Which Is The Best Plastering Type For Your Walls?

Does the construction complete once your building walls are up? The answer is no. It is crucial to decorate it to make it look aesthetic, and plastering can help you do that! The process of covering the coarse walls of your building or ceiling to give it a smooth finish is known as plastering. There are more reasons for using various types of plastering to give your home a plastering finish. Here is how:

• Protects the outer surfaces of a building preventing rainfall from penetrating inside the building

• Provides a smooth surface to the building by not letting dirt and dust accumulate

• Prevents damage by pests

There are different types of plaster used for these purposes. Ready to find out about them? Let us explore!

Various Plastering Types You Need To Know

There are various types of plastering in building constructions. The different types of plasters used for this process are:

• Cement plaster

• Mud plaster

• Lime plaster

• Gypsum plaster

It is one of the most commonly used types of plasters in the construction sector. This type of plaster wall is made by combining cement with sand and an appropriate quantity of water. The most effective ratios of cement to sand for a cement plaster lie between 1:3 to 1:4. 

You can use this type of plaster for:

• External walls

• Ceilings

• Interior walls

Plastering types like this have a clean finish. Even one wall with a single layer of plaster is sufficient to get the desired result on interior walls.

Also Read: AAC Blocks: A Cost-effective & Sustainable Alternative to Traditional Clay Bricks

2. Mud Plaster

This is the least expensive among all the plastering types. It is made by combining the right amount of clay and sand. The clay used in this plaster does not include roots, stone pebbles, organic materials, or grass. 30 kilograms of grass, straw, or hemp is added to every cubic meter of soil. This is one of the types of plaster finishes used in rural areas and temporary buildings.

3. Lime Plaster

Lime plaster comprises water, lime, and sand. The sand and lime are mixed in a ratio of 1:3 (by volume). Try using fatty lime exclusively while making the lime plaster. If you use hydraulic lime, blisters will appear on the surface of the plaster. This is one of those plastering types that can be used for the restoration of ancient structures and rehabilitation.

4. Gypsum Plaster

Gypsum plaster, commonly known as Plaster of Paris, is created in a factory by dehydrating Gypsum. This plastering type is available in the form of white powder and a variety of colors. A slurry made of Gypsum and water is spread on walls and ceiling. The thickness of this plaster goes from 6 millimeters to 20 millimeters. You may paint this plaster after 72 hours as it dries quickly. This type of plaster wall provides high fire resistance and thermal insulation. Gypsum plaster has an added perk. This is one among those plastering types that do not shrink or crack once it sets. It gets liquified in 5-8 minutes of heating too!

Also Read: 5 Quality Wooden False Ceiling Design Ideas to Alter Your Home’s Look

Types of Plaster Finishes

Now that you know all about different plastering types, let us take a moment to find out more about different types of plaster finishes. Here’s a list of different types of plaster finishes that you can opt for once the walls of your building are up!

• Smooth Cast Finish

• Sand Faced Finish

• Rough Cast Finish

• Scrapped Finish

• Textured Finish

• Pebble Dash Finish

• Depeter Finish

• Stucco Finish

• Exposed Aggregate Finish

1. Smooth Cast Finish

You can achieve a smooth cast finish by using mortar that constitutes a 1:3 ratio of cement and fine sand. Three parts of fine sand are added to every part of the cement. It is recommended to use fine sand to get this type of plaster finish. A wooden float or a skimming float is used to lay the mortar on the wall. The final surface that you see after this type of plaster finish is smooth and leveled.

2. Sand Faced Finish

This type of plaster finish requires two coats of plaster. The first layer is normally preferred to be 12 millimeters thick with a 1:4 cement-to-sand ratio. It is recommended to apply the first coat in the form of zigzag lines and let it rest for a week. The second layer is preferred to be 8 millimeters thick with a 1:1 cement-to-sand ratio. The surface of the wall is leveled with a sponge, once both layers are applied. This will make the surface even. Finally, the sand is filtered and applied to the second layer using a skimming float or hardwood float. The final surface that you see after this type of plaster finish has a uniform grain size of sand.

3. Rough Cast Finish

This type of plaster finish is also known as a spatter dash finish. The coarse aggregate, cement, and sand are combined in the ratio of 1:1.5:3. The size of coarse aggregate chosen to get a rough cast finish lies between 3 millimeters to 12 millimeters. A trowel is used to scoop out the mortar and dash on the surface. This mortar is further smoothed using a wooden float. This plaster finish type is used for external applications. 

4. Scrapped Finish

This type of plaster finish is obtained when a thick final layer of 6 millimeters to 12 millimeters is applied on the wall and scrapped once it is dry. The plaster is scrapped up to a depth of 3 millimeters using a metal blade.

5. Textured Finish

This type of plaster finish is obtained by Stucco plastering. The mortar contains cement, lime, sand, and water along with additives like coloring pigments, synthetic acrylics, and fibers. Various textures are formed using suitable tools on a freshly applied coat. The final finish has a rough surface with repetitive patterns.

6. Pebble Dash Finish

The mortar for this type of plaster finish contains cement and sand in a ratio of 1:3. Once the mortar is applied on the wall, pebbles as big as 10 millimeters to 20 millimeters are dashed on the surface. Then the pebbles are pressed with a wooden float. This type of plaster finish provides an aesthetic touch to the building.

7. Depeter Finish

This type of plaster finish is very similar to a pebble dash finish. The mortar uses pebbles sized approximately 12 millimeters to 15 millimeters. The different colors of the gravel plinth give a colorful effect on the wall. 

8. Stucco Finish

This plaster finish type comes from Stucco plaster which gives a superior finish. Stucco plaster can be used on the inner as well as outer surfaces of a building. Stucco finish is obtained by applying three coats of Stucco plaster. The three coats of plaster are around 25 millimeters thick. The first layer of the plaster is called a scratch coat. The second layer is known as the brown coat and the last layer is referred to as the white coat.

9. Exposed Aggregate Finish

A mortar of 20 millimeters thickness is applied on the surface under this plaster finish type. The mortar contains a 1:1 ratio of cement and marble chips. It is applied the same way as in the case of a sand face finish. The colored marble chips of about 6 millimeters to 12 millimeters are used to obtain this finish. 

Conclusion

By taking a reference from these different plastering types, give your home a beautiful finish. We hope this list of suggestions on types of plastering in building construction will help you plan your building’s construction better.  

Have a good time constructing your building with different types of plaster finishes today!