Solo Plastering - How to get faster

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jonwestuk

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I have been renovating my house and have managed to achieve a very good finish with my plastering. So far I have undertaken 2 small bedroom, 1 very large double, 5x6m living room, 5x4m dinning room and a hallway/stairway.

I still have quite a lot of rooms to do, but was wondering what the advice is on speeding up the process. I typically only attempt to use a single mix of multi at a go, as I find that the time it takes me to mix a new batch means that the previous wall is starting to go hard.

I have spent good money on decent tools, I use stilts for ceilings and prepare all my walls very well (PVA mix with a little sand, and all my sockets use cardboard protectors so that I can avoid any fiddly bits.

Is it realistic to be able to run multiple batches of plaster in a session when doing it alone? If I had someone (who cant plaster) helping me, how would you best utilise them?
 
Hiya

right... you can mix up as many bags as you like... but itsall about how much you can control... some plasterers on here can do 6-10 bags others would only do 2 bags... it all comes down to the level of finish.

Ways to speed up would be to be clean...

also dont mess around with the gear just lash it on and dont mess about :)

a lot of plasterers these days manage without a bucket bitch :)
 
Also you sound like your just giving it a go and it's not your normal job so you'd be a lot slower than a time served spread.
Just keep going sounds like your Doing ok.

If your gonna pay to get someone in then you would be demoted to labourer and just so all the prep and mixing.

If your only using a cheap drill that doesn't help they usually mix to quick at a high speed which can set the plaster quicker.
 
Jgreenplastering said:
Also you sound like your just giving it a go and it's not your normal job so you'd be a lot slower than a time served spread.
Just keep going sounds like your Doing ok.

If your gonna pay to get someone in then you would be demoted to labourer and just so all the prep and mixing.

If your only using a cheap drill that doesn't help they usually mix to quick at a high speed which can set the plaster quicker.
Click to expand...

I bought a cheapo draper mixer to see me through until my makita one arrived and it was a beast... and only £100... good enough for DIY but would be dead in 6 months if used by a pro....
 
Months and years of plastering every day is the only true answer to your question or pay for an experienced one to work along side you for a couple of weeks.
 
Danny said:
Hiya

right... you can mix up as many bags as you like... but itsall about how much you can control... some plasterers on here can do 6-10 bags others would only do 2 bags... it all comes down to the level of finish.

Ways to speed up would be to be clean...

also dont mess around with the gear just lash it on and dont mess about :)

a lot of plasterers these days manage without a bucket bitch :)
Click to expand...
Bucket bitch love it
 
jonwestuk said:
?
I have been renovating my house and have managed to achieve a very good finish with my plastering. So far I have undertaken 2 small bedroom, 1 very large double, 5x6m living room, 5x4m dinning room and a hallway/stairway.

I still have quite a lot of rooms to do, but was wondering what the advice is on speeding up the process. I typically only attempt to use a single mix of multi at a go, as I find that the time it takes me to mix a new batch means that the previous wall is starting to go hard.

I have spent good money on decent tools, I use stilts for ceilings and prepare all my walls very well (PVA mix with a little sand, and all my sockets use cardboard protectors so that I can avoid any fiddly bits.

Is it realistic to be able to run multiple batches of plaster in a session when doing it alone? If I had someone (who cant plaster) helping me, how would you best utilise them?
Click to expand...
Why do you want to get faster??
 
brimplas1 said:
once the house is finished who gives a toss how long it took so long as it looks good............i get it all the time " i know a plasterer who mixes 4 bags at a time, puts it on with a ski, does full houses int 2 days" well i dont.... its no fun chasing your tail or the buck...
Click to expand...
Is that a speedski?
 
Hi All,

Thanks for all your help. I think I am going to start taking a bit more risk and mix up more plaster for every batch and see how far I get. I do have someone who could play the bucket b**tch role so I will give that a go also to see if that can speed things up. I am interested by the comments about using a proper electric mixer. I dont think I can invest in one, but out of interest at roughly what speed should the plaster be mixed at?

As you can probably tell, I am not a pro and have no ambition of being one. But I have the perspective that although I am getting a good finish thus far, it is always good learn more and get even better. After all, I never know when I might need to undertake another big plastering project again :)

Thanks again everyone for your help,

Jon
 
Keep in mind that the longer it takes to mix the gear the less working time you have..... The setting cycle starts as soon as it hits the water.
If the bucket bitch isn't on the ball he's defeating the object
 
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