damping down so the top will possibly dry quicker but if it's been well prepared you will be able to control it and it doesn't mind a bit of sprayed moisture as it's a slow setting material.
I am a bricklayer that does this because I have used lime all my working life.
Most plasterers like to crack on and get a bit done so they don't really earn enough on this type of work ( just my opinion)
Have a go you will enjoy it.
Hello Blaine. I'm a big fan of your channel. I've been plastering on and off for myself for over 10 years but I've learnt much more from you in the last 2 years.
Will you be doing a video on plastering hallway / stairs / landing any time soon? If you've done one already can you point me towards it please?
Thanks!
Thank you mate! I really appreciate that…I’ll hopefully have one coming soon. I’ll film it when it comes my friend 👍
@@PlasteringForBeginners Many thanks, I'll look forward to it.
Use screeds sides top bottom and fill in
Makes it lots easier
If you don’t mind me saying
F&S is a great skill to learn.. saying that most now can't use one trowel from start to finish. Learned to skimm with a cardon.
And you had to keep it clean, but what a trowel to lay on with.. mine got stolen The fuckers it, left me SS lol.., got my first SS was a spear & Jackson..tell ya, it was like Christmas came early finally gave up the ghost last year 💕 the level of maintenance SS is so much less.
An easy test to see someone is a plasterer stick em, in a room.. give them multi and tell boards have been up for 6 months or walls have distemper on..if they just slap the gear on boards or PVA and skimm walls
You got your answer!!
Screeding is what we call it I was put straight in the deep end by my dad an perfected it very quick
With this and when dabbing I get duct tape and tape a 24” level to my rule, and I find it helps lots, saves a lot of back and forth. Also I love using the darby, the handles make controlling the angle so easier
Brilliant video
Forget the plastering, what the hell are those wires doing there at the bottom.🥺
Haha that’s fortunately nothing to do with me 😂
Great video. Do any manufacturers make a straight / feather edge with a built in level ?
I don’t know actually…it’s worth noting. If not then maybe I need to start inventing 😂
@@PlasteringForBeginners Apparently the germans make em
Looks like you were holding it too straight to the wall (almost like a 90 degree) dont you need to tilt it up slightly so it glides easier?
It’s left to right for Browning that’s easy enough to remember that so I was taught when I went through a five year apprenticeship in the 60s and it’s right to left to skim use the toe of the trowel for skimming and the heel of the trial for browning 👴🏻
start at the right hand side for floating for right handed people
I started when I was 17, 20 years ago and everyday it was float and set I was mixing up in a bath for 2 spreads on top of milk crates to save the old back,always did box screeds on the walls aswell and I was allowed to fill in the middles bit by bit and rule it off until I was up to speed then I was taught to start applying the box screeds and ruling them off aswell to devil floating to skimming them with the finish plaster can’t remember what it was called it had the purple on the bag before multi finish came out,I prefer sand and cement internal work did loads of that u just don’t get much float and set now
It was Serafite mate , I remember mixing it up with a bike sprocket on a t bar , no electric mixers back then . Plasterers labourer was the toughest job on site .
I think I would have been more embarrassed to be the electrician.
Surely when you was college trained you was show. How to do screads down the walls to rule off and use as a guide
Rule screeds around edges then work to them
👍👍
Can you use the ox speed skim ST to rule ofd hard wall and bonding ?
How’s the Venetian coming on you still practicing brother
I can do a wall without a speed skim or a level . You can see it and feel it no need for anything other than a trowel .
always work to a screed like they do on floors also use a board and stand
Looked at my bathroom ceiling.. Rough vaulted concrete.. Did two coats as first was really hard and wasn't looking good. No idea what I'm doing. Just did it. Then came and watched UA-cam. 🤣
Can someone tell me what is actually hard about this? Not trying to be rude but I've never tried it and just watching these videos it looks super easy 😅
This is plastering 101 if there are any plasterers that can’t ( let’s use the correct term not get a flat wall) float a wall they are not plasterers
If u can’t float or render or do every aspect of plastering your not a plasterer
It took you 4 years to learn this you can’t be a plasterer this should take no longer than 6 months and should be 8-12mm thick
Oh dear those electrical cables along the skirting area are *NOT* in permitted zones. Personally, I would have walked away from a job like that.
You're not really checking to see if it's level, you're checking for plumb.
Hi I've been unable to log into the course on the email you sent me.
thanks for posting
Cheers mate! Thanks for watching 👍
I put a comment on about why do that it's long but then I realised that you mentioned rendering at the end and ruling it and I thought again and took my comment off about there's no point doing it
Dot and screed good to practice
Irish are the best plasterers in the entire world
All the gear but no idea.. screeds..
In your first video I was more concerned about how bad the wiring was.
Haha true!!
Grate inspirational vid mate
Thank you! I really appreciate that 👍
@@PlasteringForBeginners it's True mate u have helped me with your video even though I did the course u go more in depth keep it up mate
Thanks matey. Means a lot 👍
Who the hell put the cables at skirting level.!!🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Why wouldn't you just board it mate
Use a derby then a straight edge … your putting way too much gear on…. You can’t learn floating from a you tube video you’ve gotta be really good on your trowel and a lot of knowledge about where to fill and the brick your going over … some good tips 👍🏻 but defo would t recommend trying this if your not even a good plasterer
Just get it on
👍🇬🇧👍
It's called roughing
How r u
hardwall onto painted brick = fail fail fail
This shows running screeds. 1950's style!
ua-cam.com/video/-1CACkgUJcU/v-deo.html
you should travis the rule
😂 if you can't float and set you are not a real plasterer
Hay
yes, what ?
1 of the quickest way for beginners is to tack some door stop at the width of your straight edge and it's simple ruling off each section. Takes no time to fill in the the gaps. Idiot proof
I want talk to you
Just comment on this thread mate…that’s the best way to communicate. Thanks for the comment 👍
@@PlasteringForBeginners no I m working with builders can I talk with u
Why not use screeds easy then
Yup, and if the wall's not plumb then it's the mason's fault. Straighten all angles/beads and fill in-simples. Remember to relieve the bead though
In the early days of plastering you are better off listening to your instincts and pack it in before you get the wife morgage car and sign on buy n sell do a bit of ducking and diving but wearing yourself out being shitted up everyday is not clever at all FORGET HARD WORK 😉
😂😂😂😂